It's a long way from the rolling hills of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds to London's legendary Abbey Road studios.

But despite being only 19, and having little experience of the music industry, Georgie Carter has made the transition effortlessly.

Remember the name, because this softly-spoken girl from Witney could well be the next Lily Allen, Kate Nash or Corinne Bailey Rae.

Aware of the excitement surrounding her debut album In My Shoes, Georgie comes across with the self-effacing charm of someone who knows she's had a lucky break.

Either that, or she is still suffering the effects of a night of heavy partying.

"I am a bit worse for wear," she admits. "I went to a party last night. It was okay, but I'm really hungover."

Georgie is still known to many in Oxford for her stints behind some of the city's bars - including The Bridge in Hythe Bridge Street, Joe's Café in Summertown, and Sip and the Duke of Cambridge in Jericho.

"I love Oxfordshire," she says. "When I come back from London, everything seems so cute. There's such a nice vibe.

"It's so nice to have a break and to come back and see my family."

Indeed, without her family and its music industry connections, it's fair to say she wouldn't be where she is.

Her half-Italian father Eddie starred in 70s rock band Mr Big (once regulars at Oxford's late subterranean bar The Dolly, now the Cellar), and Georgie grew up totally immersed in music.

Her sister Xenia is a talented singer, while older brother Jake is a graduate of South London's Brit School - where fellow students included Amy Winehouse and Katie Mellua.

Jake, who co-writes and produces Georgie's songs, helped record the album in Charlbury and at Abbey Road.

"The album has had really good feedback and everything is going well," she says excitedly.

A former pupil of Witney's Wood Green School, Georgie was always cut out for a career in showbiz.

As a child she trained as a classical ballet dancer at the town's Jill Stew School of Dance, and studied drama and performance at Abingdon College.

Her first foray into live music was as a singer for hip-hop band Tempa Tempa and by the age of 16, she was performing to 15,000-strong audiences at Party in the Parks across the UK.

But it was her success in grabbing the attention of entrepreneur Keith Long as the launch pad artist for his new label, Blue Chip Records, which assured her future as a solo singer.

"There has been a big luck factor involved," she admits. "I would say my success so far is 50 per cent talent and 50 per cent luck."

So does she have any plans for a hometown gig?

"Hopefully," she says. "Maybe in the Spring."

Growing up in West Oxfordshire had a massive effect on her, she says - and still influences her music today, despite living in what she describes as "a shoebox in Notting Hill".

"In the country there wasn't much to do," she laughs. "My lyrics reflect that. The songs are natural and at one with Mother Nature. My music is atmospheric and floaty and takes you to another place."

So is it a glamourous lifestyle?

"Yes! It's very materialistic, but there are some great people involved in the industry and you get to choose who you want to socialise with."

Which brings us back to that hangover. So is she lapping up the rock & roll lifestyle?

"No!" she laughs, apparently forgetting the previous night's events. "I'm quite a clean living human being. I'm not one to drink too much or take drugs.

"You've got to do everything in balance - party hard and work hard. Nothing in extreme!"

Georgie's debut single, Little Bit Lost, is out now on Blue Chip Records. Debut album In My Shoes is released on March 3.