From a few stints at the open mic night at The Horns in Watford and the odd busk on the streets of St Albans, to performing in and winning a music competition at the O2 Academy Islington, it’s been a dizzying five months for Watford singer songwriters and musicians Jessica Murae and Ben Colman.

“We only met at the open mic at The Horns in November,” laughs Jessica, 20, who, with Ben, won the Coffee Music Project 2015 at the beginning of April, which gives a platform to aspiring artists and songwriters in London and is in aid of water charity Project Waterfall.

“It’s crazy to us that we’ve already won this competition. It was amazing, even if winning was pretty unexpected,” continues the Warner Bros Studio employee.

“The talent was incredible, anyone would have deserved to win so we just felt really lucky and loved every bit of it.”

Jessica heard about the acoustic music competition on Twitter and she and Ben – a tree surgeon’s assistant from Croxley and former Rickmansworth School pupil – sent in their video application. Then the newly-formed duo took part in two rounds of the event before reaching the finals held at the O2 in Islington, competing against seven other talented acts.

Each finalist had to perform three songs, one of which had to be inspired by coffee, in honour of the project, and now Jess and Ben’s offering, Over Coffee, will be on the playlist in every Caffé Nero around the country – including the one on Watford High Street.

“I’ll be in there all the time, sitting around, waiting for it to come on!” laughs Jess, who provides lead vocals while Ben plays guitar and supplies additional vocals.

Jess and Ben’s other prizes included a £1,000 cash prize – which they will be putting in a fund for their developing music career – an all-expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam to perform at the Amsterdam Coffee Festival, a slot performing at the London Coffee Festival, and time in a studio to record their debut EP later this year.

“It’s definitely pushed us, having to write all this material for the competition. We’ve been so lucky, it’s been really cool. Now we need to stay on top of the buzz.”

  • You can catch Jess and Ben most Wednesdays at The Horns in Watford. Details: coffeemusicproject.com, facebook.com/jessicamurae, facebook.com/bencolmanmusic