THE organisers of the Ivor Novello Music Awards are helping a Dunfermline songwriter to pen his own success story.

Having gone from Screamin' Whisper to the famous Abbey Road studios, Brian Hughes is ready for the next chapter with a top music industry professional in his corner.

The 24-year-old, also known as Angelica Mode, is one of 25 young talents from across the UK and Ireland to be chosen for a new mentorship programme.

Brian, of Elgin Street, explained: "It's to give promising new acts a leg-up and get them on the radar, help them make some contacts, spread their music as far as possible and build up some notoriety.

"I was quite surprised to get in – I never get breaks like that! – but I applied, sent links to my music and told them what I aspire to be, and it's gone from there.

"It's going to be a huge help as it's hard to come up with new ways to get noticed. You can't gig just now and I've put videos up on YouTube but everyone's doing stuff like that."

The Ivors Academy, the independent trade body for songwriters and composers in the UK, which has handed out Ivor Novello Awards since 1956, and Help Musicians, the charity for professional musicians, teamed up for the Music Creators Mentoring Programme, which runs until the end of March.

It offers access to the wider music-making community, giving young and talented musicians the space to learn, develop and maximise their potential through one-to-one sessions with people who know what it takes.

Brian's mentor is Helen Lynch, a composer, musician and teacher based in Ireland.

He said: "It's on Zoom, she's helped me set goals, she's given me career guidance and it's been really helpful to get a second opinion on music I've recorded.

"Helen's really cool, I've been lucky there as she's very nice and approachable, she's worked on film scores and has a classical music background so I've really benefited from her experience."

Originally from Dublin, Brian and his identical twin, Martin, moved to Dunfermline eight years ago.

They formed a band, Screamin' Whisper, which released an album, embarked on a mini-tour in February and crafted songs at Abbey Road studios in London.

Brian, who is also in the third year of a music business course at Perth College UHI, recalled: "We had our songs mastered there. The guy that did it had worked with Depeche Mode and Ed Sheeran, and you're in the same studio where the Beatles recorded, which was just amazing.

"I was quite a nerd about that!"

The band broke up just before lockdown but the life of Brian is on the up again after deciding to go it alone with a new name.

He explained: "Angelica Mode came from a short story my brother was writing and I thought it'd be a great name for a band.

"It sounds quite androgynous and catchy so I asked if I could use it and got him to sign it over!"

Debut single, 'Your Love Is All The Rage', made waves when it was released in July and picked up some good reviews.

He added: "When the mentorship programme finishes, I'm aiming to keep the momentum going, get the name out there and get some good gigs when lockdown is over.

"So far, Angelica Mode is a bit more pop and radio-friendly, I've gone down the electronic route with more synthesisers and drum machines, which was kinda handy during lockdown.

"It's just me though. I'm even taking my own press photos!"