Meet Heerraa | Award-Winning International Singer-Songwriter & Co-Founder of Ascendance

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heerraa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heerraa, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I was 14, I co-founded an initiative called Ascendance, which inspired and empowered fellow youngsters to achieve holistic success while still in school. Together with my co-founders Mathura Kannan, Harsha Ravindran and Sanadtkumar Ganesan, Ascendance was our vehicle to impact our peers (ages 10 to 18 years old) and share with them the opportunities we received to follow our passions at a young age.

At 15 years old, it was a dream to be able to go to school while simultaneously working on building my music career. It was the simple things from writing my songs during recess or recording cover songs during the weekend. I felt fortunate and wanted to share this wonderful experience with more Gen Zs.

While running workshops and programs as a trainer with Ascendance, I realized how powerful music truly is: music has the power to positively impact people through catchy melodies and deep lyrics. This meant more people could be happier and live their lives to the fullest if more reflective pop songs were singing about our shared human experience.

And so, as a singer-songwriter and performer, that’s how my mission to change the world with music was born! Intricately woven within my lyrics are themes about finding your happiness within yourself, managing the limelight and attention, learning to be truthful and managing your emotions, to name a few.

With the help of my mentors and Ascendance, we have impacted thousands of fans worldwide through my songs and lyrics.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One thing you need to know about me is my passion for impacting people, whether through my music, Ascendance or any of the initiatives I am a part of.

On my music, I just released a new single called “Note to Self”, that has been in the works for a long time. I first performed this song I had written in front of a live audience in 2019. Capturing the hearts of its listeners, “Note to Self” went on to win the Audience Choice Award (Song Category) at the Short+Sweet Festival in my home country, Malaysia. With the song released last week on digital streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, it was an honour to perform my first set of shows in the US as part of my “Note to Self” tour, kicking off in Atlanta’s neighbouring music city, Nashville. Playing in venues such as The Underdog, the Commodore Grille and the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, my two weeks in the US have changed my perspective of the music industry. Now that the highly anticipated studio version of the song is here, “Note to Self” debuts on Malaysian, USA and UK radio stations this week. The song’s message centers around managing insecurities and paying homage to one’s younger self. I’m excited to see new audiences fall in love again with the song’s message and find closure in the insecurities they faced in their younger years.

I’ve also been newly accepted as a Voting Member of the Recording Academy, home to the prestigious GRAMMYs®. Being bestowed this honour to be amongst musicians and professionals of the highest caliber in the world, I’m excited to play my role in supporting songwriter advocacy and continue sharing my love and mission of changing the world with music.

As for Ascendance, the team is expanding its operations to other countries, branching out from Malaysia to the US, India and Indonesia. One of the most exciting things we are currently working on is the Teenage Entrepreneur Challenge, bridging budding social entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia to undergrad mentors from top universities around the world. Supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Education, Avery Dennison Foundation and Wharton Interactive from the ivy league Wharton School of Business, 64 teams across Malaysia and Indonesia are developing and running their start-ups over three months. Young innovators and social entrepreneurs arise from this program, fueled by their teachers’ and parents’ support. It is heartwarming to see how each sector of the community comes together to build future leaders. The finale of this challenge takes place at our Global Gamechangers Summit – a 48-hour non-stop live summit that exposes 5,000 undergrads globally to the world of Finance, Global Issues, Entertainment, Tech, Culture and more. There are literally over 50 people that comprise the team behind Ascendance that makes this crazy idea a reality! They set a new record each year and let their ambitions and heart lead the way.

On top of all this, I am also currently pursuing my undergrad degree at Harvard University. Being able to attend classes by world-class professors and high-achieving peers, I am grateful to gain the knowledge and expertise to further bring Ascendance’s work and my music to audiences around the world. Starting this fall, I am also excited to start my new role as one of Harvard Extension School’s Global Ambassadors to further unite our Harvard family who live in different corners of the globe. I’m grateful for the responsibilities and opportunities life and the world has given me. I want to do justice to my role of uniting people.

2023 has taught me many lessons and has shown me the ecosystem of people around me that makes my crazy life a reality. These past few months have been about returning to my roots of making good music and having an impact at the forefront of whatever I do.

The one thing I want people to know about me is my mission to change the world with music. This enormous task is only possible when everyone comes together to spread these good vibes and positivity to the world. I’m grateful to my fans and supporters on Patreon for helping me achieve this mission and I hope more people can join me in changing the world with music!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This was my first time in the vibrant and lively city of Atlanta! Between the life-changing food, great music community, and new-found friends, there is literally always something happening in the city!

As a foodie, my first time having soul food was in Atlanta, which is known for its rich cuisine and culture. Grabbing lunch at Breakfast At Barney’s, my life was forever changed! Everything on their menu spoke to my soul! From the pancakes, fried chicken, and grit – if there was one place you had a have a meal in the city, I’d say it’s here.

Another place filled with diversity and great food that I’d recommend is The Works food hall in Chattahoochee. Located in the heart of Atlanta’s Upper Westside, I was blown away to find over 30 cuisines from every continent on their menu and would love to be back any time.

Of course, other than my food adventure, Atlanta holds a special place in my heart as I was invited to be a judge and perform at the ISSA Awards held at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. This invitation sparked and conceived this memorable trip. Organized by the International Singer-Songwriters Association Inc, the ISSA Awards was held in the stunning Byers Theater which was a short 20 mins drive from downtown Atlanta. With their stunning stage and sound system, I got to walk the ISSA Awards red carpet and perform my award-winning radio hit song, “Feel Alive” on their main stage with the Atlanta-based rock “Say Never” at the awards ceremony. Definitely one for the books, I recommended visiting Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center if you’re in the city as they have many exciting events and showcases for lovers of the arts and for everyone in the community.

All in all, the musicians I’ve met in Atlanta were talented and welcoming, each with a unique genre and style. Definitely would love to back again to explore more of Atlanta’s vibrant city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Each day I am becoming more mindful of my family’s sacrifices and the people that came before me that enabled me to pursue a career in the music industry. My grandparents, my mother, Valsala Krishnan, and my sister, Harsha, truly support my career. They are why I can do what I do. It’s a fantastic feeling to celebrate each milestone with them. They keep me grounded and I owe it to them to make them proud.

Another family I have grown to become a part of is the passionate, goal-oriented people behind ET Ideas and Ascendance. Over the past 10 years, they have been my mentors, my first supporters, and my teammates, becoming the reason I am able to share my gift of music and songwriting with a purpose to the world.

ET Ideas (also known as ET Ideas Group) is a social business incubator platform dedicated to developing entrepreneurs to step out of the system and solve world problems collectively and selflessly at the root cause. Comprising of 30 companies and over 50 associates, their expertise ranges from tourism, finance, IT, training, education, media and production, event management, and many more, built on the foundation where everyone works on their passion and with a purpose. Spending my formative years with a platform of selfless individuals who listen to their hearts, it is an honor to be a part of the ET Ideas family and share with others the impact they’ve made on countless lives, including mine.

Ascendance being one of the organizations formed within ET Ideas, has since grown to become an international youth organization that has reached out to 50,000 students in 26 countries over the last 8 years. Led by a team of Gen Zs ages 10 to 23 years old, Ascendance’s mission is to impact #OneMillionTeens, providing awareness and exposure to young people that they can change the world. For their work, Ascendance has received The Diana Award (UK, 2019) and MAIA Award (Singapore, 2023) for fostering social entrepreneurship amongst youth.

With these inspiring people in my corner, I’m honored to do my part through my music and aim to make all their sacrifices and efforts worth it.

Website: https://heerraa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heerraaofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heerraa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heerraaofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeerraaOfficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heerraaofficial

Other: Listen to my brand new song, Note to Self, on Apple Music or Spotify here! Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/my/album/note-to-self-single/1692511739 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6LqtbI16B2bh8re6dYdjMc?si=67628fb1b3864d5f

Image Credits
Cover Photo: Chelsea Erica Smith/Urban Bay Photography Additional Photos Photos 1, 2 & 3 at the ISSA Awards: Credit ET Boost Photo 4 – Heerraa with the band, “Say Never” at the ISSA Awards Red Carpet: Credit Tom Martinelli/International Singer-Songwriters Association Inc. Photo 5: Heerraa at Harvard Yard: Credit Bing Chen Photo 6: Heerraa with Ascendance Receiving The Diana Award: Credit ET Boost Photo 7: Heerraa & Family at Harvard Yard: Credit Bing Chen Photo 8: Heerraa at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center: Credit ET Boost