A MUSICIAN from Royal Wootton Bassett is celebrating his surprise success after his second single received more than 180,000 views online.

Bradley Cowtan began singing and songwriting in September 2015 and was overwhelmed by the response to a song he posted on Facebook in February.

The 21-year-old said: "I was shocked, it had 5,000 views in one day, then 17,000 on day two, then 30,000, it just kept going up faster and faster.

"I never expected this, it's been insane, I almost cried, the song's blown up.

"I'm sharing really personal feelings through these songs and the fact that people are embracing them, sharing them and appreciating them is very nice."

He practised playing the guitar and the ukulele while working a full-time job and living at his auntie's after moving out of his parents' house due to disputes at home.

Bradley was inspired to turn his passion into a profession after seeing Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium and receiving advice from Swindon-born singer-songwriter Josh Kumra, who wrote and sang on Wretch-32's number-one single 'Don't Go'.

A shocking discovery also pushed him to pursue a career as a musician.

Bradley explained: "I found a lump by my throat and got it tested for lymphoma, thankfully it was nothing serious.

"In the two weeks between the day of the test and the results, I was full of fear, I realised that life is short and I asked myself what was the point of doing a job that I hate.

"It spurred me on to enjoy myself and have a happier life doing something I love."

His aunt then suggested that he apply for the Academy of Music and Sound in Swindon.

He added: "I didn't sing at the time, so I played guitar and rapped for my audition and I got in."

Bradley released his first EP 'Catfish Part 1' in September while studying at the academy and playing gigs and was delighted when it got 10,000 views online.

He called his EPs 'Catfish' in reference to the deceptive online activity of creating a fake profile on facebook and pretending to be someone else to lure other users into a relationship.

Following the surge in popularity from his next song 'This Ain't Fair On Me' and his second EP 'Catfish Part 2', Bradley's now hard at work on making the next music video with his cousin Nathan Coles and writing more songs.

His girlfriend Vikki Bailey said: "I'm so proud of him, he works really hard, I'm like his roadie."

Bradley said: "Songwriting is like therapy to me, so being sad is okay as it can turn into beautiful things.

"If the product of my bad times can help someone else through theirs, the whole thing becomes worth it to me.

"I'm going to keep writing and performing and just see how far this goes, as long as I'm making music for a living, I'm happy."

For more information, visit bradleycowtan.com