Dee Dee Kaye is a 21-year-old singer from Mill Hill who has just released her debut single, Step Into My Life, which has reached Number 4 in the urban charts, with garage star MC Neat. She talks to Rosy Moorhead.

How long have you lived in Mill Hill?

All my life. I went to primary school at St Martin’s in Goodwyn Avenue and my secondary school was JFS in Kenton. I’ve been plugging the single to my old school friends the whole time!

Tell us about the single.

I was having coffee with a friend and just people watching, as you do, and I was watching a couple and the idea for the song came to me. They noticed I was watching and I had to stop! I co-wrote the song The Next Room (producers and writers).

How did MC Neat come to be on it?

The producers were playing the song in the studio and MC Neat walked in, because they also work with him, and he absolutely loved it. The next thing I know, he’s featuring on the track! They sent me the version that he did and I absolutely loved it. He put a garage spin on it, which didn’t change the feel of it too much because it was garage-based and dancey with a bit of house anyway.

What was he like to work with?

I love him, I grew up listening to his track A Little Bit of Luck. I love the way he speaks and raps. I first met him when we did the video together and he’s the most down to earth, coolest guy you could ever met.

Who are your musical influences?

I have always loved Michael Jackson, I grew up listening to him and Earth, Wind & Fire and all the Motown stuff. And now I love Pharell Williams and Bruno Mars because they’ve got the same kind of soul, but they’ve made it more modern.

When did you start singing?

When I was about six. My grandpa, Michael Winthrop, passed away from pancreatic cancer and one of our family friends, a professional choreographer, put on a show in memory of him and to raise money for cancer. I just got up and sang in front of the audience, and I did that concert every year until I was 17. I sang with my nana, Ingrid, who used to be a singer, dancer and actress in the West End.