An unknown Sydney singer is climbing the UK charts on the way to an international smash hit.
Starley's Call On Me is at No 7 in the British singles charts, No 14 in New Zealand and top 10 on iTunes in Sweden, Germany, the UK and at home.
The song has also been streamed 170 million times on Spotify and gone platinum in Australia and gold in New Zealand.
Not bad for a girl from Earlwood who, just a few months ago, was helping her dad make and install venetian blinds.
After five years trying to make it as a songwriter in London, Starley ran out of money, came home, moved in with her parents and started work with her father.
But she never gave up on her dream to be a musician.
"I worked in my bedroom writing music every day. I treated it like it was my job even though I wans't getting paid for it. I believed in what I was doing," Starley told AAP.
"I was almost about to give up but then I wrote Call On Me and I realised I probably needed to be singing my own songs all along."
She signed a deal with independent dance label Central Station Records and once remixed by Sydney DJ Ryan Riback, Clal On Me started climbing the charts.
"Someone messaged me today to say I'm No 5 on iTunes in the UK, so if Ed Sheeran didn't put out two amazing songs last week I think I would be No 3," she said.
From writing songs for other people in London, she's now stepping out from behind the keyboards and mixing desks to become an artist in her own right. She won't be unknown for much longer.
"I went out to buy some make-up and this girl recognised me at the store and said, 'Are you the Starley who sings Call On Me? I didn't realise you were Australian', so I think people are really surprised I'm from here," she said.
Starley is getting ready to head to the US to perform at the iTunes and South by Southwest festivals (SXSW).
"The song is starting to blow up in the US and just got picked up by 50 top 40 radio stations. It's getting played quite a bit and I think it will just continue to pick up."
