Halfway To New York can’t have a “normal conversation” with their singer before a show.

The group have learned not to try and engage Sam Burkey in any kind of discussion in the dressing room because he gets so focussed on the coming performance.

Sam’s bandmate Ross O’Reilly revealed: “We haven’t really got any pre-show rituals but if you try and have a normal conversation with Sam about 15minutes before he goes on stage you may as well be talking to a brick wall…

“His eyes glaze over and he tries to be polite but basically he’s just thinking about the gig and nothing else. It took a while to get used to but I think we’re there now!”

Sam is responsible for the band’s unusual name, which he chose as a reminder not to give up on his ambitions.

Ross explained to BANG Showbiz: “Sam was about to give up his music career in the UK and decided to go to America to stay with his friend in New York to clear his head and decide on a new life path.

“After a couple of days in America he realised that he would be stupid to not give his dreams one last shot. He then came back to the UK and started the band! Halfway To New York was born as a reminder to never giving up.”

Halfway To New York’s new single ‘Out of Time’ is out now.