A NEW Indie rock band is about to hit the south Essex and London music scene.

The Hooks are a five-piece hailing from Thurrock, Brentwood and Rayleigh and they have an impressive CV between them already.

Lead vocalist, Amy Clayton, 25, from Grays was the songwriter and one of the lead singers for Fonchi, a signed funk group backed by a metal band.

Rhythm guitar and principle songwriter, Justin Cartledge, 28, of Grays, has fronted bands such as Moneypenny, Intern and Persona and lead guitarist Paul Sowden, 25, from Brentwood, was in Intern with Justin.

On Bass there is Dave Bettis, 29, from Rayleigh, who has played in Persona, and Terrapin.

Singularly named Alex, from Wickford, is on drums and has been in Leftover Lucy and was the last member to complete The Hooks.

Justin said: "As a band our influences range from The Foo Fighters, Oasis, Skunk Anansie to Stevie Wonder and The Temptations.

"We try and fuse all the sounds together to get what we feel is an original sound.

"Our songs are catchy, with plenty of melody and raw music."