THE ascent of Honeyblood has been a steep one over the past two years. Despite having the scope of a big recording studio and experienced producer, Stina Tweeddale says the rock two-piece’s songs still hinge on what comes from the heart with an acoustic six-string.

The guitarist and frontwoman tells The Guide, “I still sit in my room and write songs on an acoustic guitar and I don’t think that will change because it’s such a natural way of doing it.

“You do grow as a musician but it’s very dear to me to be able to sing along to a guitar and then take the song into the studio and build on it.

“We always want it to sound bigger and lusher.”

The two-piece guitar/drums combination is in vogue right now – Brighton duo Royal Blood, albeit using a bass, are an example of how the formant has proved immensely popular.

Tweeddale says, “When we supported Foo Fighters we met Royal Blood. They turned round to us and we said, ‘We’re really excited to watch you,’ and they said, ‘Us to,’ and we were like, ‘Shut up.’

“People said we sounded so loud for two of us when we started and we thought we could probably just wing it [without getting more musicians].

“Back then it was a lot to do with technique. Now I really pay attention to my guitar tones and recently I have been using all sorts of gadgets. I’m always trying to do something new and find a better way of doing it.”

While the term “difficult second album” is not entirely true of Babes Never Die (the full-length follow-up to their eponymous 2014 debut) Tweeddale remarked on the difference before the Glasgow band found fame.

She says, “With the last album it was very personal and there was no pressure.

“This time around is a different feeling. With everything I’ve written the first people to hear it are the manager and the label.

“There are songs on the new album that took four months to write. I had all these layers of vocals I wasn’t happy with but then you find one. Other songs you played once and they’re done. That’s the luck of the draw. Sometimes you get that magic feeling where it comes out of nowhere.”

Having recorded before touring, Tweeddale says the two of them “need to adhere to this record now” but that the songs are bound to sound a bit different on the live stage.

The songs from Babes Never Die will be the first pieces featuring present drummer Cat Myers.

Tweeddale says, “When Cat joined, within a week I knew it was more solidified as a band.

“We had one practice and then went on tour and that’s pretty much when we became a proper band.

“The nicest thing that’s going to come out of this is that she’s on the record. She has put her own mark on it.”

Having known Myers for more than ten years meant adapting to a new drummer was quite straight-forward.

Tweeddale says, “It just came together straight away. You really learn what someone is like because you spend every moment with them. I feel very lucky that she joined the band.”

Honeyblood had already gained some momentum when Myers took over drumming duties. Their single Choker got BBC air play and is an example of the less-is-more approach to songwriting.

Tweeddale says, “With Choker, the rhythmic pattern is so strange. I do remember thinking these chords are simple, I need to mix it up a bit. But we left it as it was. Sometimes you can improve on ideas so much that they get worse.”

Given their success, Tweeddale says she was shocked to listen back to Babes Never Die and realise how personal it was.

“There’s no way you can’t put a personal spin on something but if you write a heartfelt song none of it can ever feel contrived.

“There is some sad heartbreak on there – everyone experiences heartbreak.

“We have all been tiny kids so that’s not necessarily a romance thing. It’s not so much about ‘This guy broke my heart’. There are a lot of positive love songs on this album.”

About halfway through the journey, Tweeddale met her current boyfriend while Myers is about to get married.

Tweeddale says the heartache in her songs has not yet come between her and her partner, and that he does not read too much into the lyrics.

She adds, “I think he has enough self-worth not to listen to every little thing that comes out of my mouth.”

HONEYBLOOD, Patterns, Marine Parade, Brighton, Thursday, September 29, Starts 8pm, tickets £10 advance, 01273 606312.