Music is my (literal) heartbeat. That may sound like a cliché, but it is the truth. Music has been with me since birth. I was a 23-week preemie baby, along with my special needs twin brother who has autism. We were both fighting for our lives in the NICU, and music was one of the therapies that helped us survive. My parents would play soothing melodies and sing lullabies to us, hoping that we would make it through. The tons of doctors and nurses in the hospital all had a similar prediction: that we weren’t going to survive, and that we weren’t going to make it. But we did, and we were fighters. Growing up, I faced many challenges and hardships. I had to deal with the stigma and discrimination of being a preemie, a twin, and a Tamil. I had to cope with the stress and anxiety of moving from Minneapolis to Warrington, Pennsylvania. I had to support and care for my brother, who often struggled with communication and social skills. Music was my escape, my outlet, my solace. I would learn how to play basic strings and chords on the guitar, and chords on the piano. I would hum and play tunes to myself in my head, but I was too shy to sing out loud in front of others. Music made me feel like I had a superpower, a way to protect myself from the harm and bullying. As time flew by, music became more than just a therapy. It became a passion, a joy, a source of inspiration. I started piano lessons at the age of seven and discovered that I had perfect pitch at the age of nine. I was fascinated by the infinite possibilities of music, and I wanted to explore them all. I hated classical music, as it had a straight set of rules to it. I preferred playing chords and producing small tunes for them. My Amma and Appa (mother and father in Tamil) would always appreciate and encourage my love for music. We had a tradition where for each important day of our life, (birthday, a big trip, etc.) we would record an album filled with various songs. Sometimes they would be from various parts of India, sometimes they would be different languages. They would also expose me to the rich and diverse musical heritage of our Tamil culture, from traditional folk music to modern genre. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I started to develop a meaningful bond with music. For my 14th birthday, I got a simple recording studio setup and played around with it. I opened up more, as a musician, person, and a singer. I wanted my voice to have purpose, and I got over my nerve-wracking fear for singing. I eventually started making covers of songs and uploading them on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. As time went on, I participated in singing competitions and shows, including cities like: Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, NYC, etc. I also started performing locally and I made use of every opportunity I got. Now, I am a high school senior, and I have big dreams and goals for my future. I want to become a songwriter and an independent recording artist. I want to create original and innovative music that reflects my personality, my culture, and my values. I want to share my music with the world and touch the hearts and souls of people. I want to have influence and inspire others. Music is not just a mere talent; It is a part of me. A part of my story.

Music is my (literal) heartbeat. That may sound like a cliché, but it is the truth. Music has been with me since birth. I was a 23-week preemie baby, along with my special needs twin brother who has autism. We were both fighting for our lives in the NICU, and music was one of the therapies that helped us survive. My parents would play soothing melodies and sing lullabies to us, hoping that we would make it through. The tons of doctors and nurses in the hospital all had a similar prediction: that we weren’t going to survive, and that we weren’t going to make it. But we did, and we were fighters. Growing up, I faced many challenges and hardships. I had to deal with the stigma and discrimination of being a preemie, a twin, and a Tamil. I had to cope with the stress and anxiety of moving from Minneapolis to Warrington, Pennsylvania. I had to support and care for my brother, who often struggled with communication and social skills. Music was my escape, my outlet, my solace. I would learn how to play basic strings and chords on the guitar, and chords on the piano. I would hum and play tunes to myself in my head, but I was too shy to sing out loud in front of others. Music made me feel like I had a superpower, a way to protect myself from the harm and bullying. As time flew by, music became more than just a therapy. It became a passion, a joy, a source of inspiration. I started piano lessons at the age of seven and discovered that I had perfect pitch at the age of nine. I was fascinated by the infinite possibilities of music, and I wanted to explore them all. I hated classical music, as it had a straight set of rules to it. I preferred playing chords and producing small tunes for them. My Amma and Appa (mother and father in Tamil) would always appreciate and encourage my love for music. We had a tradition where for each important day of our life, (birthday, a big trip, etc.) we would record an album filled with various songs. Sometimes they would be from various parts of India, sometimes they would be different languages. They would also expose me to the rich and diverse musical heritage of our Tamil culture, from traditional folk music to modern genre. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I started to develop a meaningful bond with music. For my 14th birthday, I got a simple recording studio setup and played around with it. I opened up more, as a musician, person, and a singer. I wanted my voice to have purpose, and I got over my nerve-wracking fear for singing. I eventually started making covers of songs and uploading them on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. As time went on, I participated in singing competitions and shows, including cities like: Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, NYC, etc. I also started performing locally and I made use of every opportunity I got. Now, I am a high school senior, and I have big dreams and goals for my future. I want to become a songwriter and an independent recording artist. I want to create original and innovative music that reflects my personality, my culture, and my values. I want to share my music with the world and touch the hearts and souls of people. I want to have influence and inspire others. Music is not just a mere talent; It is a part of me. A part of my story.

Music courses through my veins, an unbreakable thread woven into the very fabric of my existence. It's more than a cliché; it's my heartbeat, my refuge, my compass in this chaotic world. Let me take you on a journey—a symphony of resilience, passion, and discovery. I arrived as a micro preemie baby, a fragile 23-week-old fighter, alongside my twin brother, who carried the weight of autism. The sterile walls of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) held our fragile lives in balance. Amid the beeping monitors and hushed conversations, music emerged as our silent ally. Our parents, desperate for our survival, serenaded us with lullabies—notes of hope that defied the odds. Doctors and nurses, their predictions grim, couldn't fathom our resilience. But we clung to life, our tiny hearts dancing to the rhythm of survival. Growing up wasn't easy. The stigma of being a preemie, a twin, and a Tamil weighed heavily. We relocated from Minneapolis to Warrington, Pennsylvania, a seismic shift that rattled my young soul. And then there was my brother, navigating a world that often misunderstood him. Music became my refuge—an escape from bullies, a language when words failed. I strummed basic guitar chords, caressed piano keys, and hummed secret melodies. Singing aloud remained elusive, but music whispered courage into my shy heart. Piano lessons at seven revealed my perfect pitch at nine. Classical music, with its rigid rules, bored me. Instead, I reveled in chords, weaving my own tunes. My Amma and Appa, steeped in Tamil culture, celebrated life's milestones with musical albums—a kaleidoscope of languages and melodies. Folk tunes met modern beats, and my identity blossomed within those harmonies. COVID-19 thrust me into a makeshift recording studio on my fourteenth birthday. Fear dissolved as I sang—my voice a vessel for purpose. YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook became my stages. Competitions like FETNA 2022 and Ticket to Bollywood 2023 elevated my spirit. Soon, Chicago and Las Vegas beckoned. Locally, I seized every chance to perform, my heartstrings resonating with each note. Now, a high school junior, I dream big. I want to pen lyrics that bleed authenticity, melodies that echo my roots. An independent recording artist, I'll paint my story across staves. My music will touch souls, ignite fires, and remind others that purpose blooms even in adversity. Dallas, Texas applauded my courage, but criticism sharpened my resolve. Music isn't just my journey; it's my anthem—a crescendo of resilience, passion, and unwavering hope.