SHREDnews

By Bekka Collins
Photo Credit: Kate Emma

Pre-2005 I don’t know how any average Internet user coped without the phenomenon that is YouTube. We all know it and we all love this video sharing website and whether we’ve been featured in a video or not it’s safe to say we’ve all used it at some point or another. YouTube has brought us some of the funniest things for example, “Evolution of Dance” the endless “laughing baby” clips and not to mention a great deal of aspiring musicians have gained a fair amount of fame thanks to YouTube alone. One of these aspiring musicians slowly catching a lot of YouTubers eyes is 16 year old Juliet Weybret from Northern California.

At the young age of 7 Juliet began playing piano and at the age of 14 was when she took up guitar; and also began taking her singing more seriously. At Juliet’s YouTube channel “JulietOriginals” she has both piano and guitar covers up. Originally though, “JulietOriginals” wasn’t intended to have music on it and it’s first purpose was to savour the memories in the random videos posted of her and her friends. Now however, Juliet’s channel has become more than just a hit with over 20,000 subscribers. I managed to ask Juliet a few questions about this new found fame and this is what she had to say.

Bekka Collins: With the help of YouTube you’ve gained a whole load of fans do you class yourself as an “Internet Celebrity” now or just a normal girl?
Juliet Weybret: I don’t consider myself an “Internet celebrity” at all. I’m just a normal girl who goes to school, hangs out with her friends, and sits in her room filming herself singing songs and posts them on the Internet. I mean, it’s way cool that there’s over 2 million people out there that have seen me sing and play music, but somehow it’s all normal to me. I’ve met some fans and signed a couple of autographs before and that’s when reality hits me that there actually is people out there who, in a way, fantasize me. It’s a little weird, but I often find myself thinking about how fascinated I am by it.

Bekka Collins: So, would you advise using YouTube as a great way to promote your music to other aspiring musicians?

Juliet Weybret: Definitely! If it wasn’t for YouTube, none of you would know who I am and my dreams wouldn’t be as big as they are today. YouTube is a very convenient way to create a fan base. I am so thankful for it and everyone who has supported and is continuing to support me. This may sound weird, but it makes me feel like the happiest person in the world to be able to share my music with millions of people I’ve never even met. That’s only true because music is what I love most in the world.

So even with a number as big as 20,000 it doesn’t phase Juliet who eagerly just wants to share music with you all. It’s clear to see with such a popular fan base from YouTube alone she must be bombarded with requests of songs to sing. Her top covers are “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus (577,167 views) and “Burning Up” by The Jonas Brothers (193,212 views). Alongside covers Juliet also has some of her own songs on YouTube such as “Out Of The Blue” and “Run After You” which have both received over 25,000 views each, which is definitely impressive for her own original songs.

Bekka Collins: You’ve written some songs yourself, any plans to release a EP?

Juliet Weybret: I’ve recorded some songs on my computer, but they’re definitely not professional! I’m hoping to get better recording equipment and learn more skills in recording on my own at home. I don’t really have the money to spend recording in a studio right now. At the moment, I’m spending my time writing new material. I feel like that’s exactly what I SHOULD be doing too, because if there ever is a time in my life where I do get the chance to record an EP, I want it to please me. The sound, the songs, everything. I’m extremely difficult to please. So right now I’ll just spend my time perfecting what may come in the future.

I think it’s clear to see that Juliet Weybret is a very talented 16 year old girl and although she’s already graced the likes of the New York Times paper for posting a video about the Warner Music Group for removing a video of hers I very much doubt she’ll be done with press anytime soon.  In fact i think this is only the start and sooner or later she’ll be up in the list of the top 10 YouTube videos alongside laughing babies and the “Evolution of Dance”

To learn more about Juliet Weybret please visit:
www.youtube.com/julietoriginals
www.myspace.com/julietweybret
www.twitter.com/julietweybret