Marie, 23, honed her skills on Northbrook College's music performance course and at open mic nights at Worthing's pubs.

She said: "I was very pleased to learn that Worthing had a kicking music scene and open mic nights almost every night, so I had lots of opportunities to get on stage and play my songs.

"I played quite a few gigs around the town, in pubs such as The Vinter's Parrot, Warwick and The Half Brick."

Marie started writing songs with local musician Nigel Ball, and the pair performed as a duo in bars and pubs around Worthing.

During her second year at Northbrook Marie set up her own open mic night at The Castle, and met numerous musicians, did not manage to form a band.

But two years ago her end-of-course holiday to Thailand changed all that.

Within a month of her arrival The Tonic Rays were formed, and they have just completed their first album.

"I planned to take a six week holiday, but once I got here I met loads of cool musicians and just feel in love with a small town in the mountains called Pai," Marie said.

"After a lot of thought I decided to stay.

"I ripped up my ticket home and started getting the band together and writing original songs."

Tonic Rays are based in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, and have toured the country for the past year and a half.

The band's musical influences include Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Dinosaur Jr and Nirvana.

"We hope to sell thousands of copies of the album, but also we hope that people enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it," Marie said.

Even though she is based on the other side of the world, Marie has to return to the UK every year to renew her visa.

She said: "When I come back the first place I visit is Worthing.

"I will continue to visit every year to play my songs at the open mics nights of Worthing."

Click on the green play button to hear The Tonic Rays song After The Flash.

To find out more about The Tonic Rays visit the band's My Space by clicking here.

The Tonic Ray's eponymous first album is available from Amazon.com, CDbaby.com and through the band's My Space.