A PRISON officer turned singer is hoping to break into the music industry through an online talent competition.
Jaspal 'Shibbs' Khehra (pictured), of Staines Road, Hounslow, has made it to the finals of the Break Into Music scheme organised by recruitment company Monster.co.uk.
Jaspal is an unsigned vocal-ist whose skills will be judged by Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills and Peter Dickson, the voice behind The X Factor.
The artist said: "I'm 26, currently unemployed but looking for part-time work. I left work as a prison officer to pursue my dream, which is singing.
"Since December I have been taking singing lessons, working out hard in the gym and with my saved-up money I have booked studio time to record four songs that I wrote."
Jaspal impressed talent scouts in his audition, where he performed an acoustic cover of Can't Help But Wait by Trey Songz.
It is not the first time Jaspal has had a stab at the limelight - he entered the Brit Asia Superstar show last year and made it through to the final 27 competitors.
Hopefuls in the Break Into Music competition have been submitting video entries online and through a specially-designed iPhone application.
The winner will have an original song written for them, which will be fully produced, recorded, released and promoted.
The winner will get to record their track at the famous Abbey Road Studios.
Monster UK & Ireland marketing director Isabelle Ratinaud said: "In this age of High School Musical and Glee we're hoping lots of great hidden talent, in offices and workplaces all over the UK, will burst into song and take part."
The competition will end on Friday, August 27. * Anyone wanting to see Jaspal's audition can go to www.breakinto.co.uk.
