HELPING KIDS HEAL THROUGH HER MUSIC

Fifteen-year-old Priyana launched her first original EP, Out of Place, to support youth mental health and to share her vision for children and teens to feel heard, validated, and understood through her music. Her mission was to make sure kids have a safe place to seek the support they need through Kids Help Phone by providing a digital download of her EP when anyone donated to her fundraiser.

Just after turning 13, Priyana started regularly hearing stories about kids hurting themselves and committing suicide. Saddened and very concerned, she felt she needed to express her feelings and figure out how she could help. Within a few days she wrote her first song and continues to regularly write songs focusing on mental health. Priyana wants to write music that helps kids feel understood and know they’re not alone. To-date she has written over 20 songs and performed her original songs at various mental health events including WE Speaks at WE Well-being, High Notes Avante fundraiser for mental health and the State of Mind Festival for youth mental health.

She also sang O’Canada for 5,000 supporters at Walk So Kids Can Talk in Toronto 2019 and at the Toronto Diversity Festival at David Pecaut Square.

Name: Priyana. It means beloved.

Currently: I am in grade 10 and I have released my debut fundraising EP, Out of Place, to raise money for Kids Help Phone, an amazing charity that provides free 24/7 accessibility to counsellors for kids.

Favourite colour: Dim sum plum (a purpley pink).

Favourite Bollywood star: Priyanka Chopra.

Favourite Hollywood stars: Tom Holland and Millie Bobby Brown (and the rest of the Stranger Things cast).

Favourite movie: Project Almanac.

Favourite singers: Shawn Mendes, Twenty One Pilots, Billie Eilish and Cimorelli.

Favourite song: Honestly, every song my favourite singers write.

Favourite TV show: It’s impossible for me to pick between Stranger Things and Friends. They are truly tied.

Favourite ice-cream flavour: Chocolate chip cookie dough.

Favourite cuisine: I like a lot of cuisines. It’s very hard for me to choose just one.

Favourite restaurant: Bombay Bhel in Thornhill.

Favourite sport: Basketball.

Favourite sportsperson: I don’t watch a lot of sports.

Favourite book: Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper.

Favourite activities: Singing/piano.

I hang out: With my friends.

I’m freaked out by: Bridges and blood tests.

I need: My friends.

I want to be: A singer-songwriter.

My role models: Shawn Mendes, because he is a very successful singer-songwriter and he works passionately and consistently to keep his dream of being a singer-songwriter a reality.

Tips to save the planet: Use reusable products and make sure to throw your garbage, recycling and compost in the correct bins.

In a perfect world: There would be peace and everyone would treat each other equally.

Be a Desi star! If you’d like Desi News readers to ‘meet’ you, call 416-695-4357 or write to desinews@rogers.com to arrange a photo session! It’s fun and it’s free!