Samantha Maybee, a former Swindon Talent runner-up, has gone on to become a professional musician.

The 22-year-old Swindon singer was spotted by Bees Knees Records when she appeared in the first Swindon Talent competition and she is currently working on her first CD.

“If I hadn’t entered Swindon Talent it would never have happened,’’ said Samantha.

“I came second in the final and I got signed by Bees Knees. It took a while to get going but now I am is getting busier and busier.

“I have gigs every weekend and I am fully booked until the end of July.’’ Samantha is keeping mum about the songs that she will feature on her debut CD but in her act she performs in a wide variety of styles including the songs of Queen, 1960s-style music, modern day classic from Cheryl Cole and Leona Lewis.

She said: “I do my research about the venues for example people at the Heart and Hand in Blunsdon enjoy Whitney Houston songs and at Bourton I had to learn the song Alice.

“For a sedate club they suddenly went wild – singing along to it.’’ Samantha can read music but says she is too busy learning new songs each week to write her own material.

She said: “I did try to write a song once but it sounded too cheesy. This week I have to learn four new songs for Saturday.’’ Samantha ropes in her mum Jan, sister Claire and dad, Jim Millard, as her roadie, to help her set up at gigs.

“They say listening to me singing is better than sitting watching TV,’’ said Samantha.

Her mum entered Swindon Talent last year and Samantha and her dad perform a duet of Love Shack by the B-52s when there is karaoke around.

“Dad’s not musical but it works well,’’ said Samantha.

She is still a member of the K School of Music and will be starring in A Wiz Of A Show at the Wyvern Theatre on July 10, singing the song The Wizard and I from Wicked.

Samantha enjoys lending a helping hand with some of Bees Knees Records’ younger singers including Eleanor Williams, 13, who is competing in Swindon Talent ’10.

Samantha says that she will be going to some of the heats and the final to encourage all the new talent and her advice is just to enjoy the experience.

“Have fun and be yourself, relax and your personality will shine through. Don’t worry whether you come first or last, just enjoy it,’’ she said.