The Falcon   |   Volume 81, Issue 26

Published 6/02/10   |   Log In

Holine greets Youtube fame with humility

Junior Kiersten Holine sings "Better Times" by Beach House for one of her Youtube.com videos.
Photo credit: LAURA EASLEY/The Falcon.

Student videos herself singing, finds feedback

By DUSTY HENRY, Features Editor

Published: May 26, 2010

On Dec. 30, 2006, junior Kiersten Holine uploaded her first video cover, "Other Side of the World" by KT Tunstall, on Youtube.com. Nearly four years later, Holine has 4,471,307 total views on her videos and 16,586 subscribers.

Holine, a studio art major and philosophy minor, has quickly risen as a musical force on the Internet. Though she may not be the Star Wars kid or Tay Zonday, she is still receiving a high number of views for her videos.

"You can still do well writing genuine, heartfelt music," Holine said. "You don't have to be on American Idol."

The start of Holine's Youtube.com stardom was simple. Having not performed much in front of people, it was a way for her to get feedback from others.

"My mom always told me I was good," Holine said. "I just wanted someone else to tell me."

Now, with 53 video covers posted online, Holine is joining the ranks of Youtube.com celebrity.

As of now, her cover of "Girl" by The Beatles has 555,732 views. Her videos mostly feature her on guitar and sometimes piano.

Holine has been singing since she was young and started playing the guitar when she was in sixth grade. Both of her parents were fairly musical, she said.

"Me and my mom were just always singing," Holine said. It was never forced, just encouraged, she added.

In 2007, Holine received an e-mail from Rolling Stone Magazine. A writer for the publication had to submit a story that night and wanted to feature Holine. However, she did not see the message until too late, but was still mentioned in an article about Youtube.com Folk Revival, she said.

Rolling Stone was not the only one taking note of Holine's videos. Indie folk rock star William Fitzsimmons saw Holine's videos a couple years ago and subsequently contacted her, Holine said. Fitzsimmons has given her advice over the years.

"When I've been discouraged writing, (Fitzsimmons) told me to push through," Holine said.

Although most of her videos feature her alone, Holine has also collaborated with other artists through Youtube.com. On several videos, she has collaborated with musician Jeff Pianki. Each of them record their parts separately and then edit the sound and video together into one track. Among others, they have recorded covers of "White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes and "Train Song" by Vashti Bunyan.

Holine has also worked with musician Colin Caulfield through Youtube.com on one of her original songs titled "Jacob." Holine said this is her favorite original song because of the musical complexity Caulfield added to the track. She appreciated getting away from the guitar and just herself, she said.

Holine does not stick to recording covers exclusively. Last summer, Holine recorded an EP of original material titled "Ignoble" using her computer and GarageBand. Then, she had a friend in Nashville, Tenn., mix the audio for her. Holine described the album as being very homemade.

Different parts of artists inspire Holine, she said. Lyrically, Holine cites Bob Dylan as one of her main influences as well as indie rock band Wilco. She also cited Andrew Bird as a creative inspiration.

"If I think of a lyric, I'll write it down and let it sit and build on it later," she said.

Holine appreciates songs that can make her stop what she is doing, change someone or make them feel something, she said.

"(I like) the fact that it can hit someone emotionally so much," she said.

Holine is always writing and hopes to release more music this summer, she said. She would not mind getting signed, but right now she wants to focus on finishing school.

"I hope people are able to hear my music," Holine said. "I don't want to be famous."

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