A NEW Year bet to write a song with someone he had met that same evening must seem worlds away for Will Graydon.

For the Oxford-born 27-year-old is now one half of the band OMYO (Our Music Your Opinion), whose debut single 'Lady' will be the soundtrack to fashion retailer New Look’s 2016 autumn/winter campaign.

Mr Graydon, who went to Magdalen College School, met his future bandmate, Tom McCorkell in an Oxfordshire pub in 2014.

Two days after making their bet, their first track was written and then another followed just days later.

Since then, the bandmates have been creating song after song – with the help of mobile phone messaging app Whatsapp due to Mr Graydon’s busy job as a model.

Mr Graydon, who studied biology, said: "I have always had an interest in music and used music software while at university.

Oxford Mail:

  • OMYO band members are Will Graydon, left, and Tom McCorkell.​

“But Tom didn't really know he could sing – all his mates overheard him while he was sat on the toilet and filmed him.

"I travelled a lot working and he was still at uni so we just wrote most of the album on Whatsapp. I would send him track ideas and he would add lyrics."

The band describe their sound as somewhere between One Republic and One Direction although they both come from a soul and motown background.

Through his modelling work, Mr Graydon was in touch with the brand manager at New Look and asked him to listen to the band's music.

"He has just championed us ever since," said Mr Graydon. "He has been so behind us."

That was about a year ago and since then, the band has played on the New Look stage at Wireless Festival, travelled to New York and Germany and were selected for the fashion brand's autumn/winter campaign, featuring heavily in the campaign video.

Mr Graydon, who added that every track is written by the band, said: "We are buzzing, it's amazing how a year ago everyone said it was just a hobby.

"We always hoped it would do well and now it's getting a lot of press.

"It has been amazing, pretty hard because we have done everything ourselves but we wouldn't change a thing.

"We are now just looking forward to getting out on tours and performing."

The band has been receiving support from Andrew Marston at BBC Hereford and Worcester and have been asked by BBC Introducing to perform for broadcast at Nozstock.

OMYO released their first single Lady last Friday (July, 15).

It is available to buy from iTunes.

By Jessica Phillips