ACCRINGTON's funk rock exiles A-Jay And The Maya have clinched a record deal and hope to have their first single out by February.

But the band's management are remaining tight-lipped about their new label, saying only that it is a major London-based company.

The group includes singer and guitarist Ajay Srivaftava and percussionist Behzad Mokir, both from Accrington. The line-up is completed by drummer Tobe Lamb, formerly from Blackburn, bassist Ed Devlin and keyboard player Dave Conway.

The band are based in London but are managed by Blackburn-based firm Talking Primates.

Manager Alan Parker said: "A-Jay and the lads have indeed signed a recording deal with a major London-based label. At the moment we don't want to release the full details as we are trying to negotiate something else too.

"We have got a top-rate pop producer lined up for the first single, which looks like it will be a song called Innocent People."

Alan said the band had signed a four-year deal to produce five albums with the label.

He said the band's forthcoming tour of Japan supporting Kula Shaker was a major factor in clinching the deal. It is understood the band impressed label bosses with a rough rehearsal room demo which was supplied to the company.

A-Jay And The Maya's slot at a Mega Mela event at Birmingham NEC, is set to be filmed by BBC TV and music channel VH-1 when it takes place on November 19.

Pulse first tipped the band back in May after the band's seven-track demo tape was submitted for review. Since then the group have endured a washout show at Burnley's Bands In The Park Event and played a more successful hometown gig at the Sound 99 open-air concert in Oak Hill Park, Accrington, last month.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.