Singer's Grammy nominations shine a spotlight on Filipina American

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H.E.R.'s face is practically hidden under a mop of hair and sunglasses.

THE SINGER known as H.E.R., aka Gabriella "Gabi" Wilson, can no longer stay in the shadows. With five Grammy nominations, the Filipina American has exploded into the public eye.

When the music award nominations were announced Friday (Dec. 7), everybody was asking, "Who is H.E.R.?"

"I'm not hiding," the 21-year old Californian told Variety, "I just only ever wanted to be known for the music I was making."

She has been nominated Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song.

H.E.R. stands for "Having Everything Revealed." And, slowly, that is what is happening to her. She acknowledges that it will be difficult to maintain her anonymity.

"Being anonymous, I thought I'd just release the music and see what happens organically," she told the L.A. Times. "It was almost like I was forced to reveal myself — like, 'OK, it's time.'"

She was born in Vallejo, California to a Filipino mother and an African American father, who was a member of a Bay Area band. She performed at the Apollo Theater at age 10 and signed with RCA at 14.

 "It's so beautiful that it's happening that way," H.ER. told Billboard. "Like people just love the music for what it is. It's not about looks, followers, clout or anything. It's just about pure music."

"I think it's really don't try to conform. Like, be yourself in the world of what's happening, you know what I mean? ... I really just try to stay true to myself and my story and speak my truth in my heart. That's something that I live by. You can't try to be something else and expect to get recognized for trying to be something else; you should always be you. Do what you want to do and make music that's honest to you, whatever your truth may be," continued H.E.R.

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H.E.R. performed on the BET Awards Show

It's not like she sought to be a mystery. She didn't want anything to overcome her music. "The artists I love — Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson — were low-key in revealing who they were, despite what the press did," she told Variety. "Their personalities were introverted. Like me, we’re loners. Out here, being myself, being in the studio — that’s crucial. My personal life is not important. With me, and for me, it is all about the music.”

2018 is the year that will be a challenging one for H.E.R. Whether she likes it or not, it's going to difficult to remain under the radar. She was nominated for 12 Soul Train awards and one for the B.E.T awards, where she performed for the nationally televised awards show.

“Alicia Keys told me that when it comes to music, all you need is three chords and the truth,” H.E.R. says. “I think you can apply that to life, too.”

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