Student Katy wins music challenge on Uuni social networking website

A DERBYSHIRE singer who recorded a song in her friend's bedroom has gone on to win a global music competition, and is now getting tips from the best in the business.

Katy Burgess placed a microphone in front of her guitar and recorded the song onto a computer, before uploading it onto a university social networking as part of a music competition.

She thought nothing more of it until she received an e-mail telling her she had won a trip to London to meet music producer Tony Platt.

Mr Platt has worked with the likes of Iron Maiden and AC/DC, and 19-year-old Katy got the chance to grill him over lunch.

She said: “I saw the competition asking for people to upload their music.

“I posted an acoustic song called Dead End and kind of forgot about it until I got the e-mail saying I had won.

“It wasn't until I called the organiser of the competition that I found out I had won a trip to London and was going to meet Tony Platt.

“He has worked with some really big names like Motorhead. He was really friendly and I got to ask him lots of questions.”

The former Ecclesbourne School pupil, of Cherry Tree Lane, in Belper, is currently studying for a degree in psychology at Durham University where she regularly performs with her rock band Subject To Change.

Katy also won $3,000 after being picked from 58 entrants from universities across the world to win the Uuni and SellaBand music competition.

Uuni is a social networking site for the students from the top 200 universities in the world and students from Yale and Stamford, in America, entered the contest.

Katy went on the trip to London last month where she had lunch with Mr Platt, in Covent Garden, along with Adam Sieff, who runs www.sellalband.com - which brings together new artists and music fans.

Katy said: “I got some really good advice during my trip to London.

“I took some tracks with me that I had recently recorded with the band so I guess you never know what could happen.

“I would really love the band to take off and music is my first passion.

“Tony Platt has organised for me to go on a trip round the Marshall amp factory and I also have his number so know I can call him up if I need any advice in the future.”

Graham Wessel, who ran the competition, said Katy stood out from all the entries.

He said: “There was something in her voice that really resonated with the judges.

“A lot of the entries had no emotional connection at all, but Katy definitely did.”