"So, what's an Aggie?" singer Shane Lawlor asked the audience last month as his band, Electric Touch, performed at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus.

Sure, the four-piece, which has been touring across the state since forming last year, hails from rival territory in Austin. But the question might not have been completely facetious.

Lawlor's British accent makes it pretty apparent he's a long way from home.

It's not exactly the British invasion, but the rock outfit -- which also includes Texas natives Ross Dubois on bass, Christopher Messina on drums and twin brother Louis Messina on guitar -- surely does create an oh-so-familiar sound with Lawlor on the mic. Despite comparisons to the Beatles, however, members of Electric Touch said in an interview with Spotlight recently that they plan to make their own history while crossing and combining musical genres.

They're currently recording their first album in Austin but will visit the A&M campus again April 16 for a free lunch-time show at Rudder Fountain. A week later, they'll fly to California to perform at Coachella.

"It's difficult for a rock band to categorize their specific sound these days, given the long and sordid history of rock and roll," Dubois said. "Some of the elements that come through in our songs speak of styles ranging from blues to glam rock to new wave to British indie rock. Anything that gets your toes tapping, really."

One constant in the band's music, however, is an upbeat vibe with a positive message in their lyrics, as evidenced by the chorus in Love in Our Hearts. "We can take the world on. We can make it, just stay strong ... If love is in our hearts," Lawlor sings.

"Songwriting seems to flow from whatever mood you happen to be in at any given moment," Dubois said. "Some words must be said, some melodies beg to be heard. You can and must write from what you know [such as] love, friendship, sex and art. Experience is inspiration."

Electric Touch formed about nine months ago, combining members of Houston psychedelic indie band Bojones with Lawlor, who had been the bassist for Austin-via-U.K. indie band IV Thieves.

Although relatively new together, the members' on-stage chemistry sometimes makes it difficult to believe their first show was in December. Since then, they seem to have had little trouble booking gigs -- including a prestigious showcase at South by Southwest this month. Their album, recorded with producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith (Meat Puppets, The Dandy Warhols), is tentatively scheduled for release this summer.

"[We play live shows] whenever we possibly can," Dubois said. "We have been playing around Texas for the past few months, and we are looking forward to touring relentlessly in the next year.

"We want to play wherever people want the experience of a great rock show."

And hopefully, he added, the Bryan-College Station area will be a regular stopping point on their schedule.

"We've heard the prettiest girls in Texas are to be found in B-CS," he said.

• Tiffany Torres' e-mail address is tiffany.torres@theeagle.com.

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