SNEAKING out of your bedroom window under the cover of darkness for a secret date is something most teenage girls can relate too.

New pop starlet Pixie Lott is no exception, and that’s just one of the tales she’ll be singing about when she drops into the Cliffs Pavilion this summer The 18-year-old, from Brentwood, is lending her support to girl group the Saturdays on their UK tour, which calls in at the Westcliff venue on June 17.

“The music is about lots of different things, but it kind of relates to me at my age,” says Pixie, who co-writes her songs.

“The single Mama Do is about sneaking out without anyone knowing, and going to see that special someone.”

After studying at a stage school from a young age, Pixie landed her big break at 14 when she spotted a classified ad for an audition seeking the next pop diva.

Within months she was whisked off to New York to write and record demos and later snapped up by record label Mercury.

“I was always looking for open auditions and I made it my mission to find a route into the industry,” she says.

“My mum thought it was a con, but I begged her to take me to the audition, which opened a lot of doors.”

Her new single Mama Do, a slice of retro-tinged pop, is due for release on June 8, followed by debut album Turn It Up on September 7.

Pixie counts classic soul singers like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder among her influences.

“My inspiration comes from the real soul artists,” she says. “I have a real grounding in soul music. I grew up listening to that stuff and still do. There are retro elements to my songs, but they are still very fresh and contemporary.”

While she says her music is different to the Sixties soul sound revived by Amy Winehouse and Duffy, Pixie claims she would have no worries about emulating their success.

“I want to be a proper diva,” she admits. “I want to be singing to massive crowds, making music and getting involved in as a many things as possible.”

To listen to Pixie visit www.pixielott.com