Fifteen Going On Famous
A rising teen pop star shares her story.
by Whitney Wolanin

PARENTGUIDE News October 2006

Passionate has always been one of my favorite words, and it can easily be used to describe how I feel about singing.

I’ve been singing since the age of 2 and I’ve loved every single minute of it. I recorded my first album at 13, just over 2 years ago. The album is called Funkology XIII. The roman numeral of 13 stands for my age and the number of songs on the album. It was a pretty amazing experience— I got to work with some extremely talented musicians. Recording in the studio is much harder than most people think. It can be tedious, yet the rewards are endless.

I’m often asked what the “secrets” are to get into the entertainment business. The truth is, there are no real secrets. It’s a rough world where songs that you have an emotional and personal connection to can be cruelly criticized by people you’ve never met. It’s something you have to be prepared for. It’s also incredibly difficult to break into this world of fame and fortune. Often only with persistence can people conquer the obstacle of getting noticed in this business. You can’t give up after you’ve been shot down a few times. You have to keep up your confidence and your resolve. As hard as that can be, it’s worth it!

I’m also asked what it’s like to be a recording artist. A recording artist’s life is defined by writing songs. Writing can be almost like a therapy session. It’s a way to get all of your thoughts, feelings, confusions and emotions out. And really deep songs can turn into massive hits, too. That’s always a plus.

At first, it was hard for me to share my lyrics with other people. I felt they were too personal for anyone else to hear. It took me a while, but I finally got over this apprehension. I figured that if I shared my experiences with others through my music, maybe some other person who listens to me could relate to my music and it would help them. That’s really when it hit me just how important song writing is. It’s a connection to your fans like no other. I look forward to recording and performing the songs I’ve written on my next album.

Another important part of making it in the music business is playing an instrument. I play piano and I recently took up the drums. I write all of my songs on the piano and I have come to love my Yamaha Grand. I love sitting down, jamming out chords and singing at the top of my lungs. I also love banging on the drums to release any pent up stress or anger. Music is an incredible thing. It touches people’s minds, hearts and souls. I take a lot of my own experiences and my friends’ experiences and write songs about them on my piano. It’s amazing how much clearer and calmer everything feels after a session on my piano.

Being a recording artist is a lifestyle that I chose because of my deep love for music. Though fun and exciting, this lifestyle can be hard. I go to a public high school where I study in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program— a challenging academic curriculum that prepares students using college class ethics. The curriculum can be flat out stressful. Flashcards have become good friends of mine.

I love going to a public high school. I love the Friday night football games, the dances and the overall feeling of school pride. I can’t imagine having a tutor, as many artists do, and not going to classes or eating lunch with my regular friends. I just finished my sophomore year, and now I’m a junior. Wow, that sounds weird to say. I can’t wait until I get my drivers license! As for afterschool activities, I keep busy. I play basketball and I’m involved in clubs such as Mu Alpha Theta and Renaissance.

I live a pretty normal life. Some Fridays my friends and I will do dinner and a movie, or just stay in, watch movies, eat junk food and stay up the whole night. I’d much rather spend a night in with my friends than a night out partying with celebrities. My friends and I always have fun no matter what we do.

It can be hard to balance the entertainment industry, school and my social life. The thing that gets me through the day are my friends. They’re so supportive of me in everything I do. My sister Victoria is my absolute best friend and I love her so much. I try to bring my friends with me to every show I do. They’re such a loud audience! It’s hard for me not to laugh in the middle of a set. Singing live is the best feeling. It’s indescribable. Excitement, anticipation, glitz, lights— all definitely my favorite aspects of the music business.

Passion and determination have gotten me to where I am today. Being able to do what you love is truly the best experience life can grant you. I’ve followed my dreams and I’m so glad I did. I’m not going to say it’s been easy, but it has been the best time of my life— and my journey is just beginning. Set goals for yourself and accomplish them. Don’t take a single day for granted. Believe in yourself. Self-confidence is one of the most important attributes to possess. At the end of the day, do things to please yourself and not others. Most importantly, follow your dreams— you’ll be glad you did.

Whitney Wolanin is a TopNotch® Records R&B/pop/rock recording artist. Learn more about this rising star at Wolanin’s official site: www.WhitneyWolanin.com.