Amy's sweet therapy; MUSIC.

Byline: GAVIN MARTIN

For the past two years, classically-trained singer-songwriter Amy Turnnidge - aka Theoretical Girl - has financed her career through her day job as an occupational therapist.

"I wanted to be a musician but knew I needed a back-up plan," says the Southend-bred artist. "So I work with teenagers who have mental health problems. It's intense and fun in equal measure, but I would never write about the people I work with. The songs are about things I went through."

As a musician she went through some occupational therapy of her own when the all-girl band she was in walked out on the eve of a gig and she had to put an act of her own together. Theoretical Girl was born.

"I used to be shy onstage," she explains. "The idea was I'd wear masks and no one would know who I was. But I thought that was a bit naff. At the time there were no female artists doing everything on their own. I wanted to be that person."

After one-off deals on several labels, the newly sharp Amy has found her perfect match in producer Andy Chatterley, whose CV includes Kanye West and Pussycat Dolls.

Amy's debut album presents melodically rich, unmistakably English, confessional pop. Her mother was a musician who died when the singer was eight. Amy's career is inspired by her mum's memory and she wrote the moving The Boy I Left Behind in tribute.

"I'd like to think she'd be proud," she says.

Album: Divided is out on Monday.