Cameron Jay isn’t somebody prepared to let the grass grow under her feet or spend time waiting in the wings for success to come knocking.
On the contrary, the Aberdeen singer-songwriter has been prepared to fling herself into the challenge of transcending any obstacles on her rise up the ladder.
She has shown that determination and commitment ever since she started taking music lessons, aged nine, and winning her first competition at 12.
In her world, there was never a Plan B. She wanted to entertain from her formative years.
And, despite becoming a mother – to six-month-old Skye-Aria – she keeps aiming for the high notes and the spotlight.
This evening, Ms Jay, 27, will return to her roots in a concert at HMT, in the company of the 2013 X Factor winner, Sam Bailey.
It’s an exciting opportunity for the north-east star, who also releases her new single I Want You today, and she is clearly somebody blessed with the attitude that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains.
But, as she intimated, her recent experiences have encompassed both joy and anxiety, star-gazing and soul-searching
As she said: “I really wasn’t sure where my place in the industry was, because I have just had a baby, and so I feel like this moment couldn’t have came at a more perfect time.
“Sam is a great role model for me and for so many other mums out there, who have maybe put their dreams on hold to focus on bringing up their children.
“She is true rock star touring whilst still being a mum of two. She is living her life, performing and doing what she loves to do and that’s all I dream about – performing and making a living from entertaining others.
“I am loving motherhood and I absolutely loved the journey that pregnancy took my body on, but no-one explains what happens to you mentally after you have your baby.
“Having Aria-Skye by emergency c-section was quite a scary experience. It took my body about 14 weeks to recover fully and I lost a lot of confidence and it has really taken me a while to adjust back to doing the things I used to do.”
Ms Jay moved to London in 2012 after being selected to dance in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics and she has derived inspiration from the likes of Emeli Sande, who made such a huge impression at the Games.
That influence has clearly rubbed off on Ms Jay, who has appeared at an eclectic array of events since she returned to her Aberdeen roots.
These have involved the likes of Courage on the Catwalk for Friends of Anchor; the Emmerdale Extravaganza Ball in aid of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust; and other performances for such organisations as CLAN and the Aberdeen Cyrenians.
Understandably, she is excited about this evening’s high-profile return to the stage.
And, as somebody whose debut EP was called Fearless, Cameron Jay is going to let nothing stand in her way.
