Pop songwriter Carla Marie Williams, from Harlesden , has always had a passion for all things musical.

Today she is songwriter to a roll call of stars including Beyoncé , Girls Aloud , The Saturdays and Alesha Dixon to name a few.

So how did Carla get where she is today?

From an early age growing up in Harlesden, naturally competitive Carla excelled at everything from gymnastics, kung fu, athletics, academic studies and of course singing.

Her position today, is as one of the UK’s most acclaimed songwriters.

Most recently, Carla wrote Beyoncé’s Brit nominated smash ‘Runnin', as well as a plethora of top 10 hits for Girls Aloud, Alesha Dixon’s ‘The Boy Does Nothing’, The Saturdays and Kylie Minogue .

Raised by a loving mother, Mrs Williams recognised Carla’s talent early, but was unable to fund music classes or stage school which meant Carla was heavily dependent on free local community services, and her own steely will.

Carla, then aged 10, put together a girl group who she titled ‘The Likkle Mentions’ of which she was the lead singer.

The girls made their own costumes and took to the stage to perform at local talent shows and radio stations which built up her performing confidence.

'It was incredible'

Carla wrote popular Beyoncé song, ‘Runnin’
Carla wrote popular Beyoncé song, ‘Runnin’

However, it was aged 15 that Carla experienced her first real brush with stardom, when an advert in newspaper The Voice , called for ‘Talented singers to join Hal Jackson’s team’ and implored a teenaged Carla to apply.

She made it successfully to the finals, won and was promptly flown to New York to perform at the Apollo where she represented England as one of 50 girls from across the globe.

“It was incredible," said Carla. "One minute I was at school in Harrow, the next I was taking boat trips on the Hudson River, visiting Madison Square Gardens and performing at the Apollo.

"It ignited a fierce desire to make music my life.”

Returning to England, Carla completed her GCSEs and began A-Levels at Bentley Wood High School in Harrow .

After school, Carla found herself going from job to job, answering phones in call centres, selling alarms door to door and and eventually working for Brent Council as a youth worker.

It was a time of uncertainty for the songwriter, who would never have known that just a few years later she would be working on the latest hit of one of our decade’s most significant musical icons, Beyoncé Knowles.

'The last 12 months have been so surreal'

The Harlesden-born songrwriter also wrote Alesha Dixon's, ‘The Boy Does Nothing’
The Harlesden-born songrwriter also wrote Alesha Dixon's, ‘The Boy Does Nothing’

It was a cold day in November, when she received a message out of the blue from Brian Higgins who she’d been introduced to years earlier when he spotted her performing an acoustic set at a live event.

The music mogul ran the biggest pop production outfit in the UK, producing every Girls Aloud album.

Carla was signed to join the team after Higgins heard the infectious melodies and lyrics she had written.

Today, the business-savvy songwriter manages her own writing collective which birthed Beyoncé’s 'Runnin' and writes smashes from London to LA.

In the past 12 months, Carla and her team have worked with UK and US acts such as Beyoncé, DJ Mustard, Pia Mia, Rudimental, Wilkinson, Becky G and Shae Taylor.

Carla said: “The last 12 months have been so surreal yet so real, working with Beyoncé has been one of the most inspirational experiences I have ever had.

“I want to be known and respected as a visionary, that inspires and empowers others to follow their dreams.”