A BRADFORD teenager is taking his first steps to music stardom by releasing his debut album after a little help from some famous friends.

Oliver Pinder, 14, of Roundhill Close, Clayton Heights, is releasing his four-track debut EP, Island Rain.

This marks a remarkable musical rise for the Queensbury School student, who only picked up a guitar for the first time three years ago.

By 12, he was playing in pubs and clubs in Clayton.

Since then, Oliver has performed at a range of venues across West Yorkshire including the Centre Stage finals.

Here, he was mentioned by Mickey Dale and Mike Heaton, from best selling Brighouse rock band Embrace.

Impressed by the youngster, they recorded Oliver's lead track 'Dear' at their studios in Heaton.

The EP, which will be released on March 22, was recorded in October last year and earlier this month.

Since performing at the Centre Stage finals at the O2 Academy in Leeds last July, Oliver has supported acts including Yorkshire band The Dunwells.

He describes his self-penned works as alternative pop and counts the likes of Joni Mitchell and Ed Sheeran among his musical influences.

His songs feature themes including his own childhood experiences of school bullying and unrequited love.

Oliver said: "Embrace really liked my stuff.

"It's really nice to be working with them.

"Mickey and I are good friends now. It's really nice to have them as a good contact in the industry.

"When you walk into their studio you see the gold discs they have for selling 100,000 copies of their album on the wall.

"It's great that someone has done it from around here and that someone like me could aspire to that too.

"I was mentored by them at the Centre Stage competition.

"The EP is doing really well. The idea is about loneliness and isolation, that's the theme.

"It's exciting to be releasing the EP.

"I want to release more music and hopefully start touring. If it doesn't work out, I want to go into music management.

"I'm hoping that the EP does well for itself. I don't mind if it sells ten copies, or a million, the most important thing is people are enjoying it.

"I listened to Joni Mitchell and Neil Diamond when I was younger.

"A lot of my friends at school back it. They like my music.

"It took around 21 hours to record the first track. The EP took about five days in total to do."

To celebrate the release of Island Rain, he will headline a show at Oporto in Leeds on March 22.

The music video for 'Dear' is set to be released online next month. Go to soundcloud.com/oliverpinder/dearop to listen to his track.