MACKEM lads The Futureheads are heading to the future on their own label after leaving Warners.

Their first release on Nul Records will be the March 3 single, The Beginning Of The Twist, preceded by a series of low key student union gigs this month that include Sunday night at Mine at Leeds University.

Guitarist Ross Millard explains the Sunderland band's move to independent status, two years on from second album News And Tributes.

"We were on Warner for two albums and there was a kind of falling out, or what I'd like to call a bit of a divorce, " he says.

"We felt they didn't put much energy into the second record or believe in it and, on the other side of the coin, we didn't believe in them either. We didn't feel they were behind it, so we've gone out on our own now."

The Futureheads' principal focus will be on the early-summer release of their third album, This Is Not The World, on their own terms.

"The main motivation for us to do it this way is that we own the copyright of our songs; we've got a back catalogue, we've got a fan base and we've got money to launch each record, " says Ross. "Some people might accuse us of being control freaks, but it's better like this."

The Beginning Of The Twist leapt out as the track to announce a new future for The Futureheads.

"Even the title is almost a reintroduction.

I feel you have to come back with a bang, especially in the UK, where the focus is always on the new bands, " says Ross.

"So, for a band like us, on our third record, you must come up with the goods, because the gauntlet has been thrown down, now that people always want to get into the next 17year-old star."

The new album was recorded at the Andalucian studio of legendary producer Youth, best known for his impact on Primal Scream and The Verve.

"Originally we were just going to record it ourselves but Youth got in touch with our management, saying he wanted to work with us, and when you get something as awesome as that happening, then you go with it, " Ross says.

"We've gone from making our second album in the snow near Scarborough, getting off the train each day in York, to recording in Europe's only desert."