Avneesha: Meet the Canberra TikTok star with 1.1 million followers—and a new radio gig
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Canberran TikTok creator Avneesha is earning a name for herself on the fast-rising app—including a spot on a new nationwide radio show.
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that TikTok is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
The quirky app that first made its name with lip-synching videos is quickly becoming a massive player on the global social media scene—so much so that Australia’s major radio network iHeartRadio has launched TikTok Trending, a new radio show that melds discussion about TikTok trends and news with music that’s making waves on the app.
Fronting this new station are four locally-grown TikTok creators—musician G-Flip, singer-songwriter and Yorta Yorta Gunditjmara man Isaiah Firebrace, comedian Tannar and Canberra’s very own Avneesha, a singer-songwriter who blends skit-based comedy with her own RnB songs.
Having created her TikTok account (@official_avneesha) just two years ago, Avneesha has just over 1.1 million followers who appreciate her unique blend of comedy and music. But she says she could never have imagined what it would turn into when she first started out.
“I created my account right after releasing my first song,” she says. “I’ve been doing acting for years and I saw everyone doing these fun skits and I wanted to be involved. I never thought it would turn into what it has turned into. I’m just as surprised as everyone else.”
“I was just saying to my friends and family how crazy it was that a platform that was just for fun and releasing music has come to this.”
They may not have been so surprised, however, given that Avneesha began singing and performing from a young age.
“I’ve been singing since I was eight years old,” she says. “My dad was a massive influence…he’s always been singing. My background is Punjabi so we sang lot of Punjabi and Bollywood music.
“I would perform with him at the [Canberra Gurudwara Sikh temple] so a lot of traditional music too.”
Avneesha soon found her home in RnB and Pop and began to write her own music, joining girl group Mischief.
“It was a great experience because I got to understand how a song is created from start to finish,” says Avneesha.
While Mischief disbanded a few years ago, Avneesha says she’s still close with her former bandmates and is now able to focus on her own music, having released a single and an EP since then—it’s also when she started her TikTok account.
While she does have a day job, her focus is squarely on making music a full-time occupation.
“Pretty much all I do is write songs, create creative content, make acting videos and, of course, with TikTok Trending on iHeartRadio I go to Sydney a lot to record the show. It’s been very exciting.”
As for what Avneesha hopes TikTok Trending will achieve, she says it’s all about getting comfortable with this diverse format.
“One of the biggest things I hope we achieve is to reach new audiences and to help everyone realise that the app is for everyone.”
“TikTok might just be the key to unlocking someone’s ‘aha’ moment, so they can feel like they can upload their singing or their music. It’s full of opportunities.”
