A TALENTED singer has started on the road to musical success by releasing his own music single.

Cian Gleeson, aged 17, from Horwich, has been performing since he was a youngster.

His focus turned to singing at the age of 14.

Now, Cian has released the single, Losing Game, which he wrote himself, with the help of his tutors at Salford City College.

The former St Joseph’s RC High pupil said: “I’ve always been musical. I played the flute when I was younger, and then went on to learn drums and the guitar.

"I’ve always enjoyed singing, but it wasn’t until a little later that I started taking that part more seriously.

“Since joining college I have received so much support and guidance. It has really built my confidence and made me consider a career in music.”

Cian is a current student at the college’s FutureSkills centre at MediaCityUK, which specialises in creative music.

As part of the specialist offer and industry-standard facilities at the centre, Cian’s single has been recorded, produced and released in-house at FutureSkills by his tutors, with help from Cian and his fellow students.

This means the youngster is able to gain experience of all aspects of creating and releasing music, and he said: “The single is about staying true to yourself and who you are and not letting other people change you.

“I’ve been massively influenced by artists such as Ed Sheeran.

“If the single managed to make it into the top 100 chart, it would be a massive achievement not only for me, but for college as well.

“Contending with the massive industry mach-ines and getting an unsigned artist in amongst the mix with a single we have produced in-house, it would be great.”

Eager to raise his profile as an artist, Cian has recently been featured on Key103, along with presenter Adam Catterall, as part of their launch of Stagecoach’s Route 38 bus which is the first of its kind to cross the breadth of Manchester.

Cian said: “A bus isn’t my typical venue but I think the passengers enjoyed it.”

Cian’s single Losing Game is available via iTunes.