Sounds of the Sixties for the young at art

That's certainly an assertion shared by Louis Jones, a hotly-tipped young singer-songwriter, from Heckmondwike, better known by his alias Spectrals.

For Jones, it's the simplicity of the music from the Swinging Sixties that he finds so alluring.

"I'm just dead into well put-together pop songs – the soppier the better," he explains.

"The '60s were great for that – just pop songs for pop music's sake, not trying to be clever or change anyone's world or anything. I like stuff before then, and after, too, but I just think there was something ace going on around that time."

There's something genuinely intriguing about Jones, other than his outspoken love for an era so far before his time. As well as being at pains to distance himself from the hip Leeds music scene, he originally intended his solo efforts to be a thoroughly private affair – only hesitantly uploading a few tracks to the internet last year.

Yet despite this, he's already attracted a considerable following and widespread industry interest with his '60s-influenced melodies.

Spectrals' sprightly, dreamy pop certainly got the crowd swaying at Leeds Festival in August – when Jones and his backing band performed on the opening night as part of the traditional showcase of up-and-coming acts.

The 20-year-old attracted a large, appreciative audience, earning himself a big thumbs-up at the music event.

Was it a defining moment?

"It was all right, yeah. I've been a bit over the years,

and people always seem to enjoy those Thursday night things."

Such nonchalance is typical of Jones, and his answers are peppered with self-deprecating humour. If he wasn't performing music, he swears blind he'd be "watching American sitcoms full-time", and of his own physical appearance he speaks of the occasion when someone told him that he was "hard to look at".

"It's the best thing anyone has said about me," he adds dryly.

Indeed, while many hotly-tipped young performers have their eyes set on future fame and fortune long before they get their big break, Jones seems genuinely unfussed.

"To keep doing songs is about as much of a plan as I've got," he shrugs.

The songs in question boast instantly enjoyable melodies but also show off a rather complex, intelligent edge. There are real shades of The Coral on the psychedelic, beautifully spaced-out ballad, 7th Day, while Leave Me Be is a slice of tremendous dark surf-rock, complete with the old-school wall-of-sound production pioneered by Phil Spector, by whom Jones is clearly inspired.

Jones's main influences are the pop bands of the 1960s, including the big three of The Stones, The Beatles and The Beach Boys, but he's also besotted with The Everly Brothers, The Ronnettes and doo-wop outfit The Moonglows.

"Obviously, the bands I like listening to inform what I'm doing, but I put a lot of myself into the songs, too. It's a subconscious thing rather than a deliberate one."

His interest in playing music first took root after "a really bad under-11s' football season" left him looking for other worthwhile pursuits.

After embarking on, in his own words, "one of those degrees that everyone gets you to do when you've finished school", he began writing tunes under the banner of Spectrals just over a year ago, enlisting several other musicians to perform with him at live shows.

Jones certainly leads a commendably unpretentious lifestyle. When not hanging out at his local Old Hall pub or playing gigs around Manchester and Leeds, he practices with his band in the house he shares with his mother and father.

Heckmondwike may not be renowned as a hotbed of rock and roll, but it does have notable rock alumni in the shape of Embrace drummer Mike Heaton and former Cradle of Filth musician Les Smith.

And in an era when compelling, successful new acts are popping up all over the region, it really is no surprise to find such a highly-rated songwriter based in the town.

Further attention may not be far away either. Spectrals could be about to make real inroads into the big time, with an appearance at Manchester's festival In The City, in October, a possible springboard for mainstream success.

The festival, which was founded by legendary Factory Records owner Tony Wilson, is a renowned showcase for top new talent, with A&R people from far and wide coming to check out the acts on show.

Over the years, In The City has helped to launch the careers of such acts as Muse, Radiohead, Oasis and Coldplay.

"I'm thrilled to be doing the show," says Jones. "It's with Yuck, who are friends of mine, and their songs are ace. I hope to get a nice evening out of it."

If the A&R people like what they see, then the Yorkshire lad may get a little more than that out of the occasion. But it's not as though Jones is short of interesting offers in any case.

"Some girls came up to me and said that they wanted to book Spectrals to play an aristocratic hunt in Germany," he recalls.

"It was a strange moment, but they were really lovely about it."

n Spectrals play Brudenell Social Club, in Leeds, on October 3, and Band On The Wall, in Manchester, on October 15 as part of In The City. Festival wristbands start at 29 and can be purchased at www.hmvtickets.com