Neighbours fans will remember the nation-wide feeling of intrigue when it was announced that soap star Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ramsey Street’s home wrecker ‘Izzy’ joined a grungy electro band. Unlike her former Neighbours stars turned pop princesses; Bassingthwaighte was breaking the ‘pop star’ mould.

Woman’s Day was on it, New Idea was on it, and the fit blonde vamp was on it with excessive eye liner, 70’s Brit punk outfits and loads of attitude.

Today, Rogue Trader’s latest album ‘Better in the Dark’ is already sporting ‘Platinum’ status, and their third single from the album ‘What you’re on’ is on commercial radio high rotation. Now on the road to promote their new single, the RT’s are set to hit Canberra for a gigantic show at ANU Bar.

It’s only been 3 years since ‘Voodoo Child’ was released, but many RT fans still aren’t aware that Rogues actually date back to almost a decade, with British music genus, song writer and keyboardist James Ash steering the rocket to stardom.

“It was originally a partnership between myself and my oldest friend Steve Davis. He and I got into dance music at the same time everyone else in Britain did, at the end of 80’s.”

At this stage the duo likened themselves to Basement Jaxx and had been using different featured vocalists for their songs.

“We auditioned lots of singers for lead vocalist and Nat came down and got the gig. A lot of people don’t know that about Nat, before she became known for being on TV she was a professional in musical theatre.”

Originally RT slipped themselves comfortably into the ‘dance’ genre, but Bassingthwaighte’s theatrical stage presence had the now trio quickly busting out electro-pop tunes with loads of attitude, like ‘Voodoo Child’ and ‘I Never Liked You.’

“Blondie is a massive influence for our sound. They blended punk and disco really affectively and turned it into pop music, and in the 70’s it was all about punk and disco as two competing scenes but they bought it together well in songs like ‘Atomic’ and ‘Rapture.”

“I’d love for us to be the naughties answer to Blondie.”

Having been fierce competitors on the ARIA charts for years now, as song writer Ash finds it challenging striking a balance between commercial music and satisfying his creative and experimental side.

“Let’s not be naive here, I know that we need to produce songs that radio is going to play, but I also have an artistic soul that needs to be satisfied. Obviously the Holy Grail is an artistically satisfying pop song and our new single ‘What you’re on’ is that for me.”

With rumours confirmed that Bassingthwaighte will be releasing a solo album in the near future, RT have planned an 18 month post-tour siesta.

“It’s the last time we will pass through your town for 18 months, so if you’re thinking about seeing us, now is the time!”