“I hope someone watches my videos or listens to my music and gets inspired to start their own channel.”
As any who’s browsed through YouTube knows, the site is home to many different creators and genre of video. You can find gamers and daily vloggers, beauty gurus and sports fans, and everything in-between. You can also find some of the best indie artists around. That’s where Celeste Madden – AKA celestial – comes in with her lovely ukulele-foward songs.
Celeste launched her channel in 2016, uploading her first video in December of that year. While many know her for her music, it might surprise some to learn that she’d initially planned to be a gamer.
“Originally, I wanted to make a horror gaming channel because I was really into creators like [Mark Fischbach], but that was quickly stopped due to the fact that I’m bad at video games,” she shares. “I’d been playing ukulele for a couple of years and had always been interested in songwriting, so when my parents finally let me make a YouTube channel, it was the perfect time because that kind of music was so popular.”
Currently, Celeste’s channel sits at just over 300 subscribers, with videos ranging from original music and covers, to more chatty, sit-down vlogs. She’s also opened up about more personal aspects of her life, including coming out as bisexual in 2019. It’s overall very reminiscent of the likes of old-school dodie and other musicians we’d watch back in the day, so there’s a hint of nostalgia in that.
As a result of how open she is with her viewers, she’s managed to create a tight-knit community of viewers who genuinely love and care for her. One look at the comment section shows just how supportive they are, and it’s a testament to her ability as a creator.
When asked about the creators who inspired her to start her channel and the ones she watches now, Celeste cites a host of different individuals who film a range of content, including Daniel Howell, Phil Lester, John Wolfe, Orla Gartland and Maja Anushka. You can see little sprinkles of them throughout her content, alongside her growth as a person.
“I want viewers to see that progress is possible,” she says. “I can’t stand watching my old videos because I couldn’t sing (or position the camera correctly), but there’s no way I’m ever taking them down because I’m proud of where I am now. Maybe one day, someone’s going to watch and feel the same way I did in 2014 watching musicians like dodie.”
As with many musicians who utilise YouTube to share their content, Celeste has used it as a stepping stone to further her career. Along with posting to Soundcloud and Spotify, she’s shared that she’s begun work on producing her debut EP, with a release date yet to be announced. With the current COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown, she’s found herself with more free time to focus on herself and her content, something she’s taking full advantage of.
Given YouTube has launched her into the public eye, Celeste is conscious of the fact that she still gets nervous about people’s opinions of her videos. However, she is quick to point out that you eventually learn to push past it, especially if it’s something you’re passionate about.
“The idea of people being able to see my music and have their own opinions on it was – and still is – terrifying, but I’m always so surprised at the amount of positive feedback I get from it,” she shares. “Eventually, you stop being as scared because if you’re passionate about something, other people will be too.”
In regards to her music, Celeste admits that YouTube has been incredibly helpful. “YouTube has been so helpful, especially considering the fact that most people discover my music on there,” she says. “When I put out my first single, I was able to become an official music channel, allowing listeners to connect with me as a creator. I can directly interact with people that way and I love it!”
As for her ultimate goal for her channel? Celeste shares that it’s inspiring others.
“As for the future, I hope someone watches my videos or listens to my music and get inspired to start their own channel. That’s what I’m aiming for.”
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