they're gonna look back years from now 00:00:12.212 --> 00:00:15.448 align:start size:84% position:16% like "Wow, I really, I had the bravery

to go up onstage and do something that I love,

and people actually are appreciating it." 00:00:20.153 --> 00:00:22.288 align:start size:94% position:6% And I think it's a really, really dope thing.

I'm excited about it. 00:00:28.928 --> 00:00:32.432 align:start size:97% position:3% Any program that allows kids to explore their passions

and have instruments available, accessible, 00:00:35.568 --> 00:00:38.304 align:start size:84% position:16% that's just a really important thing

because there's so many kids out there

who may be the next Quincy Jones

or the next Prince or the next Chick Corea, 00:00:45.745 --> 00:00:48.181 align:start size:88% position:13% Herbie Hancock, but they don't have the tools. 00:00:48.181 --> 00:00:50.717 align:start size:84% position:16% And it's just a really special thing

for somebody like me to be able to be an inspiration

for those kids.

I think about when I was a kid,

and I was just like them, 00:00:57.624 --> 00:01:00.326 align:start size:88% position:13% line:0% wanting to be on a stage, eager to perform,

eager to be able to play an instrument

without somebody saying turn that music down

or you're just a kid.

That's the time to explore.

(H.E.R.'s "21" playing) 00:01:21.915 --> 00:01:24.117 align:start size:84% position:16% I wrote the song "21" for fun honestly. 00:01:24.117 --> 00:01:27.020 align:start size:97% position:3% I was on tour and just thinking about my whole year 00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:30.757 align:start size:97% position:3% and how crazy my journey has been, how far I've come.

It was more than I expected. 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.929 align:start size:97% position:3% Being 21 was like "Wow, I'm really living a different life 00:01:35.929 --> 00:01:38.598 align:start size:88% position:13% than a lot of 21-year-olds out here."

So it's really just about that

and kind of like the cool side of all these things,

these great things that are happening to me, 00:01:47.373 --> 00:01:50.777 align:start size:88% position:13% the funny little quirks of being an artist. 00:01:50.777 --> 00:01:52.312 align:start size:94% position:6% Lately I've been thinking about my journey, 00:01:52.312 --> 00:01:55.748 align:start size:97% position:3% but when everybody talks about how much I've accomplished 00:01:55.748 --> 00:01:58.017 align:start position:0% and how much I've done, I'm like, "It's just the beginning."

That's the scary part. 00:01:59.452 --> 00:02:01.988 align:start size:97% position:3% It's like this is literally just the beginning.

I've been doing music since I could talk. 00:02:04.057 --> 00:02:06.359 align:start size:88% position:13% The fact that I've made my dreams a reality

and my visions a reality,

I just feel like now it's about taking everything

to the next level and continuing

to prove myself and work even harder. 00:02:13.733 --> 00:02:16.336 align:start size:88% position:13% It's easy to be 22 years old and be successful

and get comfortable, and that's not who I am at all.

It's not what I wanted to do. 00:02:20.974 --> 00:02:24.444 align:start size:97% position:3% I find new ways to get better and challenge myself.

The next few years are just gonna be even more of a grind

than they were before, you know? 00:02:29.949 --> 00:02:34.387 align:start size:97% position:3% And also, making sure I take those moments to enjoy it 00:02:34.387 --> 00:02:36.456 align:start size:84% position:16% 'cause sometimes you can work so hard

that you forget to enjoy and sometimes smell the roses.

So, it's like right now I'm finding that balance,

but it's all about elevation.

That's my theme for 2019, elevation.

My new project, it's really my debut album,

and I can't even day that anymore

because so much has happened 00:02:51.971 --> 00:02:54.741 align:start size:88% position:13% between my first project that I didn't expect,

but this is really going to be my official debut album.

And yeah, new music. 00:03:00.613 --> 00:03:04.083 align:start size:97% position:3% I'm in the studio now, in and out, when I have the time

'cause I'm busy now, but yeah, I'm excited. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:10.056 align:start size:84% position:16% It's gonna be H.E.R. but elevated.

Like I said, that's my word. 00:03:11.357 --> 00:03:13.927 align:start size:88% position:13% So, I think everybody's gonna enjoy it.

When I found out that I was gonna perform at the VMAs,

I was honestly a little bit nervous, 00:03:20.466 --> 00:03:22.302 align:start size:84% position:16% and I don't really get nervous very often,

but it's just such a huge stage,

and there are so many artists I look up to

that were on that stage before me.

So, I'm honestly really excited.

I'm looking forward to it just 'cause it's the VMAs.

I can't believe it.

It's a dream come true.

I was watching the VMAs as a kid 00:03:37.884 --> 00:03:39.219 align:start size:84% position:16% like "When am I gonna be up there?"

And now the time is here,

and it's like you really can't.

It hasn't really processed yet.

I feel like it's not gonna be real

until I get up on that stage. 00:03:47.427 --> 00:03:51.464 align:start size:94% position:6% The process for preparing for an awards show

is it's gonna be different 00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:56.369 align:start size:84% position:16% because it's like okay, I got one song.

I have to make it spectacular, 00:03:58.137 --> 00:03:59.806 align:start size:84% position:16% I have to make it have all the elements

that I feel like represent me

because there are gonna be people watching the VMAs

that have never seen me before,

many people that have never seen me. 00:04:06.145 --> 00:04:10.350 align:start size:94% position:6% So, it's really just about really showing who I am

and what my artistry is about in one song,

which is kind of a hard thing to do,

but I think I'll do it. 00:04:17.991 --> 00:04:21.294 align:start position:0% I'm gonna ber performing a song that's actually unreleased,

and this song is just so telling to my personality

and who I am and what I represent. 00:04:28.935 --> 00:04:30.570 align:start size:94% position:6% And I think on that stage, you're gonna see that. 00:04:30.570 --> 00:04:35.341 align:start size:94% position:6% First time being nominated for three VMAs,

I'm just excited.

There's no other word for it.

It's a dream come true.

It's like I don't know, just watching Alicia Keys

at the VMAs and all these other artists

that I've looked up to,

it's just like "Wow, I'm gonna be up there now,

like it's my turn." 00:04:50.823 --> 00:04:52.792 align:start position:0% But there's so many dope artists that are also nominated. 00:04:52.792 --> 00:04:55.728 align:start size:84% position:16% I'm just honored to be named amongst them.