Radio-friendly pop music might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Northwest music scene, but if members of Bellevue’s own The Ninth Step have anything to say about it, it will be.

Listening to the group’s first single, “Everything I Need,” two words come to mind: Radio Disney. It’s pop perfection in the same vein as Justin Bieber, One Direction and the Jonas Brothers – simple structures, solid melodies and stories of puppy love. But what sets this act apart is that they’ve got the musical chops to back it up.

Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Jonny Koch, 17, bassist Ben Guyer, 17, drummer Zach Burrill, 17, and keyboardist Michael Honn, 16, the four-piece has spent the last year honing their sound, writing music and recording with Grammy award-winning producer, Pete Stewart.

“I think my first experience was in a talent show in Kindergarten,” says Honn, on how he got his start. “I danced and played tambourine.”

Like Honn, the other members have been jamming since before they can remember – Burrill comes from a musical family (his father was a founding member of Seattle metal act Culprit), and Guyer started playing upright bass in middle school, before moving to the electric model a few years back. Koch has been playing guitar and singing since elementary school.

Yet pop music isn’t what the group originally set out to do. In fact, before Honn joined The Ninth Step earlier this year, Koch, Guyer and Burrill were experimenting with a more hardcore rock sound.

“We didn’t really feel like we were progressing much with our music.” Koch says. “We felt like it was kind of the same. And we were pissed off.”

Faced with a lack of inspiration, and frustrated by creative standstill, the musicians sought to change their sound.

Citing acts such as Coldplay and OneRepublic as their inspiration, the Ninth Step have worked tirelessly to develop their new pop sound – a feat that birthed the 5-song debut EP, “In The Light,” which they recorded at Compound Studios in Seattle earlier this summer.

In the same tradition of “Everything I Need,” the four tracks that complete “Light” are accessible and pop-y, driven by Burrill’s tight percussion, and Koch’s slightly soulful vocals.

“Oh God I miss her/now that she is gone I wanna kiss her,” Koch croons on “On My Mind,” – a rolling ballad that glides gracefully over beach party-esque guitar plucks and punchy pop beats. While the songs are cookie-cutter in their arrangements, the band’s musical sensibilities shine through.

And while it’s still early in the group’s journey, Stewart thinks the group has the drive to make it big. Talent developer Ajay Marshall, whose been working with the group since March, agrees.

But first, they’ll have to finish school; Koch and Guyer will return to Interlake, and Burrill and Honn will continue at Sammamish, this fall.

“They have total potential,” Stewart said. “If they stick to it, and keep writing, I would love to work with them again.”

The Ninth Step currently has two singles available on iTunes – with plans to release the rest of the songs from “In the Light” in coming weeks. For more information, check out their Facebook page.