Singer Ernie Zakri never relied on famous aunt and uncle, Ziana and Anuar Zain

Ernie Zakri won Bintang RTM back in 2009 but only managed to break into the industry almost a decade later. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

It is two hours before the prestigious song competition Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) and singer Ernie Zakri has just been struck with an idea.

In a spur of creativity, she decides to hit an impossibly high note towards the second half of Aku Cinta, her duet with Syamel, a move she has not attempted before.