How The Overtones painted their way to a record deal

The Overtones, a five-part vocal-harmony boy-band, specialise in vintage pop including doo-wop and Motown. They were discovered by a record-label talent scout last year, while decorating an office in Oxford Street where they sang together in their tea break. A few days later they were in the boardroom at Warner Music being offered a demo deal, which led to a five-album recording contract.

"We're not painters and decorators by trade," explains Timmy Matley, the lead singer of the band, who comes from Cork, in Ireland. "Singing is our first love, this was a side job. When we got a record deal, it was a classic case of, 'can somebody pinch me please'. I almost didn't believe it – we'd had so many knock-backs, but this was really it."

Having appeared on Dancing on Ice as the live house-band in March, their debut album Good Ol' Fashioned Love reached No 4 in the UK album charts.

It featured cover versions of Billy Joel's "The Longest Time", Darts' "Come Back My Love", alongside their own material, including their latest single, "Gambling Man", "Carolyn" and the album title track, "Good Ol' Fashioned Love".

The band – also featuring Mark Crawshaw from Bristol, Mark Franks from Manchester, Lachie Chapman from Sydney and Darren Everest from Essex – are likened to a modern incarnation of The Temptations. They will be performing at the Magic Summer Live concert at Hatfield House, alongside Elton John, on Sunday, as well as at Glorious Goodwood later this month, before embarking on an autumn tour.

"We formed the band in 2005 because we liked the sound we made," says Matley. "It's definitely been a long road."

'Gambling Man' is out now