Yazhini Kandheswari finds self-expression in ‘Iyala Kadhal’
From A Correspondent
Auckland, December 14, 2024
Auckland-based Tamil-English singer and rapper Yazhini Kandheswari has scored high again with music with the release of ‘Iyala Kadhal’ (Impossible Love), blending cultures and emotions.
The bilingual track is about heartbreak, healing and rediscovering self-worth after an emotionally abusive relationship.
But behind her music is a story of balancing identities and finding confidence.
Musical Family inspires
Born in Coimbatore, Yazhini moved to New Zealand with her parents when she was just a year old. Growing up in Auckland and influenced by Tamil movies and music at home, she began singing and dancing to Tamil songs in her formative years.
Her parents’ passion for Tamil culture and language impacted her significantly, but growing up in New Zealand encouraged her to navigate two different worlds.
“For a while, I felt like I had two lives, one with my friends and another with my family and our Tamil traditions. Over time, I learned to bring those worlds together, a journey reflected in my music, where Tamil and English flow naturally,” Yazhini said.
Two years ago, Yazhini leapt and started vocal training with Mumbai-based coach Haroon Akhtar. What began with online lessons soon turned into something bigger.
After releasing her debut single, ‘Sing a Song to Me,’ Yazhini travelled to India for six months of in-person training at Haroon Akhtar Music & Vocal Lab.
“When I returned to New Zealand, I felt ready to take music seriously,” she said.
Simple but Effective
Yazhini’s creative process is simple but effective.
“Usually, a line just pops into my head with a melody. I would take that idea and expand on it until it becomes a full song. That is how ‘Iyala Kadhal’ came together, a deeply personal track about feeling unseen in a toxic relationship and finding the strength to move forward,” she said.
While the song is packed with powerful lines, her favourite is the lyric, “Ne Enna Sonnaalum Na Nalla Pilla Da!,” (No matter what you think of me, I am a good girl.)
Yazhini said that the line and the song sound better in Tamil. “However, that line was so freeing because he always made me feel like I was not good enough.”
Writing the song became a way to reclaim her sense of self. “I took all my insecurities and turned them into something I can be proud of.”
Confidence has not always come easy, though.
“Putting yourself out there, especially when you are just starting, can be really intimidating. I have realised that the only way to grow is to keep going, create more, focus on improving, and not get caught up in worrying about the outcome,” she said.
Away from music, Yazhini stays busy with other passions. She loves dancing, writing poetry, and tutoring mathematics, which she finds especially rewarding.
“Teaching makes me very happy,” she said and agreed that these creative and intellectual outlets bring balance to her life and influence her artistry.
Continuing the Journey
Yazhini is focused on growth.
“I am planning to perform more, release new songs, and see where this journey takes me,” she said.
Whether her songs are upbeat or emotional, her goal is to give listeners something to connect with, whether that is a sense of hope or the comfort of knowing that they are not alone.
With ‘Iyala Kadhal,’ Yazhini shows that music has no borders. Her ability to blend languages and cultures while staying authentic makes her a standout voice.
As she grows, she will prove that being true to yourself is the most powerful thing an artist can do.
