AS one of this country’s most dynamic girl rockers, Julia ‘Juju’ Heslop knows a thing or two about music. And one thing she feels strongly about is women rockers – or rather, the shortage of them.

“There just aren’t enough girls playing rock,” says the sleek frontwoman of Oxford band Little Fish.

“There’s a real shortage. Where is the new generation of genuine female rock icons?”

It’s a situation this incendiary performer is doing her best to put right – as anyone who has witnessed her sweat-drenched ear-battering live performances will certainly testify.

The story of Little Fish’s rise from pub band to Transatlantic rock sensation is the stuff of dreams.

A regular on the city’s gig circuit, Ju and bandmate Neil ‘Nez’ Greenaway’s break came when they were spotted by 4 Non Blondes singer turned-impresario Linda Perry, at a gig at, as unlikely as it seems, The Wheatsheaf, off Oxford High Street.

The show, and their relationship with the woman who had been responsible for hits by the likes of Gwen Stefani, Pink and Christina Aguilera, was to be a huge turning point in their career.

In one stroke, Ju and Nez were plucked from the city’s backrooms and thrust into the sun-drenched excesses of the Californian music industry.

Through Linda, they cut an acclaimed debut album, Baffled & Beat, and the big time beckoned. Soon they were playing rammed shows at Johnny Depp’s Viper Room in LA, the Royal Albert Hall, Knebworth and Reading Festival. They toured with Courtney Love and Blondie, and supported Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Alice in Chains and Juliette Lewis.

Now the band – augmented by Hammond player Ben Walker – are back in Oxford and recording their second album, this time under the watchful eye of someone closer to home – Gaz Coombes of local heroes Supergrass, whom they supported on their European tour. It’s a far cry from LA, where they hung out with Patty Smith, Bette Midler, and Dave Stewart, Little Fish fans one and all. But, says Juju, they couldn’t be happier.

“We love being back in Oxford and taking time out for writing,” she says.

“I’m a big fan of the music scene here and the local community spirit. It’s very different from the ‘mega-bucks’ US music industry.

“We are happy to be back working with Gaz and other local artists. Gaz is an experienced recording artist, but more importantly, he gets our music. He’s English, he’s from Oxford, and he knows where we grew up and our culture – and that makes a big difference.

“In many ways LA was very different to Oxford, especially culturally, and it’s true that they didn’t get my sense of humour… at all! So it’s great to work with someone who does.”

“We are also a little less naive now,” she goes on. “When we went to the West Coast, we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. We were pushed into all sorts of directions. But are now doing what we want to do – and are succeeding.”

So does that mean their music has changed? “We are a little less punk and more grown up,” she says, after a thoughtful pause. “We have moved on and are doing things the way we want.

“But, of course, we still rock! And we still sound like Chrissie Hynde meeting the Velvet Underground on a stormy day.”

They have enjoyed the roller coaster ride – particularly last year’s tour with Blondie – who were childhood idols.

“We made friends with Debbie Harry and had a great time,” she says. “She is so nice – like an auntie – and we’d hug each other.

“Debbie was always one of my few female icons when I was young. Her music was pop but she was punk in her approach, image and attitude. She inspired me and to actually meet her was great.”

Debbie enlisted Little Fish on her tour after seeing them support Courtney Love. That seems to happen a lot with the band.

“She loved us,” Ju recalls. “She said we had the same spirit they had when they started out.”

As far as powerful ladies go, Courtney also made a powerful impression on Oxford’s premier female rock guitarist. “She was hugely inspiring,” she says respectfully. “She gets messed around a lot, but is another strong woman who knows what makes the world what it is.”

Which brings us neatly back to the issue of women in rock. “There seems to be a genuine resistance to female rock icons,” she says. “We are so ingrained with the ones we have that people think anyone new who comes along is just copying.

“For some time rock has been less fashionable than indie-pop or folk. A lot of girls in music are very feminine, after all, if you’re marketing an artist, there’s nothing quite like a bit of leg!

“However, some are very weak, boring. They should present themselves with strength and not pander to some sexy image or parade their weak side.”

Did she never consider a career as a gentle singer-songwriter in a flowery frock? “No, I’m far too excitable. There’s no way I could stay that calm for so long.”

So what would be her advice to today’s budding girl rockers? “That’s easy,” she laughs. “Release your inner rock goddess!”