Hexham singer-songwriter working with Universal

"I don't know where it's going to go next - it's very exciting. It makes me think I'll be telling Rhianna what to do, saying 'Rhianna, it doesn't go like that!'.

"I don't think I'm anything special but apparently I am."

Alix was initially discovered by her agent Gary Thompson while singing in Allendale, Hexham and Prudhoe, but he was later very impressed by her songwriting.

After giving some of her songs to another of his clients, upcoming singer Karen Harding, to perform, he sent the demo tapes to Universal.

Music bosses at the company were not only impressed by Karen's singing but also by Alix's songs, and wanted to see what else she could do. Now they have sent her some backing tracks created by one of their established writers, and asked her to write songs around them for a variety of singers.

If they like what she does, they may decide to give her the opportunity to write songs for some of the biggest names on the world music stage.

Alix's skills are diverse, and she has chosen to create tracks both for R&B artists as well as more mainstream performers.

The potential for stardom is a big change to what she is used to, with her own Myspace web page being the most exposure her songs have previously received.

She also works at clothes shops Fat Face in Hexham to earn money while she writes her music.

Alix said: "Just hearing Karen singing my songs, I was sitting thinking 'I wrote that'.

"It would be amazing to hear people sing my stuff.

"I just hope that my songwriting gets noticed. I want it to be my nine to five."