From Hobby to Profession: Bala Nivetha’s journey of Russian Sculpture Painting

events like the North America Fashion Week and has travelled to India multiple times for her performances.

Music with a purpose

"I'm using my success to improve the world by shedding attention to crucial issues," said the Global Indian. Majority of her songs have motivational lyrics. "I am deeply committed to speaking up for those who are unable to speak for themselves. For instance, as the Youth Ambassador for the group Unite 4 Good, I recently travelled to the slums of India to empower children. The youth are our future after all," she said.

Passionate about music since as far as she can remember, Hitha’s songs are based on her own struggles as a youngster entering adulthood. The teen singer writes and sings in the hope that through her songs young listeners can develop relevant insights about the new phase of their life.

Hitha’s recent single release touches upon the various facets of teen anxiety. The album titled In My Head reassures that not feeling at your best at all times is acceptable. "This song was intended to encourage teens and help them feel heard," she said. Similarly she was inspired to write We Will Last, when she realised that everyone needs support and someone or something to lean upon.

[caption id="attachment_34216" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Hitha[/caption]

Her song Tell me Why is about losing someone close to one’s heart. “We are emotional beings. Many times, losing someone may seem like the end of the world and we may not have all the answers. It is written to provide comfort to people going through this phase of life,” she said during the release of the song.

Finding her calling

Her affinity for music developed at a very young age. She was only four when her grandma introduced her to music and enrolled her to Indian classical singing classes. "But I never considered it as a possible career for me. Since my parents were immigrants and I was an Indian girl, I only saw people graduating from high school and going on to college to pursue careers in engineering, medicine, or the law," she said in an interview. That is what she believed her path would be.

However, as she grew up, her passion for music also grew. Hitha has been fortunate that her parents encouraged her to do what she loved. “Music became a viable career for me when I wrote my first song at 11 and released it at 13. It was at that time that I realised that there is nothing else I could possibly do.”

After writing her debut song, Standing Up with Pride, the youngster had realised that she needed to write music to motivate people. Since then the young artist has devoted her creativity to the purpose.

Supportive parent

Hitha’s father was the one who first encouraged her to pursue a career in music. “The first step in my professional career was realising that I had his backing,” Hitha shared.

The singer’s father has been her travelling companion in her tours to different cities for recordings and performances. “Without him, I would not be here, either literally or figuratively,” she said. More than just being an ardent admirer, her father is one of her greatest inspirations and Hitha tries to live by some of his morals and convictions.

“My dad is truly one of the kindest human beings I know,” she said while talking about a song she dedicated to her father. “It honestly felt like fate to release Forever on Father’s Day. It couldn’t have been a better time,” she said adding, “I am just happy I could share this song with other sons and daughters on such a celebrated day when fathers truly deserve to shine.”

The song is a thank-you letter wrapped in EDM music. “My love for my dad is all-consuming and will last forever. Both as a father and daughter and as a teacher and student, my dad and I get along well. I learn so much from my father, and without him, I genuinely would not be who I am today,” the singer said.

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ours, experimenting with chalk, and doodling in her notebooks. However, it wasn't until the pandemic offered her ample time that she decided to delve deeper into digital art, especially being fascinated by the animation film The Lion King. "That's when I began learning 3D art and blending creative concepts, recalls Laya, who devoted a significant time to online resources like YouTube and Blender Guru.

As a youngster fascinated by coding and robotics, she discovered digital art at the crossroads of technology and art - a concept that sparked her curiosity. "The idea of blending the two seemed interesting and somewhat unconventional." Unlike the traditional forms of art, she found the realm of digital media particularly exciting. "Physical mediums didn't interest me as much as the digital ones did."

 

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NFTs - a new world

While honing her craft as a digital artist, she parallelly began following digital artists on social media and observed a trend where they were showcasing their work as NFTs. A term that she had earlier stumbled upon in Clubhouse - a social audio app - opened up new possibilities for monetising her artwork. "I expanded my understanding of blockchain by actively listening to different individuals and gaining insights from various viewpoints, not only from an artistic perspective but also from the perspective of a day trader, a techie, or a business person. That's how I got to learn things a little quicker than usual as otherwise I would have only one dimension of knowledge," says Laya.

What began as a fun activity to turn her artwork into NFTs soon evolved into a scalable venture, with her artworks getting collected rapidly. "Scaling up wasn't intentional, but as my previous works gained traction and were collected by others, I found myself regularly creating new pieces. It became almost like a domino effect — each creation leading to the next. I always had something lined up for the following week, and before I knew it, it had turned into a long and fulfilling journey," smiles the teenager, whose work has been exhibited across the globe.

 

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Three months after listing her first artwork as an NFT, she woke up to an Instagram story announcing that it had been collected. "I remember darting around my home, exclaiming, "Oh my god, it's real!" It didn't fully sink in until I logged into my MetaMask account and saw funds deposited there," says Laya, adding, "That moment made me realise that this wasn't just some magic internet money, it's serious. Initially, I brushed off my first sale as a mere coincidence. But as I continued to upload more of my artwork, witnessing them being collected back-to-back, I realised it's not just luck," says Laya.

In the last three years, she has created a portfolio that boasts of over 100 collected artworks for a whopping $1 million. Ask her about her strategy, and she quips, "Creating art consistently. Moreover, I was active on every social media platform, including Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Clubhouse, where I engaged with others," says the teenager who also hosted an art exhibition in the Metaverse to foster connections with other digital artists. "I curated the exhibition, featuring works from around 50 artists, hence providing exposure to their art as well. This initiative allowed me to engage with visitors, understand their artistic journeys, styles, and perspectives on NFTs." In addition, she welcomed constructive feedback, which played a crucial role in refining her artwork.

Championing causes through her art

However, for Laya, being a digital artist is more than just monetising her work through NFTs. She is using her art for causes close to her as she recognises it as a powerful tool to connect with a broader audience. In 2021, she made a short film Gratitude, appreciating the efforts of frontline workers during the pandemic, which earned her a nomination at the Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival and All American High School Film Festival. Moreover, it was screened at AMC Theatre in Times Square. The same year, she collaborated with Space X for Falcon 9 launch as one of the 50 NFT artists whose art was auctioned. The proceeds went to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital for cancer research. "Collaborating with a renowned brand while supporting a noble cause was truly rewarding," says the digital artist whose AR artwork was showcased at COP28.

Laya was only 13 when she began experimenting with digital art and kept trying new styles as she loved creating art. "I realised as a young person I could

create so much impact, something I had never thought about in my weirdest dreams. This gave me a lot of self-confidence. She says her biggest learning in the process has been to never hesitate to try something new. "You never know where it will take you."

Web3 community - the easy access

In the last few years, the NFT marketplace has expanded, and digital artists like Laya have found a platform to showcase their art, irrespective of their age, gender, nationality, or identity. "Unlike traditional avenues, which require formal education or credentials to showcase their art, the digital art operates on inclusivity and openness, allowing anyone to participate without rigid rules," says the artist who is happy that digital art has now evolved as a viable career option. "It has given hope to many people that they can create impact and be a part of something this big." Moreover, the emergence of the Web3 community has expanded opportunities through encouragement and experimentation. "The space focuses more on collective growth than individual success."

She has exhibited her artworks across the globe but feels a lot of people look for utility even in art, and this mindset needs to change. "What's the purpose of it is a question that they are trying to constantly find an answer to. It is more of a philosophical problem than mediums of art."

 

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A self-taught artist, Laya has plans to pursue a degree in art after she completes her schooling. Currently, a student of The International School Bangalore, she calls AR art and microscopic art the future. "We will probably move towards art forms that we can't see through naked eyes and feel a different dimension altogether. Recently microscopic art is gaining momentum. Artists are using microorganisms and arranging them to create visually appealing pieces. They grow these microorganisms in interesting patterns to make them look artistic," Laya signs off.

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