Living the dream: Heerraa will be performing in a series of shows in Nashville. — Photo courtesy of Heerraa
PETALING JAYA: A young singer-songwriter is making waves with her music with a series of live shows in the American city of Nashville, Tennessee.
Heerraa Ravindran, 24, from Kluang, Johor, debuted her latest single Note to Self there recently.
“I wrote the song when I was 19 and it was about overcoming insecurities while paying homage to one’s younger self.
“It touched my heart to receive such a warm welcome from the music community in Nashville.
“It was an honour to sing this song to kick off my first series of shows in the United States,” she said in an interview.
In Nashville, she performed at the Bluebird Cafe, known for hosting artistes like Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes and Faith Hill before they became worldwide sensations.
It was also a feather in the cap for Heerraa, as she is known on stage, when she was recently accepted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, home to the Grammys.
“I look forward to getting involved as a songwriter and collaborating with more artistes to create life-changing music.”
Nashville is the birthplace of country and bluegrass music, with connections to R&B, pop and rock.
Currently pursuing her Bachelor of Liberal Arts at the Harvard Extension School, a division of Harvard University, Heerraa said she had her mother and mentors to thank.
After receiving a scholarship from the Nilai International School to complete her upper secondary studies, she said she opted for the unconventional path of pursuing a career.
“I co-founded a start-up and youth organisation called Ascendance with my friends.
“I was the chief operations officer for five years while building my career as an independent artiste.”
Today, Heerraa said the student-led programmes at Ascendance, which is managed by her younger sister Harsha, 21, were expanding internationally, impacting students aged 10 to 18 years old.
Brought up in a single-parent family, Heerraa said she and Harsha had been taught to be confident and go-getters since they were young.
She said she looked up to her mother, who boldly quit her high-paying corporate job to pursue her own venture of becoming a C-suite executive coach.
Having started vocal lessons at 11, attended guitar and keyboard classes as a teenager, and written her first song at 14, Heerraa is a walking example of what we can be with hard work and determination.
The former recipient of the prestigious Diana Award (UK) for contributing to social change and community development has now written over 100 songs.
“Songwriting, for me, is all about intention as the music and lyrics blend together to capture the message I want to commemorate and the life lessons I want to remember and share.
“It is a way I learn as I journey in life. It becomes my guide, like my toolbox, to manoeuvre through life,” she said.
Heerraa also called on young Malaysians to follow their hearts and make their dreams a reality.
“Find your environment and the people you trust who have your best interests at heart.
“I would be nothing today without my mother, sister and mentors.”
She also shared lines from her song Note to Self to encourage young Malaysians.
Six-year-old me, she had a dream; she wanted to sing and she made us believe; how good and happy life can be.
“Your mind may tell you it’s ridiculous to listen to your six-year-old self, but my younger self is the reason I am here today, turning my dreams into a reality.”
