KERRI Watt's brand of jangly California pop comes straight from the heart.

After spending a year in the surfing state as a teen-ager, the easy beach life has rubbed off on the young singer-songwriter and found its way into her music.

Now Milngavie girl Kerri looks set to storm the charts with her debut EP, Who's Lovin' Me Now? out on September 29.

At the tender age of 16, Kerri left her family home to study at South Orange County School of the Arts in Dana Point, California. It was a life-changing experience.

"It was a very intense training in music, drama and dance and that's where I really started to learn about lots of different musical styles that I hadn't really been aware of growing up in Glasgow," she reveals.

"There are a lot of influences from my time there in the music I am writing right now: that kind of cool, classic California driving down the coast beach pop sound.

"Being so close to LA and all the history of the music that went on around Sunset Strip in the 1970s and 1980s ... it was an incredible experience.

"I made lots of friends, all Americans who now work in music or in film in LA and are really successful, including Joey Richter who was on the Disney Channel and had a part in Glee."

Rather than coming home to hone her talent, she dived straight into three years of study at Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey, a school with notable alumni including Victoria Beckham and Ruthie Henshall.

And she hasn't stopped working since.

She has appeared in panto with Veronica Mars star Steve Guttenberg, toured with Marti Pellow in musical theatre and supported Brian McFadden on a UK tour.

"Working with Steve was really cool because growing up I was the biggest Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen fan and they did a movie (It Takes Two) with him as their dad," she laughs.

"Then , years later, he was playing my dad. To work with a big Hollywood name so young just put stars in my eyes and I thought: 'This is so awesome, this is so exciting.'

"Every successful person I've met, whether they've come out of Glasgow or the States, has really made an impression and inspired me to work hard and try and achieve a wee bit more."

It was after supporting McFadden that she realised she needed to focus on writing her own songs and making her own music.

She explains: "Supporting Brian was the first time I got to play decent-sized venues. He had a huge following so there was an opportunity for me to pick up new fans.

"Brian and his team were a lot of fun - it was one of the first experiences that made me feel that yes, I was doing the right thing."

The 24-year-old admits life has been a bit of a roller coaster since she started on her own but she is loving every minute of it.

She played Glastonbury this summer and has been back to LA to play legendary venues on Sunset Strip, including Whiskey a Go-Go.

"It's a longer process than I ever imagined - writing all the material, getting the right people involved to help make it happen," she says.

"It's been two years since I started working on my solo stuff and I feel I'm finally ready to put it out there."

She has signed a record deal with 25 Hour Convenience Store, the label run by The Libertines drummer Gary Powell.

The future? "I just want to write the kind of songs that connect with people," says Kerri.