REFLECTING the title of her debut single, young Sarawakian singer Aleysha Shareef Van Der Horst aims to shine on the global music stage.
The 12-year-old recently released Shine Like Us and is currently working on a full album.
She is also heading to Italy in April to participate in the 17th Sanremo Junior World Finals, an international competition for solo singers aged six to 15.
“My next plan is to probably join more competitions, the big ones.
“I’m going to Sanremo in Italy to represent Malaysia and I hope I win,” she said at the launch of Shine Like Us in Kuching on Feb 10.
Shine Like Us was penned and executive-produced by American songwriter Emmanuel “Manny” Mijares, who has worked with superstars like Stevie B, Snoop Dogg, Craig David and Dua Lipa, and singer-songwriter Tyler Conti.
It was recorded and produced in Los Angeles while Aleysha was attending the New York Film Academy’s summer camp in the United States last July and August.
For Aleysha, releasing the single is a major milestone in her budding career.
“I feel very happy and excited. It’s something I’ve dreamt about since I started singing,” she said.
She is now working on an English album and plans to release a Malay song as well.
“I’ve already recorded my next song but it’s not mastered yet,” she said.
According to her mother Shirley Hasmani Eddie, Aleysha’s musical journey began at the age of two, when she and her twin brother Ryan Zachary were singing and playing toy musical instruments.
She took up formal vocal classes in 2019 and started learning the piano later.
Her international breakthrough came in 2024 when Aleysha and Ryan were selected to represent Malaysia at the 27th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in California.
Aleysha won a gold medal for her solo performance in the junior Broadway vocal category and emerged as the division champion, besides receiving a scholarship from the New York Film Academy.
She also won a bronze medal for her duet with Ryan in the junior pop vocal category.
Shirley thanked the state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry for supporting and encouraging Aleysha.
She also expressed her appreciation to Aleysha’s past and present vocal coaches and music teachers who have guided her to this stage of her young career.
“May her debut single turn out to be a success across the globe,” she added.
