In a quiet suburb of São Paulo, 16-year-old Luana Mendes sat on her bedroom floor with her acoustic guitar, strumming the chords of Paramore’s “Let the Flames Begin.” She had discovered the song by accident while browsing an old playlist online titled emo classics , but something about it struck her—raw, loud, and honest.

Luana had been struggling with anxiety after transferring to a new school, and music was her only escape. The question that started it all was typed into a search bar late at night: “how to play let the flames begin.” That moment marked a shift—not only in her musical journey but in how she saw herself.

Over the following weeks, Luana practiced daily. The song’s verse-chorus structure taught her timing. Its emotive delivery taught her confidence. Inspired, she uploaded a video cover on social media. To her surprise, it went viral in her small community. A local band even reached out, asking her to audition as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

Months later, Luana performed “Let the Flames Begin” live at a school festival—an experience that helped her overcome the very fears that once kept her silent.

“The song didn’t just teach me how to play,” she says. “It taught me how to speak.”