TWEED beat-boxing queen Bernie Van Tiel is paving the way for female performers.

The 16-year-old Murwillumbah performer recently lent her vocals to two albums for up-and-coming singer Krystal Lynch’s first album.

Miss Van Tiel said it had been hard to make her mark in the beat-boxing and rapping world.

“It’s great to have females breaking into the industry; it is hard but we have to even out the score,” Miss Van Tiel.

The self-taught musician gave up lessons at an early stage, preferring to follow her own rhythm.

“I had guitar lessons for six weeks, but I gave them up to teach myself because I felt restricted by the teacher,” Miss Van Tiel said.

“I think it’s better to teach yourself than to have someone hold your hand.”

The Tweed-based performer dreams of a career on stage, but realises it is a hard road to follow.

“I know there are a lot of people out there who want this career but don’t get it,” Miss Van Tiel said.

“I feel like I light up on stage, but it’s not that I need to be famous. Even if I was performing out of a trailer I would be happy.”

Miss Van Tiel said she hopes to pursue a career in performance when she leaves school, but does not believe formal education is the key to success.

“I don’t think I’d go to uni to study music. I think you learn more from performing, by listening to other artists and by teaching yourself,” Miss Van Tiel said.

“I’m no Mozart but I can create a good composition.”

Bernie Van Tiel will continue to perform across the Tweed region in the coming months.