NYVC Artist Spotlight: Anayka She

Hi Anayka! Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm Anayka She. I’m a 23 year-old Brooklyn native with Panamanian roots. I’m a college graduate, an accidental TikToker, and a singer songwriter. I also have an obese Maltese named Candy. I just make videos and write music.

You're such a great songwriter! Tell us about your songwriting and recording process. 

So, I have the attention span of a goldfish, and I can only find the motivation to focus at 2 AM. Whenever I have a new beat, I record myself free styling over it. What comes to me naturally is usually what I like the best and what guides how I write the rest of the song.

From that freestyle I pick which melody or flow I like the best, and that’s where I start the actual song writing. It could be the chorus or the verse first - just which ever comes easiest. From there I fill in the blanks mixing creativity with relatability in my music.

When I’m looking for words to rhyme I’ll go down the entire alphabet with the original word. So if I want to rhyme car, I’ll think Ar, bar, car, dar and so on. If I can’t find a word I break it into two words. That’s pretty much it.

Tell us about your singing journey. When did you find your passion for singing? How did you become a part of the New York Vocal Coaching community? 

I come from a singing family. It would be harder for me to remember a time where singing and music wasn’t in my life. I've loved to sing since I was a little girl even if it annoyed people. I used to be so afraid to tell people that I wanted to be a singer because I thought they would laugh at me. I thought it was a childhood dream that would go away as I got older, but it never did. Luckily I was able to develop my voice and get people to support me.

I joined the New York Vocal coaching community because I care about my art and my instrument. I want to put my best effort into everything that I do, and that means making my voice the best it can be. I found a space where I felt comfortable to develop it here with my teacher Kacey. 

You're very successful on TikTok with over 1 million followers! What is it like to be an influencer on TikTok and other social media platforms? How has it affected your music career? 

I became a TikTok influencer by accident. I always wanted my music to be taken seriously, and I knew the best way was through social media. When I dropped my first EP in January, I had to figure out a way to promote it, and I had seen TikTok blow up and change peoples careers. I thought I would give it a try. My music videos didn’t do too well at first, but people really gravitated to my personality.

TikTok is one of the best things that has happened to me in 2021. It has been such a blessing and so life-changing to build a community of people who care about me and the things that I care about. They have taken my music to heights that I couldn’t have imagined in my first year. It’s so special to have people recognize me in the street and tell me that my videos and my music affect them.

Who are some of your favorite singers and why? 

I admire Beyoncé, Brandy, Whitney Houston, Selena, and Amy Winehouse because they show so much emotion when they sing. Their music and the way they sing it showcase their appreciation and dedication to the art of singing. They all have insane control over their voice which I have always wanted.

What can we expect from you in 2022? 

2022 will be a really big year for me. I'm dropping an EP late January full of visuals and going on my first small tour. I’m excited to experience it all and to grow as an artist.

Follow and support Anayka She on TikTok, Youtube, and Instagram.