Sunday Vibes

Malaysian singer shines in LA while on Harvard's Dean's List [NSTTV]

"CAN I hug you?" she beams, flashing her trademark wide smile. Meet Heerraa Ravindran. With a name that's almost like a typo and an enthusiasm that's suspiciously high for mornings, she makes even grouchy non-morning folks like me crack a smile. That's just one more accomplishment for the 24-year-old singer-songwriter, trust me.

And she certainly has accomplished much. In fact, she might need a bigger trophy cabinet soon.

Heerraa's just snagged an award from the InterContinental Music Awards 2023 in Los Angeles for "Best in North America (Funk)" for her jam, Across the Universe. And that's just the tip of the award-berg. 2023 saw her picking up the "Best in Pop Original (Young Adult)" gong at the International Red Carpet Award Show in Almelo, the Netherlands for her catchy tune Peter Pan.

Oh, and let's not forget the "Best Female Solo Artist" title from the California Music Video Awards 2023 in San Francisco for Attention Island. Someone's clearly been busy! And from the proud grin on her face, she knows it.

"I love what I do!" she enthuses when I question her crazy schedule. Right after our chat, she's jetting off to Johor for a gig, then zipping back to the US. And here I am, gritty-eyed and longing for my morning coffee at 10am, while she's all sparkle and pep.

She's been on the "do what you love" train since kindergarten. Heerraa's singing dream kicked off at age 5, probably around the time most of us were figuring out shoelaces.

"I grew up watching Hannah Montana and thought, 'Being a pop star by night after finishing homework? Sign me up!'" she says with a grin, adding: "I just loved singing and wanted to be a singer for most of my life."

Dreaming of being a singer is the kind of aspiration many parents might not take seriously. I recall my own starry-eyed teen days, convinced I was just one I Will Always Love You away from Whitney Houston fame.

Life intervened, and, well, perhaps my voice played a teeny, tiny part in that reality check. Heerraa chimes in with a wry smile: "You could ask my mum back then… because I didn't have the best singing voice, so she never really thought like this would go far."

At the ripe age of 9, she penned her debut song. "I fancied myself as a songwriter for all of one month," she admits, grinning. "My songs were simple. I think my first song ran along the lines of, 'My best friend... My best friend!'" She hums the catchy, albeit repetitive, tune, and the room fills with laughter.

Nonetheless, her mother enrolled her for vocal training at the tender age of 11. "Music was my compass," Heerraa reminisces, "a medium to voice my feelings". A few years on, she expanded her repertoire by learning the guitar and piano. "I was fortunate to have exceptional music teachers," she says, smiling gratefully.

At 14, her burgeoning love for music could have quietly faded had she not joined a transformative programme: the social business incubator ET Ideas. "It was a turning point," she confides. Established by a cadre of social entrepreneurs, ET Ideas aimed to cultivate young talents in their chosen passions.

"For the first time, I encountered individuals who said I could be anything I wanted to be," she recalls, adding: "Their encouragement was simple: 'Let's begin.' I was like… 'Oh my God!'"

AGENT OF CHANGE

Eagerly, the young Heerraa started penning songs again. "I'd speed through homework and jot down lyrics during breaks," she says, chuckling softly. Post-school hours were dedicated to ET Ideas, where she often performed her compositions. "I felt like I was secretly moonlighting as a pop star. I'd tell my classmates about my 'gigs', and they'd just raise an eyebrow and mutter 'sure, right'," she remembers, shaking her head.

"Your Hannah Montana dream did come true!" I quip, and she nods, laughing.

By age 16, Heerraa wasn't just singing and writing songs. Influenced by her experiences at ET Ideas, she and a cohort of like-minded peers founded Ascendance, a now-global youth organisation with a footprint in 28 countries, reaching over 58,000 students.

"ET Ideas were pivotal," she reflects, adding: "It honed my character, instilled strong values, and taught me persistence in the face of challenges. It reshaped my perspective profoundly."

Recognising the immense value of such guidance, they established Ascendance to extend that support to other students globally. Their dedication didn't go unnoticed: in 2019, they were honoured with the Diana Award for Young Changemakers.

Presented by the eponymous British charity established in memory of Princess Diana Spencer, the award celebrates exemplary young leaders and visionaries from across the globe.

Ascendance wasn't just about global reach; it also tuned Heerraa into a musical conundrum. "Kids were belting out these catchy tunes, but some lyrics? Not so wholesome," she notes with a raised eyebrow. "So, I thought why not churn out tunes that are both catchy AND constructive? Sneak in some life lessons while they're humming along!" she quips.

She found that life's best lessons weren't from a textbook, but real experiences. Songwriting? That became her clever way of encoding those lessons, and hitting the playback for herself and others. "This essentially gave me my mission of changing the world of music in a positive way," she shares.

GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES

The lanky young woman radiates an unwavering optimism. One might wonder, has her journey truly been free from hurdles? Was her path to her dreams genuinely just a leisurely, rose-laden stroll in the park?

She smiles before finally replying: "I like to look at the bright side of things." Raised solely by her mother alongside her sister Harsha, Heerraa holds deep admiration for the matriarch.

"My mother, ever the pillar of strength, never hesitated in supporting my dreams," she shares. It was her mother's audacious transition from a flourishing finance career to cultural transformation work that galvanised Heerraa. "Observing her take that leap was the spark I needed," she recalls thoughtfully.

She experienced her parents' divorce at age 4. "Back in 2003, divorce was more of a taboo than it is today," she reflects, adding: "But for me, it wasn't a shadow over my life." Even as a child, she confidently introduced herself, saying, "Hi, I'm Heerraa. I aspire to be a singer, and oh, my parents are divorced!"

This cheery intro would often leave her teachers and peers momentarily taken aback. "It got better as I grew older. I often bragged that while my friends had to get approval from both parents, I just needed to get it from one!" Heerraa continues blithely.

But her father too had been supportive. "He bought me my first guitar. I still have it with me," she says softly. A fleeting shade of sorrow momentarily dims her expression as she speaks of his untimely passing in 2020 of a heart attack.

"I get my talent from him," she confides, adding: "One of the things my mum liked about him was his ability to sing. But now, she jokes that I sing so much better than him!" A hint of a smile returns, testament to the healing power of memories.

Still, it wasn't easy pursuing her life's calling. Being a singer? I imagine my parents would've needed a fainting couch and smelling salts if I dared mention that to them. Heerraa chuckles in agreement. "At 5, the idea of wanting to be a singer is cute. At 14, it gets questionable. At 17, it's very worrying!"

During her school years, Heerraa was a star pupil, always acing her subjects. "But in Form 2, I hit a brief snag," she laughs, before adding: "I remember thinking, 'How on earth is writing formal letters in Bahasa Malaysia going to help make me a singer?'

Fast forward a few years, and guess who was grateful for those letter-writing lessons? That's right, me — drafting proposals for Ascendance and penning grant requests for my musical escapades!"

Heerraa's outstanding grades landed her a scholarship at Nilai International School, where she aced her IGCSE. Subsequently, an aerospace engineering scholarship came her way. With a playful grin, she recalls: "I declined. Singing was my dream, and honestly, rockets weren't going to launch that career. No Plan B for me!"

RISE OF A SINGER

Heerraa's debut gig? The result of a quick Google search that led her to Open Mic Malaysia. "That popped up first!" she says with a shrug. Armed with just her guitar, she'd stand on stage, not crooning about the usual love stories or heartaches, but tackling profound topics — life's purpose, heartfelt journeys, and existential musings.

She recalls with a chuckle: "I noticed some puzzled faces in the audience, including my mum's, who once confessed, 'I'm just trying to understand what you're singing about!'"

At her debut feature concert at Merdekaraya, Heerraa didn't just snag new fans with her original tunes; she also managed to capture the hearts of her two most discerning critics: her parents. With a touch of nostalgia, she recalls: "Dad said I seemed worlds away from the little girl he once knew!"

And even during the gloom of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a silver lining: he got to catch one of her digital shows. "It warms my heart knowing he saw it before he passed away," she reflects. "He always cheered on our dreams — both my sister's and mine. Along with my mum, he was our biggest fan."

Guided by the wisdom of her mentors at ET Ideas, Heerraa made a bold decision to advance her career: stepping into academia overseas. "We see your potential," they advised her. "A global perspective will not only enrich you personally, but can elevate both Ascendance and your music career."

And so, determination in tow, Heerraa ventured to the venerable corridors of Harvard University, pursuing a Bachelor of Liberal Arts. She did more than just blend in; she flourished, earning a prestigious spot on the Dean's List Honours for two years. She's now in her third year.

"What can you not do?" I ask, impressed. "Oh, trust me… it's not easy. I pour a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into my studies!" she assures me, chuckling.

Continuing, she says: "It's been a journey with plenty of grit behind the scenes." Amidst challenging times, Heerraa has never stopped performing and pitching her music for accolades. "I chase after chances, and when none appear, I create my own," she shares, with a determined tilt to her chin.

One such effort bore fruit when she clinched the "Entertainer of the Year" title at the 2021 Rampage Music Awards. "That win was thanks to my slew of online performances. I practically had a virtual world tour during the pandemic," she reminisces. "It was a defining moment that opened many doors for me."

The rest, as they say, is history.

The acclaimed singer-songwriter has notched up several milestones in her career. Among her achievements? Performing at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, a spot that once hosted the early gigs of icons like Taylor Swift and Faith Hill. Adding to her accolades, she was recently inducted as a voting member of the esteemed Recording Academy, the force behind the Grammys.

"From 14 to 24, it's been a decade in the making," she muses, adding: "People often assume that things just came easy for me. On the contrary, I had to work hard for myself and even for Ascendance."

She pauses, reaches for her guitar, and asks: "Want to hear me sing?"

And just like that, I get a little mini concert from this young powerhouse.

"I'm not saying your head shouldn't be in the clouds...

I'm just saying... please take a good look around…"

Heerraa's voice is more than just a sound — it's a reflection of her life's journey. Every note tells a story of triumphs and trials. Her songs aren't about perfect pitch but raw emotion. The imperfections? That's what makes her music so relatable. They hint at a life fully lived, with all its messiness and majesty.

Putting down her guitar, she beams. All too soon, it's time to say our goodbyes.

As I walk away, I carry with me the reminder that dreams, big or small, are worth chasing. Because every now and then, a young dreamer like Heerraa Ravindran comes along to show us just how dazzlingly beautiful those dreams can become when realised.

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