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Their Kooks have conquered the UK pop charts, even if, as drummer Paul Garred tells Hamish McKenzie, they play girls' music.

Do you guys still qualify as an indie band?

I don’t think we ever were. I like to think of us as a rock’n’roll pop band.

What is the next step for your sound? How can you evolve it?

We’ve already been discussing the logistics of a third album. We haven’t really gone into any depth about material... One thing we have decided this time around is to take a little bit more time, and not be under any sort of obligation to get it done… Sound wise, we need to branch out, and that’s what we want to do.

I’ve heard you guys prefer playing to girls. Are you coming to Hong Kong in search of new pastures? I heard you’re bummed that all the girls in the UK are bringing their boyfriends along to the shows now.

[Laughs] It’s funny where that whole thing about us being a band for girls [came from]. That came from a guy from another band [Kasabian] saying, ‘Oh, your music’s for girls’, and one of us turned around and said, ‘Yeah, what’s wrong with that? Your music’s for boys’. Whatever. Even from the beginning there were always a couple of girls at the front, and that was always cool, and they all danced and all the blokes didn’t have the confidence to dance, because most of us are crap dancers. [Laughs] I guess they all brought their boyfriends, and things move on and everyone’s getting older. But Hong Kong, yeah – who’s to say all the girls won’t bring their boyfriends in Hong Kong? The music’s for everybody.

I know from what I’ve read about you guys that you’re quite concerned with some important issues. For instance, is it true that, as reported by The Guardian, you believe Katie Holmes was impregnated by L Ron Hubbard’s super-sperm?

[Prolonged laughter] I didn’t say anything about that, but I’m sure someone did. [Laughs] What do you reckon?

I think there’s quite a good chance. I’ve seen that girl act, and I certainly wouldn’t be volunteering to impregnate her.

[Prolonged laughter] Oh god. Well, yeah, it’s so debatable that one. You never can quite tell.

Are you guys still getting along as friends?

After all these years – it’s been about five now – we’re still getting on really well. Like anyone, you have your moments. We’re in such close proximity to each other, it can happen. But essentially, we’re best of mates and that’s the reason why we’re started and that’s the reason why we continued. There’s nothing more fun than playing with your mates on stage and having a bit of a laugh.

What does the band think of the idea of coming to Hong Kong?

From our point of view, we have one stipulation: we want to take this band as far and wide as possible. We’re not ashamed of it. Hong Kong is a place that we could never have dreamed of playing. To have that opportunity is very special.

The Kooks play HITEC Star Hall on Thursday 21.