Mixing late-night study sessions with songwriting sessions, former Cobb County student Rithu Hegde constantly works to build a name for herself in and outside of the classroom. The 2023 Wheeler High School valedictorian now attends the Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), where she continues to pursue her studies while growing her presence as a singer, songwriter, and DJ. Through both social media and live performances, Hegde works tirelessly to turn a personal passion into a potential career.
“I think I always really loved music and singing, and at some point, when I was 10 or 11, I decided I could make my own. I think I saw Grace VanderWaal on America’s Got Talent, and that’s where it started. By age 12, I was tinkering with GarageBand, but I was really, really bad. Around the same time, I started learning guitar and piano, and I just never stopped. I think repetition and practice are more important than talent. DJing was a natural extension for me. I like a lot of slower, sadder music, but I also like to dance. Since I had already taught myself piano and guitar, it seemed like it would be like learning a new instrument. I was also just bored that summer,” Hegde said.
Under the username Rithu.h on TikTok, Hegde began sharing clips of her music and DJ sets that highlight her versatility as an artist. The young music enthusiast posts remixes of popular songs while incorporating her own personal music. Her content gained steady attention, with numerous videos reaching millions of views and growing her fan base, which currently sits at 136.3k followers. From acoustic clips of her own music to carefully curated mixes to capture any mood, her page reflects her personal style.
Hegde’s music reflects a developing but successful artistic voice with original releases on Spotify and Apple Music. Among the artist’s released songs, the track “October” helps showcase her signature soft vocals and reflective songwriting style. Her music leans into indie-pop and acoustic lyrics centered on memories and the emotional changes that come with growing up. Alongside her original releases, the singer continues to share covers as well as snippets and experimental clips online, which provide listeners with a glimpse of her creative process and tease future releases.
On top of her music, Hegde has maintained a strong academic performance. Graduating with the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) in her class, she developed the discipline and time management skills that now help her to balance her difficult college schedule with her creative passion. At GA Tech, she navigates through rigorous coursework with her computer science major while writing, recording and creating content. Hedge also travels for gigs to cities like LA, which further emphasizes the impressiveness of her school and music balance.
While her online presence grew, Hegde began receiving opportunities beyond social media. She gained the chance to collaborate with brands such as Recess, which marked an early step into professional partnerships and showed how her platform creates real-world opportunities. Along with brand deals and sponsored content, creators like Hegde can also earn money directly through TikTok programs like the Creator Fund, which pays eligible users based on video performance, views and engagement. For Hegde and other young creators, the fund creates a path where consistent posting, audience growth, and viral videos can turn into income. Her influence also started to reach higher pop culture names, with popstar Addison Rae using one of her remixes on TikTok, while a Document Journal interview featuring Martine Symes and Lorde referenced her mashup of “What Was That” and “Supercut.”
“I didn’t expect to grow as much as I did. I had been posting songs I had written for like four years as more of a diary than an attempt for fame. And it wasn’t my music that went viral, but a video of me DJing a party. Then I just kept posting because it’s fun and exciting. It is still fun and exciting and has opened up a lot of doors,” Hegde said.
Hegde continues to build her music career while staying focused on her education. While managing the demands of junior year at GATech, she continues to write, release and experiment with music as well as grow her presence as a DJ on social media. Recently, the songwriter began teasing an upcoming release titled “Sweater.” She previewed the song on TikTok through brief singing clips and DJ-style mashups that blend her vocals with trending artists like Addison Rae. Fans on both her TikTok and Instagram now eagerly await the new song to drop May 8 on all streaming platforms.
In addition to her online growth, Hedge also performs at campus events and student productions such as Project GT, a major GA Tech event that highlights students’ talents and creativity. This set marked a significant live performance opportunity she received so far. As the star looks ahead, she hopes to add to her released collection, expand her DJ opportunities and continue growing her audience on TikTok, all while balancing her academic goals.
With an exceptional foundation in both academic excellence and an imaginative passion, Hegde represents a new generation of students redefining success. Her journey reflects how students today work to blend academics, creativity and digital platforms to build their own paths. As her platform continues to grow, her ability to inspire others to pursue their interests without feeling stuck to one goal does as well. Through her music, DJ sets and online presence, Hedge shows the possibility of succeeding in both academics and a passion simultaneously.
