An emerging rock band with members from Islington has been competing with the likes of Paul Weller for the top spot of a national music download chart.

Junkstar, which includes Essex Road-based keyboard player Anna Reinoso, 30, and guitarist Emy Santoro, 32, has achieved success with latest singles Kicking K and Girls Like Him reaching the top five of the Amazon new releases rock chart in the past week.

Kicking K went from around number 27,000 to number two in the general new releases chart.

Anna, studying for an MA in professional writing at London Metropolitan University in Holloway Road, Holloway, said: “It is amazing that it has gone this far.

Surreal

“We didn’t even think it would make the top 100 let alone the top three. It is quite surreal. We have been using email and social networking to promote the song, helping it to climb close to the top position.”

The other members are lead singer JC Connington, 27, bass player Katy Zee, 32, and drummer Simon Hartop, 35.

The group, formed three years ago by Anna and JC who met through musician wanted advertisements on the internet, has played support shows for Athlete and Kate Nash. The current line up has been together for a year.

Anna, who attended Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Risinghill Street, Islington, said: “The best thing has been that record labels have been interested in signing us up following the success of the singles.

“The feedback has been very positive and it could be a big breakthrough for the band.”

Girls Like Him and Kicking K, electro-pop tracks based on the anxieties and pleasures of modern life, can be purchased for 79p each on Amazon.

Junkstar are performing at the Cargo club in Shoreditch High Street on September 23.

For more information visit www.junkstar.com or www.facebook.com/junkstarband