‘Why I Cry’: Spotsylvania County 11-year-old rises in music as singer, songwriter

Post Oak Middle School student Heavenleigh of Spotsylvania County has further emerged into the music industry at age 11 with “Why I Cry.”

“I felt like I could really sing [at age 3] and I enjoyed singing a lot when I continued to grow up,” the young singer, who goes by Hev’s Journey, said.

She plays guitar and considers her music to be in the pop or R&B genre. For Hev’s Journey, being associated with music is a dream come true. She hopes to continue to focus on music and attend college for music.

So far she has already worked with several Grammy Award-winning producers, including  Serge “Surgical” Tsai, and recorded “Why I Cry” in New York City. She has also worked with Fredericksburg‘s “The Voice Season 24” winner Huntley

She wrote “Why I Cry” about the complexities of love, self-sabotage and the emotional turbulence of losing a relationship and yourself along the way. The song navigates shifting emotions, the power of doubt sown by friends, and the internal battle between hope and heartbreak.

Hev’s Journey previously released “Dance” and “Broken Promises.”

Outside of music, Hev’s Journey is passionate about women’s empowerment and uses her music to inspire other youth to speak up. She was featured on the Women of Substance Podcast.

Hev’s Journey hopes to become a studio artist and might try acting when she is older.

“She performed at [The Sweet Auburn Spring Festival in Atlanta] last year,” said Hev’s Journey’s mother, Pamela Mitchell, of her daughter performing before 150,000 fans. This year’s festival will be in May.

Hev’s Journey‘s musical inspirations are Ariana Grande, SZA and Laufey.

Her name Heavenleigh comes from a book her mom saw as a child.