The Inspiring Journey of 14-Year-Old Star Nini Uppuluri
At only 14, Nini Uppuluri is already proving that passion has no age limit!
Born in New Jersey, the Indian-American pop artist and songwriter is creating extraordinary music that feels modern and heartfelt.
Nini’s musical journey started early but truly blossomed during the pandemic. What began as a love for listening to her favorite artists soon evolved into something much deeper. She started singing covers, took vocal lessons from a New York City coach, and slowly began to write her own songs. “Most of my songs come from real events, stories I’ve heard, or something that made me feel enough to write about it,” she explains.
Nini Uppuluri gets her inspiration from artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billy Joel and many more.
Her song “Lil Brother” stands as one of her most personal and favorite works. “While he can be annoying sometimes, he’s super caring and often asks if I’m okay when I’m feeling down,” she shares warmly. Written when she was just 12, the song became her first professional studio experience. “I thought it’d take days but I wrote this song in only 4 hours!” she recalls.
Beyond her lyrics, Nini plays both piano and guitar. She uses these instruments to bring her melodies to life. Besides being a musician, Nini is also an online high school student, coder, and writer of short thrillers. She keeps raising the bar, truly amazing!
“Coding requires practice – just like music, and to me it’s a form of self-expression,” she explains. Her empathy also shines through songs like “Shame,” written after watching a documentary that deeply affected her.
Fluent in English, conversational in Telugu, and learning German, Nini brings a truly global energy to her art. Her music is about self-discovery, kindness, and hope that connect with people of all ages.
As she puts it best: “Even for a moment – if someone listens to my song and connects with it at some level – even for a second – that’s genuine and real. I find that truly beautiful.”
Nini Uppuluri is more than a rising artist — she’s a storyteller, a dreamer, and a reminder that music is able to connect hearts across every language and culture.