Scouting For Girls' Roy Stride on 'These Are The Good Days', wildfires and perspective (#277)

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Roy Stride — frontman, songwriter and driving force behind Scouting For Girls — to talk about the band's uplifting new album These Are The Good Days.

The album follows 2023's The Place We Used To Meet, which became the band's highest-charting record in eight years. This time, the focus is on perspective — and finding joy in the present moment.

Much of the album was shaped by Roy's move to Los Angeles to focus on songwriting — a long-held ambition that took a dramatic turn when he and his family were caught in California's wildfire season and forced to evacuate, expecting to lose everything. That experience became the emotional core of both the album and its title track.

During the conversation, Roy reflects on how that period changed his outlook — leading him to reframe difficult moments as the ones that ultimately define and shape us.

In this wide-ranging conversation, he discusses writing and producing the album himself, recording across California, Dublin and the UK with Greg Churchouse and Pete Ellard, and how bringing in guitarist Connor McDonald added a new dimension to the band's sound.

The record itself captures that balance — from the high-energy immediacy of Get What You Give to the orchestral closer Alright In The End, alongside more reflective moments like Stars Never Fade and Don't You Go Solo. Across it all runs a clear theme: optimism, gratitude, and living in the moment.

The conversation also looks back at the band's journey — from their 3x Platinum, chart-topping debut through a run of hits including This Ain't A Love Song, She's So Lovely, Elvis Ain't Dead and Heartbeat — and how they've sustained that connection with audiences over nearly two decades.

Along the way, Roy shares insights into his songwriting process, the role of collaboration, and why his children have become his most honest critics.

Whether you've followed Scouting For Girls from the start or are discovering them now, this is an honest, uplifting conversation about perspective, creativity and making the most of the time you have.

About The XS Noize Podcast

Hosted by Mark Millar, the XS Noize Podcast features in-depth conversations with some of the most influential artists in modern music.

With over 270 episodes, guests have included Steve Lillywhite, Matt Berninger, Gary Numan, Peter Hook, Bernard Butler, The Charlatans, Sleaford Mods, Snow Patrol, Elbow, Travis and many more.

New episodes drop weekly.