Molly Williams is utilizing social media to get her music to the masses. (Photo courtesy Molly Williams)
It seems every day, more and more social networks pop up.
Though they all aren’t Facebook or something like it, there are more and more ways to interact with friends, family and strangers. You can find different ways to network, mingle or just have fun.
Take Molly Williams.
Williams is a 20-year-old from Los Angeles,Calif. I first came in contact with her through Instagram, a social-networking photography application on the iPhone. You can find different people and “like” or comment on their images. I stumbled upon Williams while peeking at different photos one day and liked her style, so I became a follower.
Williams, a college student at the University of Colorado at Boulder (though currently she is studying abroad in Tel-Aviv, Israel), is more than your average person who snaps photos with her iPhone. She’s a musician. And a singer.
I didn’t know that at first.
One thing about Instagram is when somebody mentions you (by using @ and your username) in a photo comment section, you get notified. Somebody had posted an image trying to get people to go see Williams’ new music video “Two Hours.” On this image, Williams sent an @ to several people, including myself.
So I ventured to YouTube and was impressed. She has a really wild voice and her original songs are excellent.
It’s well worth checking out.
I was intrigued.
As a writer, I’ve long been fascinated with the way social networking is giving all sorts of people a shot in this world. Especially in the music field. Take a peek at Justin Bieber, no matter what you think of his music. He was discovered by singing covers on YouTube.
There’s so much more to Williams, outside of that iPhone camera. (Though, for the record, she shares some nice photos on Instagram!)
She’s been playing the piano and singing since she was four. A lifelong love of music festered from that first time she started playing piano. She said she instantly felt that connection. She also plays the guitar.
That musical love grew as she did. She was involved in musicals and said she loved performing.
Williams said she learned that she loved performing at an early age. (photo courtesy Molly Williams)
“It helped me discover my passion for performing and singing,” Williams said.
The music industry isn’t easy, however.
Take a peek at the industry as it is. So many genres. So many new and amazing artists. Competition television shows such as American Idol, The Voice and America’s Got Talent have taken people of all ages to the forefront. Look at people like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood — two virtual unknowns before stepping on the stage and earning fame as American Idol winners.
So while the road may not be easy, there are avenues available to people to make it in the music industry.
Williams seems to have a full package with having talent and a good head for what’s ahead. But, there’s also the dreams and the goals. And she appears to know where she’d like to go.
“As a musician, my dreams are to have the power to impact people’s lives with my lyrics, music, and message within each song,” she said. “I know that my lyrics can apply to a wide variety of people and I hope to have that effect on each listener that has the chance to hear my music.
“After I graduate, I plan to focus on my music entirely, record a whole album and perform at larger clubs, cafes, and work up to larger venues,” she said. “I know I have it in me!”
It’s refreshing, too, to see someone at a young age have a focused goal. She’s not throwing aside the benefit of having an education, either. (She has a double-major in Religious Studies and Sociology with a minor in dance). It’s one of the reasons we haven’t had the chance to see her on a one of these reality music shows.
“I have thought about it, actually,” Williams said. “Since I was 16, my mom and discussed the possibility of auditioning each year. I’d love to audition but it would also require that I leave school for an extended period of time. I’d rather graduate and then pursue my music career without worrying about getting behind in school. I have definitely thought about it after I graduate so, we shall see.”
Williams has also kept education as a major part of her life, before she embarks on trying music full time. (Photo courtesy Molly Williams)
That Williams has a strong head on her shoulders is a benefit to those who will start to like her music and want to follow her career.
The songs I have heard so far are solid pieces. In fact, I have some on my iPod and enjoy listening to them. Her music and lyrics are excellent and they are songs you can easily sing along with.
And the words and the rest are all hers, which is even better.
“My life and every day experiences are the inspiration for my music,” she said. “I’m inspired by anything in my life ranging from relationships, conversations that spark thoughts, dreams, arguments, etc.
“Music is like therapy to me, as it can be to others,” Williams said. “It can help heal situations; help clear the head, relax, and also can bring happiness and spark emotion of past times.”
She also has her music available for free.
By visiting her page at SoundCloud, you’ll have a great amount of songs to listen to — and download for free. This is something Williams said she did because there are hopes of it leading to bigger things down the line.
“(SoundCloud is) a website that has positively shaped my music career already,” Williams said. “Right now, my goal is to gain fans from around the world from SoundCloud and other social networks.”
The social networks have already helped Williams.
She’s been putting videos up on YouTube of her performances since highschool. SoundCloud, as noted above, has been very important. She has a fan page on Facebook that, as of this writing, had more than 1,000 likes. She’s also on Twitter, Tumblr and the other normal networks.
“It’s been an exciting road gaining fans from across the globe,” she said. “It’s an incredible feeling to know that my music is getting to people in South America, around theUK, and around theUS, as well. The power of social networking is unbelievable!”
Williams has been playing piano since age 4. (photo courtesy Molly Williams)
The two that have been the biggest help so far, she said, are YouTube and SoundCloud. The latter allows other artists, producers and listeners comment on certain parts of her songs, so it can be told what parts people liked the most etc.
The contacts she’s made through social networks have proven invaluable, too.
She said she’s had the chance to collaborate with dubstep artists such as The Sonixx, Niftee and KIEF. (Dubstep is an genre of electronic dance music). Remixes of her tracks have also been made by KarmicSounds and FTAMPA.
The importance of these social networks is immense, she said.
“For upcoming artists like myself, I am so thankful for the power of social networking” she said. “These sites have allowed me to engage with talented artists located all around the world, and even inBoulder,Colorado. Social networking has positively impacted my music and my fan base in more ways than I ever imagined.
“I hope my fan base keeps growing every day and know that my music will continue to inspire all who have the chance to listen to it.”
Molly Williams links:
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!
