The first time Canadian five-piece Stars came to the UK was on an expensive whim of their frontman Torquil Campbell.

"Torquil took out a 10,000-dollar loan," says singer and guitarist Amy Millan. "He wanted to play in London so he flew us out to play there. We ended up playing to 50 people in Nottingham."

It was a typical story from the early days of the Ontario-based band, who spent the first few years of their career living from week to week and month to month.

"We didn't have a manager or a label," says Millan. "We were sleeping six to a hotel room. It was a lot of work for very little pay-off."

Things began to change with the release of their third album in 2004, the critically acclaimed Set Yourself On Fire, which provided them with an international breakthrough after five years of hard slog.

The work didn't stop, though, with Stars heading out on a two-year tour to promote the album.

"We have been out there for ever and ever but that is what you do when you work a record," she says.

The band's creative juices are still flowing, with fourth album In Our Bedroom After The War coming out late last year.

Millan even found time to make her own solo record in 2006, with a follow-up to her Honey From The Tombs coming soon.

Stars itself relies on the song-writing skills of keyboard player Chris Seligman and bassist Evan Cranley to create its beautiful, pop-friendly sound, which isn't a million miles from an electronic Delgados with its male and female lead vocals.

"It's satisfying the itch," Millan explains. "Especially after touring a record for two years, you want to get some new material. We are hoping to make great pop music."

There can be no denying the impact of Set Yourself On Fire on the band's popularity, but it hasn't necessarily converted into instant monetary reward.

"We used to play to 25 people in Chicago, now it is 350 people," she says. "But we have to be a little more inventive with how we make money as you can't rely on record sales.

"We played Copenhagen, where we had sold about two copies of the album, but 350 people were there."

The band's website shop now features nightshirts, necklaces, pillowcases and book bags as well as the usual badges, music and T-shirts.

"People are still buying records, we sell 2,000 records a week in the US," says Millan. "But you have to make some funky T-shirts and things like that, too, and licence songs to film and television to make money."

For now the future is bright - because the band can see ahead to planned tour dates and release schedules.

"Considering how it was in the old days when we were living on a week to week basis it is comforting to have plans," Millan says.

"It was terrifying before. You didn't know if you were putting years of work into something and not going to get anything back from it."

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