A DUNFERMLINE musician is hitting new heights in the music scene after being featured on DJ Ashley Wallbridge's latest track.

Dean Chalmers grew up in foster homes as a teenager but he's now rubbing shoulders with international DJs after finding recent success in the dance music world as a songwriter and vocalist.

The track, Beautiful Lies, released on June 1, has got Dean noticed by producers and DJs in Amsterdam and LA – the hubs of the dance genre.

After finding himself homeless at the age of 15, he hopes his story will inspire others from tough backgrounds to realise their potential.

The 31-year-old said: "It's just going from strength to strength. Ashley contacted me to work on his album, which is coming out next month, and we recorded a video in London which was released on Friday.

"I've had great feedback from the track and have been given offers to go out and work in LA and Amsterdam with artists and do some writing sessions.

"I'm just trying to find a balance between working on music and a full-time job at the same time!"

Outside of music Dean works with a charity trying to end youth homelessness. Before that, he worked in Fife's criminal justice team leading a men's group that looked at building self-belief and purpose.

Dean explained: "I lived in Glenrothes until I was 14 when I moved to America as my mum married an American.

"But the relationship broke down and one day I said I was going back home to Scotland.

"It was just around my 15th birthday and I got on a plane by myself to return to Edinburgh with nothing but a rucksack and £40 in my pocket.

"I stayed on friends' sofas at first but a friend's mum got me support and I went into foster care between the ages of 15-18.

"It was a difficult time to get through dealing with feelings of abandonment. I got into the wrong crowd and started drinking and fighting in the park.

"Music was something I was always interested in but it became something I could put my energy into. One day I realised I had a lot more potential in me than just sitting down in the park and I started sorting myself out.

"There was time when I was homeless but I managed to get a flat and I found myself almost becoming a parent to my other brothers who were going through similar things.

"The experience made me want to help others unlock their potential and have passion for the line of work I do."

Pursuing music has taken him on a lot of gigs over the years and help make contacts to get where he is today.

Just by working with one DJ it's opened up opportunities to write music for dance artists on the Armada Music label, owned by Armin van Buuren.

Dean added: "I've got a lot of local support but now I'm getting support from people all over the world. Especially in the likes of Germany and LA where dance music is popular.

"It's great to see it all pay off and have millions of streams on my different platforms now.

"You hear a lot about statistics in my field and I should be one of those people that are more likely to go to prison because of my background – but I don't have to fall into that category and others don't too."

Listen to Beautiful Lies at https://found.ee/beautiful-lies or https://youtu.be/zXO95me-BEQ