If you're an aspiring pop star, it seems there's a new recipe for getting at least 15 minutes of fame (and if you're lucky, a whole hour or maybe even a real career): Shoot a video of yourself performing a cover of a megastar's current hit song. Put in on YouTube. Mix, stir, and wait for the megastar to Tweet about your video and then invite you to perform at a concert. Instant sensation!
Or, you can do what Michaela Wallace, a 14-year-old from Monett, MO, has done: Write your own songs, and write them about things that come from your own life -- things that other tweens and teens can relate to. Put them online so a music professional can discover you and work with you to record a four-song EP. THEN go ahead and become a YouTube splash!
Last fall, the video for the first single from this EP, "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend," exploded online and life hasn't been the same for Michaela. We think she may stick around for a while, and we were glad to get the chance to chat with her at this early stage of a potentially long career.
IML: It's been a few crazy months for you! You're probably sick of talking about "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend," so we'll start by asking you about the other songs on the EP.
Michaela: There are two other songs on the EP that I wrote. One is called "Boys Boys Boys" and the other is called "Don't Make a Sound". "Boys" is about you know...boys...and how I'm only 14 and I don't really need to get serious with a boy, but they are a part of my life. "Don't Make A Sound" is about a guy I liked, but he had a girlfriend, so I couldn't tell him that I liked him, and he never knew.
IML: Ugh, that's tragic! These sound like situations that other tweens and teens can connect with. Did writing these songs allow you to work through your feelings about those situations?
Michaela: Definitely. Writing a song about something allows you to let out your emotions about it.
IML: How old were you when you first started playing music?
Michaela: I started singing when I was maybe 3 years old, just singing in church and to TV shows and things like that. I started piano lessons when I was about 8 years old. I started playing guitar when I was 9 or 10. That was when I really knew that I wanted to get serious about music.
IML: What was it about guitar that really clicked for you?
Michaela: I just liked the sound of it, it felt right. And it feels cool!
IML: The video for "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend" looks like it was very fun to shoot. Tell us about that experience!
Michaela: It was really exciting to shoot the video. I'd never done anything like that before. I got to try on a bunch of clothes to figure out what I was going to wear, that was a lot of fun. I got to get my makeup and hair done. The scenes with the cutouts were the most fun because we did that in public where there were people around and it was funny to see their weird stares!
IML: What are your thoughts on YouTube as a way for young artists to get themselves heard? Do you think some people have unrealistic expectations if they put up a video?
Michaela: I mean, anything is possible. There are a lot of people in the world. It's not like you're going to put up a video and you're instantly going to be famous. You have a one in a million chance. But because anything is possible...why not try?
IML: Who are your musical influences? Whose career would you like to have?
Michaela: Taylor Swift is my idol. She is in charge of what she does. When she's on her tour, she runs everything and it's her way. She isn't like a robot, people aren't telling her exactly what to do and how to do it. She just has really incredible fans and she's living the dream life.
IML: How do you feel about the possibility of becoming famous? Having a real music career. Does it scare you? Do you feel like you'll lose the chance to have a normal teenage experience?
Michaela: It kind of scares me. I don't want to get so caught up in it that I never get to see my friends or family. But it's just really something that I want to happen. It's a big dream of mine. If it were to happen, I would definitely make sure that I stayed myself and that I always get to see my family as much as possible, to have as normal a life as possible while it's all happening.
IML: Would you like young listeners to experience when they hear your music?
Michaela: I just want them to know that it's okay to be yourself and to express how you feel. Anything is possible and if you follow your dreams, they just might come true!
IML: That certainly seems to be happening for you! Thanks so much for giving us the chance to get to know you better, and good luck!
Michaela: Thank you!
You can learn more about Michaela at www.michaelawallacemusic.com and check out the notorious video here below!
Or, you can do what Michaela Wallace, a 14-year-old from Monett, MO, has done: Write your own songs, and write them about things that come from your own life -- things that other tweens and teens can relate to. Put them online so a music professional can discover you and work with you to record a four-song EP. THEN go ahead and become a YouTube splash!Last fall, the video for the first single from this EP, "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend," exploded online and life hasn't been the same for Michaela. We think she may stick around for a while, and we were glad to get the chance to chat with her at this early stage of a potentially long career.
IML: It's been a few crazy months for you! You're probably sick of talking about "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend," so we'll start by asking you about the other songs on the EP.
Michaela: There are two other songs on the EP that I wrote. One is called "Boys Boys Boys" and the other is called "Don't Make a Sound". "Boys" is about you know...boys...and how I'm only 14 and I don't really need to get serious with a boy, but they are a part of my life. "Don't Make A Sound" is about a guy I liked, but he had a girlfriend, so I couldn't tell him that I liked him, and he never knew.
IML: Ugh, that's tragic! These sound like situations that other tweens and teens can connect with. Did writing these songs allow you to work through your feelings about those situations?
Michaela: Definitely. Writing a song about something allows you to let out your emotions about it.
IML: How old were you when you first started playing music?
Michaela: I started singing when I was maybe 3 years old, just singing in church and to TV shows and things like that. I started piano lessons when I was about 8 years old. I started playing guitar when I was 9 or 10. That was when I really knew that I wanted to get serious about music.
IML: What was it about guitar that really clicked for you?
Michaela: I just liked the sound of it, it felt right. And it feels cool!
IML: The video for "Justin Bieber's Girlfriend" looks like it was very fun to shoot. Tell us about that experience!
Michaela: It was really exciting to shoot the video. I'd never done anything like that before. I got to try on a bunch of clothes to figure out what I was going to wear, that was a lot of fun. I got to get my makeup and hair done. The scenes with the cutouts were the most fun because we did that in public where there were people around and it was funny to see their weird stares!
IML: What are your thoughts on YouTube as a way for young artists to get themselves heard? Do you think some people have unrealistic expectations if they put up a video?
Michaela: I mean, anything is possible. There are a lot of people in the world. It's not like you're going to put up a video and you're instantly going to be famous. You have a one in a million chance. But because anything is possible...why not try?
IML: Who are your musical influences? Whose career would you like to have?
Michaela: Taylor Swift is my idol. She is in charge of what she does. When she's on her tour, she runs everything and it's her way. She isn't like a robot, people aren't telling her exactly what to do and how to do it. She just has really incredible fans and she's living the dream life.
IML: How do you feel about the possibility of becoming famous? Having a real music career. Does it scare you? Do you feel like you'll lose the chance to have a normal teenage experience?
Michaela: It kind of scares me. I don't want to get so caught up in it that I never get to see my friends or family. But it's just really something that I want to happen. It's a big dream of mine. If it were to happen, I would definitely make sure that I stayed myself and that I always get to see my family as much as possible, to have as normal a life as possible while it's all happening.
IML: Would you like young listeners to experience when they hear your music?
Michaela: I just want them to know that it's okay to be yourself and to express how you feel. Anything is possible and if you follow your dreams, they just might come true!
IML: That certainly seems to be happening for you! Thanks so much for giving us the chance to get to know you better, and good luck!
Michaela: Thank you!
You can learn more about Michaela at www.michaelawallacemusic.com and check out the notorious video here below!
