Unraveling the extraordinary talent, passion, and ambition of Aanvi . S

At just ten years old, the world of music has found a prodigious talent in Aanvi . S, a young singer from New Zealand whose passion for music knows no bounds. Her incredible journey begins with the release of her debut four-track EP, Emotions. Through this captivating collection of songs, Aanvi has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, showcasing her exceptional songwriting abilities and a voice that defies her tender age.

Aanvi’s songwriting prowess leaves listeners astounded by her deep understanding of emotions. How did she develop such a profound connection to the human experience at such a young age? The answer to this question lies within the artist’s journey of self-discovery and creative exploration. By peering into the depths of her soul, Aanvi draws inspiration from her own experiences and those of others, skillfully translating raw emotions into melodies that resonate with audiences on a profound level.

In this exclusive interview, we have the privilege of delving into the mind of this prodigious artist, exploring her remarkable maturity as a songwriter, her ambitious dreams of becoming the youngest Grammy winner from New Zealand, and the messages she weaves into each track on her promising work. Join us as we unravel the extraordinary talent, passion, and ambition of the young singer poised to make an indelible mark on the world of music.

Aanvi, at just ten years old, you have already showcased a remarkable level of maturity in your songwriting. How did you develop such a deep understanding of emotions at such a young age?

I have always been very sensitive to everything that’s happening around me. I feel that I experience the world a lot more fully and more intensely with more emotions. I used to be very shy and, even now, I sometimes struggle to say things aloud, I use writing to express my thoughts and feelings. I think that’s how I show this in my music.

Emotions is your debut EP, and it has garnered tremendous attention. Can you tell us a bit about the powerful messages you aimed to convey through each track?

I tried to convey different emotions through the experiences I have been through. As an example, “Change Myself” is about feeling like you don’t belong or you’re out of place.  It goes deeper into my personal experience, how I felt being in a new school, new place, trying to fit in, making new friends, about how I dealt with that or how I was feeling.  “Speak Up” is about young people being told we don’t know about life, or we can’t have an opinion on serious stuff. All the tracks represent my personal experiences and the emotions that I’m currently feeling or that I have been through in the past.

I have always been very sensitive to everything that’s happening around me.

Aanvi . S

Many artists strive to win a Grammy, but you have set your sights on becoming the youngest Grammy winner from New Zealand. What inspired this ambitious dream, and how do you plan to achieve it?

I became inspired to win a Grammy award and be the youngest New Zealander when I started thinking about where I can go next with my music. When I released my first single, I decided I will release my debut EP when I am 10 years old. I always think about the next steps, the next goal, and winning the Grammy just feels like the next step in my musical journey. I want everyone to know that New Zealand might be a small country, but we have big hearts and even bigger talents.  I started writing music not thinking I would get to places and now with this EP I know that if I put the effort into it, I can do anything I set my mind to. That’s why I have this big ambition to win a Grammy, because that’s one of the milestones and that’s one of the steps that I want to take to become an even bigger artist.

Your EP covers a wide range of emotions. How did you approach translating these into your music, and why was it important for you to explore such a diverse range of feelings?

Conveying my emotions in songs comes naturally to me. I can do it easily now but it started with poetry where I used to express how I felt. I started this during the level four lockdown back in March 2020. There was so much going on around the world, there was so much uncertainty, I wasn’t going to school. I wanted to do positive things and find a way to bring joy to myself and others. Then, when my poem “Creativity Is In you” was highly commended in an international poetry competition, I felt confident I can write more.  I don’t know how it happened, but I started giving tunes to my poems, and ever since I’ve been able to express my specific emotions through lyrics and to turn melodies into hooks. It’s just been so amazing to have that experience and the reason I think it’s so important to release these emotions is that I want to be that voice for someone who is just sitting there one day feeling really sad that they can turn on the song and know that they’re not alone and know that they’re not the only ones going through that.

I want everyone to know that New Zealand might be a small country, but we have big hearts and even bigger talents.

Aanvi . S

Being a young artist, you have undoubtedly faced unique challenges along your musical journey. Can you share some of the hurdles you’ve encountered and how you’ve overcome them?

Some people I worked with initially or some people I wanted to work with, didn’t take me seriously for my age. I didn’t have the creative freedom to make music through my vision for it. People didn’t see beyond a little girl. Working with Frances Dickinson from Establish Music, however, was the first time I realized my music can be taken seriously and there are people out there who will work with me giving me the creative freedom I so desire. Meeting my producer Dan Antunovich was one of the best experiences of my life. He is one of the best people I’ve ever worked with. From our first meeting, he took my ideas and my music seriously. He treated me like he would any other professional musician and understood where I wanted to go with this project. I think that working with him was a huge help and it’s one of the biggest reasons why this EP is such a great release. Honestly, Dan showed me what I can do with my music, he showed me I can own my space, and my style and continue to develop. I think it is about meeting the right people—having mentors who believe in you and who lift you up to the heights you want to go.

Your EP has resonated with audiences around the world. What kind of impact do you hope your music will have on your listeners, especially those who may be going through similar emotions?

I want them to feel heard and seen because I know from personal experience what it’s like to feel otherwise. I want them to know they’re not alone and I think that’s the biggest impact I want to have, for people to feel compassion and to know there’s someone who really cares about them and understands them.

Many young aspiring artists look up to you as an inspiration. What advice would you give to other children who dream of pursuing a career in music but may feel hindered by their age?

My advice to anyone pursuing a career in music is simple: keep pushing. A lot of people are gonna tell you that you can’t do it. You just have to block out all the noise and tune into your true melody. I think that’s what got me to where I am, the confidence that I can make it. I once felt like there was no way I could ever get to where I am right now, but the biggest thing I was told is to just keep going and never stop. I had wonderful support from my parents, my family, my teachers, mentors, and friends.

Collaboration often plays a significant role in the music industry. Are there any artists you would love to work with in the future, and what kind of creative synergy do you envision with them?

I would really love to work with Dua Lipa! I like her sound and her style.  I would also love to work with Olivia Rodrigo and write a song with her because I think that it would be so meaningful and I think that she could give me a lot of tips from one young artist to another. I would super like to work with Lorde cause I think she’s just so legendary and a fellow Kiwi who will get me better than anyone else and I think that her music is so amazing. I would want to be able to sort of share ideas back and forth without one person taking control of the whole thing and I would really like it to be really easy and friendly and just calm. And yeah, I just think that I would love to work with any of these people because they’re phenomenal!

A lot of people are gonna tell you that you can’t do it. You just have to block out all the noise and tune into your true melody.

Aanvi . S

Listen to Emotions below.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Sam Corrazza

Sam is a mediocre artist, musician, and the founder and editor in chief of UNXIGNED. He is a Juris Doctor who leads an excitingly boring life in the confines of his room juggling studies with passion and dreams. He is terrible at finding balance but gets by anyhow. He wants you to follow his artist pages and channels for when he decides to up his game. Pretty open for collabs and will mix your would-be hit song for cheap.