AMY WINEHOUSE - WELSH CHANTEUSE DUFFY DENIES WINEHOUSE COMPARISONS

WELSH CHANTEUSE DUFFY DENIES WINEHOUSE COMPARISONS

Chart-topping singer Duffy has rejected any notion of similarity to fellow singing sensation Amy Winehouse, claiming she wants to carve her own niche.

The Welsh singer stormed to the top of the singles charts with Mercy on downloads alone - finally unseating Basshunter's Now You're Gone from the number one spot - and is set to remain in the public eye with the release of her debut album Rockferry out on Monday March 3rd.

The 23-year-old - real name Aimee Anne Duffy - finished second in the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll late last year and like the winner - Brit school graduate Adele - has seen her soulful, '60s-influenced sound compared to that of Grammy-winner Winehouse, as well as Dusty Springfield.

Talking to the Sun newspaper, Duffy admitted: "It's flattering to be compared to Amy. She has done really well. I love the Dusty Springfield sound and to be compared to her is something to be proud of."

But she added: "I want to be known as Duffy, not the new anyone. I think I have worked hard for what I have achieved and want to be known for my talents, not anyone else's."

Duffy's Welsh tour starts tonight, with 220 fans set to cram into the Clwb Ifor Bach venue in Cardiff to see the diminutive singer, with the tickets having sold out three months ago.

"This has been the most-requested ticket the club has ever had," club spokesperson Catrin James told the BBC.

"We've been having phone calls from teenagers right through to housewives - from BBC 6 Music to Radio 2 listeners, that's how broad her appeal is.

"We sold out three months ago, but we're still getting phone calls about her."