Leeds-born Rhianna, 19, releases the very upbeat R ‘n’ B-flavoured Oh Baby — a three minute groove that says you can succeed if you believe in yourself.

With a family life steeped in music and big brother Leigh already causing waves with first band ‘Bedlam A Go Go’, it was a natural progression for the then 15-year-old to move from tentative backing vocals to official touring backing singer for Leigh’s second band ‘LSK’.

Rhianna had a go at writing her own material, running back from school in the lunch breaks to spend 30 minutes singing in Leigh’s bedroom studio.

Produced by Jony Rockstar (bod behind Howie B and Sugababes), her shiny debut single is the first example of what Rhianna describes as “cool pop”.

She said: “This is a really exciting time for me —it’s also a bit frightening because I’ve never done anything on my own before so I’m itching to see how it does.

“I wrote Oh Baby after I was having a bit of a hard time and it spurred me on. Hopefully it will do the same for other people.

“I was brought up in a house where there was lots of music playing, so my record collection has things from Diana Ross to Missy Elliot, and I’m a real fan of disco and funk.

“All I want is to have a good body of albums — at least five — so I can go into HMV when I’m old and have a big, chunky section like all the greats do.”

Rhianna is currently working on final tracks for her debut LP (due for release in the autumn), and has put together a lusty band of Northern lads for live shows throughout the summer.

Tipped for the Top 20 and already on Radio 1’s B-playlist, this Yorkshire lass is set for stardom.