Ananya Unveils Her New Single/Video “Happy”
Coming on the back of her end-of-summer pop anthem of healing and empowerment ‘Emotions’, which was championed by Rolling Stone Africa, Earmilk, Ones To Watch, and Glitter Magazine, among others, rising Zimbabwean pop artist and musician Ananya returns with a poignant new single titled ‘Happy’ to promote mental health awareness. To further champion, promote and protect mental health, Ananya released the music video for ‘Happy’ on October 10th, which was World Mental Health Day. Known for the emotional depth of her music, and her commitment to advocating for better mental health and wellbeing through her music and her non-profit organization, The Nani Wellness Project, Ananya continues to use her music and platform to have the important conversations around mental health and wellbeing.
Written by Ananya, and produced with frequent collaborator Josh Berry (Honeymoan, Internet Girl, Jeremy Loops), ‘Happy’ is a heartfelt ambient acoustic pop track that explores the complexities of happiness, highlighting the uncertainty, vulnerability, and unspoken struggles that often lie beneath the surface of a smile. Inspired by her own personal experiences and emotional conflicts within, the song resonates with its themes of the uncertainty and vulnerability of human connection, and the delicate balance between joy and sadness. With ‘Happy’, Ananya is encouraging her listeners to acknowledge the often-hidden emotions behind our seeming happiness, and to embrace our journeys of healing.
For the accompanying ‘Happy’ music video, which was filmed along the scenic coastline of Scarborough in Cape Town, Ananya has partnered with award-winning South African filmmaker Dirk Van Niekerk to bring the raw and honest emotion of the song further to life. With a sunrise backdrop of milky purple-pink skies, the visuals reflect the back-and-forth struggle between real happiness and surface-level contentment. Ananya’s simple yet powerful portrayal of vulnerability in the video is a reminder that behind every smile, there may be untold stories of struggle. It also highlights the importance of embracing both joy and sadness on our mental health journeys, while also celebrating the victories along the way.
The release of ‘Happy’ is especially significant as Ananya aligns it with World Mental Health Day to raise much-needed awareness for mental health issues in her home country Zimbabwe and beyond. She also wants to shine a light on her mental health initiative The Nani Wellness Project. Created in 2022 to address the mental health crisis and critical need for accessible mental health care in Zimbabwe, the Nani Wellness Project is an online platform providing virtual therapy sessions and mental health resources for young people in her home country, where mental health services are scarce. Through ‘Happy’, Ananya once again proves her ability to weave her personal journey into her art, creating music that resonates on a deep, emotional level while advocating for a cause that is close to her heart.
Listen to “Happy” on: http://platoon.lnk.to/ananya-happy