A teenager from Durham has released his first Christmas single - and it has been well-received by thousands. 

Zak, 14, from Crook, has released his first original single to success, with the song and music video gaining hundreds of thousands of streams. 

The teen musician told The Northern Echo that he's been "overwhelmed" by the response to his song. 

Already, the song, titled "Christmas Time With You", has garnered over 235,000 plays across streaming platforms and Youtube - and Zak is hopeful that the numbers will keep climbing.

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The Northern Echo: The music video was filmed in Crook, and starred a local actress, Ellie Smith. The music video was filmed in Crook, and starred a local actress, Ellie Smith. (Image: Zak Music Official)

He said: "The response has been really overwhelming. I keep telling people that it has really shocked me, but in a good way." 

"We really didn't expect this kind of response, we had almost 100,000 music video views in six days. It has given me a lot of confidence, and I am hoping that we can get the video to a quarter of a million views before Christmas."

The music video was a wholly local affair; the team filmed around Crook, and it starred a local actress, Ellie Smith, as the female lead. 

This is the 14-year-old musician's first original song, though he has also recorded a 12-track album, which is expected to release in February.

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A self-confessed "old soul", Zak draws inspiration from all kinds of musical influences - from Ed Sheeran and Justin Beiber to the Rat Pack and David Bowie, making his music popular with a wide range of listeners. 

After seeing Ed Sheeran perform at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, he has set his sights high and would love to perform at a venue that big one day.

The Northern Echo: The young musician only turned 14 recently. The young musician only turned 14 recently. (Image: Zak Music Official)

That being said, it is early days in Zak's budding music career, so he does not have too many firm plans for the future, though he is positive that he "has the right people behind him" for success. 

Lynsey Hull, Zak's mother, has helped to springboard Zak's fledgling career through her wholehearted support.

Lynsey, who owns the popular cafe 'The Dairy Barn' in Crook, secured professional support for Zak, including a music producer, and a public relations specialist. 

Working with the producer, Zak has recorded 12 original songs, which will form his debut album, expected to be released in February. 

About his upcoming album, Zak said: "It is full of all kinds of different songs; 'My Girl' is a traditional lovesong,  whereas 'Elevated' is about my struggle with bullying."

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