Song Of Soul And Fire

This R&B starlet wants you to know who she truly is.

- CHARMIAN LEONG

It’s always a bit bewildering when beautiful, talented people say they’re shy. Keyana, a singer-songwriter, who’s has been modelling since she was 14, admits she still suffers from “incredible” stage fright. “Honestly, it’s crippling. I’d be shaking before going on stage,” says the 19-year-old. Being asked to pose in front of a camera for the sole purpose of looking good, however, is a far less harrowing experience.

“You can follow rules when modelling. There are good angles and not-so-good angles. And you know what the camera sees. It’s quite straightforward, but when you’re on stage, you need the personality, the voice, and the branding. When people look at you, they see the person and the musician, and not just the clothes you’re wearing.”

Half-Singaporean and half-Ghanaian, Keyana does possess those ingredients for stardom, even if she doesn’t present the ego we’ve come to expect from imminent celebrity.

She was only 17 when she released her first single, Save It, and has gone on to release other tender, soulful hits like Scorpio, Afterglow, and Trade My Heart, the latter recorded with prominent local musician Charlie Lim. Her first album, Her Purple Room, is set to drop this August. But she never would have found herself on the path of a musician if it weren’t for her first love — dance.