When Haven Teo walks into the studio, she’s unassuming. Dressed in a relaxed T-shirt, Bermudas and sandals, she exudes the laidback confidence of someone who knows exactly who she is. "I've shot here before!" she exclaims, looking around with familiarity. She’s shy at first, but by lunchtime, something shifts. As the conversation turns to knowing when to stand up for yourself, she leans in, fully engaged. And by the time she steps in front of the camera, there’s no hesitation—Haven, the artist, is here.

It’s been a big year so far for the 21-year-old singer-songwriter. Her debut album, My World, was released on Valentine’s Day. Haven shares that it is her most personal project yet. "I was nervous about releasing an album. I’d only ever done singles before, so this felt like sending my baby out into the world," she confesses. "But the response has been incredible."

The process of creating the album, which took two years to complete, started with the rediscovery of one of her earlier songs, "My World", written when she was 18. Initially penned as a love poem for someone, the song took on a new meaning when she revisited it. "I listened back to it and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, where has this been?’ Hearing it again, I realised it was a love song to myself, or maybe even a cry for help," she shares.

Related article: Atiqa Dar: Redefining Gen Z Influence With Humour & Heart

For Haven, songwriting is deeply cathartic. "Every time I record, I pour my entire heart into it. It’s exhausting, but it’s the only way I know how to make music that feels real." 

In our conversation, she speaks openly about her struggles with mental health and how music became a lifeline. "I didn’t always know how to express what I was feeling, but when I started writing songs, everything made sense. It was like therapy."

There was a time, she says, when she wasn’t sure she would make it through. "I was in such a low place that I didn’t think there was a way out. I remember feeling like I had no control over my emotions or my future. I kept thinking, ‘What if this feeling never goes away?’” But somehow, she did find a way forward through music. Needless to say,  Haven also found people who “reminded me that I wasn’t alone”.

Related article: Shazza Unveils "MIDNIGHT": A Soul-Stirring Collaboration With Umar Sirhan & teem

This honesty about mental health is something she carries into her interactions with fans. With careful reflection, she shared how, during a TikTok live session, one of her fans reached out to say that her music had helped them through a difficult time. "I remember they said, ‘Your song made me feel like I wasn’t alone.’ And that meant everything to me," she recalls. Years later, that same fan messaged her again to say they had found the courage to seek therapy and were in a much better place. "That was the moment I realised this was bigger than me. Every word, every song—it matters. The idea that something I created could be a source of comfort for someone else—it makes everything worth it."

That self-awareness extends beyond her music. At the shoot, Haven starts off reserved, sticking to what feels familiar, but as the day progresses, she begins to loosen up. When she sees the racks of clothes, her excitement is instant. "Slay!" she exclaims in delight, running her hands over the latest pieces from H&M's spring/summer 2025 collection and the finest selections from Dolce&Gabbana, Moschino and Prada.

Her interest in fashion, however, is something she’s only recently begun to explore. "I was so focused on music that I never really paid much attention to it," she admits. But a recent deep dive into fashion history—sparked by a Mugler documentary—changed that. "I’ve been watching old fashion shows, learning about designers. It’s a whole new world”. When asked about her fashion icons or style inspirations, Haven laughs. "Give me a year, and I’ll have a solid answer for you!" she jokes.

Related article: Voice Of A Nation: Benjamin Kheng

Between embracing the artist she is now and envisioning who she might become, Haven is in an interesting phase. Her music has shifted, matured even. "When I listen to my older songs, I can hear how much I’ve changed," she observes. "I saw love as this dreamy, effortless thing when I was younger. Now, I understand that it comes with responsibility. That’s reflected in my lyrics, in how I tell stories."

Despite her growing recognition, Haven is still figuring out how to navigate the industry on her own terms. The rise of social media has brought both opportunities and frustrations. "It’s tough seeing people go viral for random things while you spend years working on your craft," she admits. "But I remind myself that I’m building something that lasts. I’d rather take my time and create something meaningful than chase trends that disappear overnight."

That sense of responsibility extends to the kind of presence she has, both online and in real life. "There’s this weird pressure when people start looking up to you. It’s flattering, but it also makes you hyper-aware of every decision you make,” she says.

Related article: Iman Fandi & VIDI On Creativity, Connection, And Carving Their Own Paths In Music

Haven’s love for music started long before she saw artists like Billie Eilish, Blackpink, and 88rising making it big. "I think it really hit me when High School Musical came out. They were singing and dancing, and I remember watching it as a kid, thinking, ‘Wait, people do this for a living and get paid?’ That was a peak moment for me.”

That childhood fascination grew into something deeper as she got older. “Back then, when I was 10 or 11, all I saw on the Billboard charts were Western artists. And I remember wondering, as an Asian girl, is this even possible?” Then came the wave of Asian artists breaking into the mainstream. "K-pop artists started rising and suddenly, people from Korea, Singapore, Thailand had a shot at international stardom.” Plus, seeing Billie Eilish’s rise to fame at 13 also gave her the push to start young. "People really respected her art despite her young age. That was when I realised I wasn’t crazy for wanting to start young."

With that belief, today, her ambitions are sky-high. "I want to perform at Coachella, at the Grammys, even the Oscars," she says, laughing but entirely serious. "Why not? Someone has to be the first Singaporean to do it. Might as well be me."

But in between dreaming big, she’s also learning the art of balance. When asked what she plans to do now that her debut is out, she says: "A commercial break before the next season. I’ve been living for the plot since I was 13. Maybe this year, I just want to take a little breather”.

Then again, Haven doesn’t do well with stillness. "I’m already itching to get back in the studio. I feel like I’m stepping into a new era. I’ve spent the last two years writing about love, but now, I want to explore something different. I don’t know what yet. Maybe I need to go through some new experiences first."

Photographed by SHAWN PAUL TAN
Styled by DONSON CHAN

Producer NAVIN PILLAY
Hairstylist JIMMY YAP/Kimistry Hair Boutique using Goldwell
Make-up Artist RINA SIM using JOOCYEE