Aanvi S is possibly New Zealand’s youngest singer / songwriter, who at just nine has released her debut single Music Is My Religion. Encouragement from her family and friends has seen her blossom into a prolific songwriter inspired by her poetry.
Despite being so young Aanvi S has already been recognised for her songwriting abilities, winning best songwriter of the year award at the Eliette’s Music Academy where she studies vocals, piano and band lessons. Aanvi S also studies Indian Classical music (Carnatic) online with a teacher from India.
There is a youthful innocence to Aanvi's songwriting which by in part is attributed to her tender young age. She has a positive attitude to music and already shows dedication, storing the dates of songs / album / musical release date like others remember birthdays.
Encouragement and guidance from her vocal and piano teachers propelled her to into recording this song for a wider audience. Although Aanvi S voice needs developing, she shows promise and hopes her music resonates with other young kids. The composition of this track is also her own, unpretentious with a catchiness.
Music Is My Religion, simply is what it is without complication. Over time Aanvi S will evolve like her music, and together they will grow to encourage the next generation of New Zealand Music makers to stand up and be heard. There is definite potential emerging.
Aanvi S may be Aotearoa’s youngest pop artist. At just 10 years old, the Tamaki Makaurau born singer-songwriter fell in love with songwriting during the first Covid lockdown in March 2020.
Hailing from an Indian family, Aanvi takes inspiration from her rich and colourful culture. She is learning South Indian classic music (Carnatic) from Shalini Muthukumar. Aanvi also plays the piano, the trumpet, and the viola, and is a keen dancer, having learnt ballet, contemporary and hip-hop. Her musical influences include Olivia Rodrigo, Adele and Dua Lipa.
After her poem "Creativity is in you" was recognised in the Potential Plus UK International Poetry competition, in 2020 Aanvi discovered she could use her words to write songs. She was then enrolled at Eliette’s Music Academy, where she had singing lessons with Vesa Luma and Sophie Gibson. In 2020, she was awarded Songwriter of the Year at the academy, and in 2021, her song Music Is My Religion won the Kids Songwriting Competition. That same year, she was named Rockstar of the Year. In 2022, her song Auckland Anthem won Best Junior Song at the HookLineAndSingalong competition. She is currently receiving vocal lessons from Victoria Hollings. She is also set to play the part of Ally in Albany Junior School’s rendition of the famous Mamma Mia! musical.