With the bumper crop of exciting British female musicians emerging in 2013, Blackpool's Rae Morris is set to be the next big name to be thrust into the limelight.
After spending 2012 on high profile tours with Bombay Bicycle Club and Noah And The Whale, Rae started 2013 touring with Tom Odell, and has just embarked on a string of headline shows across the UK.
Having taken up the piano aged four, Rae didn't really embrace music until she left school and went to college, and was raised on an upbringing of classic rock and roll.
"I was exposed to a lot of Steely Dan when I was little, by my dad," she confesses. "I'm still not sure if that was a good thing or not. When I was little I hated it but now I'm starting to think maybe it was a good musical influence.
"When I was 15 or 16 I started listen to Coldplay, and people like Cat Power. When I heard Amy Winehouse for the first time that changed things."
Being on tour with Tome Odell, one of the most hotly-tipped new British musicians, has had a significant impact on Rae, and Odell even invited her onstage with him so they could duet on one of her tracks ("I don't know why, but he wanted to do one of my songs, which was really, really nice").
Watch Rae's live duet with Tom Odell exclusively below
"It's crazy because I've been speaking about him non-stop, he's really taken me by surprise. I think he's an incredible performer. For a new musical performer coming on to the scene he already performs like a star.
"I think that's definitely what's taken me by surprise with him, because his shows are for everyone. Even if you're not into his music, I can't imagine anyone not being impressed by his performance."
Beyond the music, Rae appears to have found some affinity with the young male performer, with both of them crafting their tracks with a balance of delicate vocals and powerful piano.
"I like how he's awkward when he's not sat behind the piano, because I guess it reminds me of myself. I'm awkward in everyday life, when I'm not sat at my piano.
"He seems to be dealing with the stardom really well. You can tell he's doing it because he's an artist, a genuine musician, and you can tell he's enjoying it."
Watch the video for 'From Above', the title track from Rae's forthcoming EP, below
Given the buzz around her music at the moment, Rae might well find herself similarly in the spotlight before long, but she's ready to deal with it.
"It must be kind of strange," she concedes. "It must be a big thing, but I guess maybe you wouldn't know the extent of it if it was happening to you, because I always feel like something that so close to you, it must be hard to get other people's perspective of it.
"If I was in that position I guess I'd just try and go with the flow. I was always brought up to not count your chickens, and I hope I continue to live by that. I'm taking everything step by step."
Rae Morris performs tonight (26 March) at the Marlborough Theatre in Brighton and tomorrow (27 March) at Village Underground. For more information, visit her official website.
