At almost 13 years old, Spotsylvania teen Heavenleigh Villar — who also goes by “Hev” — is already writing, recording and performing her own music with a self-assurance well beyond her years.
“I started really doing music when I was about 8,” Villar said during a recent interview. “I write songs and I’m a vocalist. I’ve always wanted to sing.”
Currently an online student through Virginia’s Virtual Academy program, Villar balances seventh-grade coursework with her burgeoning creative career. “It isn’t easy, but it isn’t hard,” she said. “I learn better in person because people are there to explain it to me,” but online school gives her more time to focus on her music.
Her mother, Pamela Mitchell manages much of her daughter’s career while also working her own full time job. Mitchell said the switch to online learning was about balance. “We wanted her to have more time to do the things she loves,” Mitchell said. “It’s a lot of work — managing her website, social pages and schedule — but it’s worth it to see her grow.”
Early passion for music
Music runs in the family. “All of my family is in music,” Villar said. “My uncle is actually in a country music band in Georgia.”
Mitchell remembers her daughter’s determination to be a performer started at a young age. “When she was about 6, she had this little microphone,” she said. “She stood up on the table singing her heart out, saying, ‘I’m gonna be a star.’”
That early confidence carried into the studio. Villar recorded her first single, “Just Crush”, in 2022 under the name Hev’s Journey. She has since recorded 7 singles and two music videos with Oddbox Studios in Fredericksburg. Her songs are available on Spotify and YouTube.
“She wrote a lot of the elements of ‘Just Crush’,” her mother said. “I may have added a few pieces, but it’s really her voice and her story.”
Her debut “Just Crush” was made when Villar was an elementary student, but her follow-up song “Dance” is a more mature take on adolescence and the track showcases her subtle Caribbean accent and includes a few lyrics in Spanish. Villar said that embracing her Afro-Latina heritage is very important to her.
Her Dominican dad may be her biggest fan, said Mitchell, who sometimes has to quell his overwhelming enthusiasm. “He recently asked me if she had auditioned yet for a Christmas parade float. It’s only January!”
She has performed at open mics around Fredericksburg and at the Sweet Auburn Music Fest in Atlanta. “It’s been a great experience for her,” her mother said. “Every show makes her a little more confident.”
That confidence has been boosted by working with vocal coach Angela Somers of Stafford and getting inspiration from successful singers such as Fredericksburg native and “The Voice” winner Huntley, whom she met while recording “Just Crush” and before he got his time in the national spotlight.
Villar’s upcoming single, “You Can’t Help But Like Me” drops Jan. 23 and channels another message of confidence.
“It’s sassy,” she said of the track. “It’s about being confident — like, ‘I’m too cute for you.’”
She hopes her music empowers other young girls who are preoccupied with romance and dating to step back and go slow with relationships. “It’s okay to just be single and have fun and be confident,” she said. “I think it’s important to get that message out there.”
That spirit has always defined her daughter’s songwriting, Mitchell said. “She writes about things that are real to her — things other young people can relate to,” she said.
Despite her talent, Villar admits that performing live can be intimidating. Before performing, she takes a moment to pray and settle her nerves.
“In the studio, it’s not that scary,” she said. “But at concerts, it gets pretty nerve-wracking because I don’t like people staring at me. I like singing — I just don’t like them staring.”
When Heavenleigh gets on stage, she’s another person, said Mitchell. “That confidence… she just blows it out of the water. Then as soon as she steps off, there’s this weird quirky kid that comes right back… she’s my baby, but they don’t get to see that weird, funny, quirky side of her.”
Staying grounded
Even as her audience grows, Villar is mindful of keeping her private life separate from her public persona. “Sometimes it’s too much pressure,” she said. “I want to sing, but I also want to have a life outside of Heavenleigh — where I can take a break.”
She recalled a moment when someone recognized her in public and it frazzled her. “Someone once yelled, ‘Hi, are you Heavenleigh? I’ve seen your videos!’” she said. “It caught me off guard.”
Her family closely manages her online presence—she only used YouTube to post videos up until recently. “Some people on social media are just mean and cruel,” her mother said. “I have to monitor that. She just got her own Instagram under her middle name so she can have privacy, and we keep the business page separate.”
Villar appreciates the support. “I’m happy that she’s here to help me,” she said. “I don’t really do a lot of internet stuff — Mom tells me what happens.”
The singer draws inspiration from artists such as Ariana Grande, Laufey, Steve Lacy and Gorillaz. “I like the way people sing,” she said. “I don’t really care how you sing, as long as it’s the passion you put into it. If I’m going to sing a song, I might as well put my mind to it.”
Between songwriting, rehearsals and schoolwork, Villar admits she’s still figuring out balance. “I’m pretty unbalanced right now,” she said and laughed. “Yesterday I didn’t do any of my work because my history teacher keeps giving me two-day assignments.”
Even with all the demands, Villar’s passion remains clear. “I want to be a singer,” she said. “But I don’t want people in public to notice me and be like, ‘Are you this person?’ I just want to live a normal life, too.”
