YouTube has taken over the Internet, leaving millions across the world glued to their computer screens, amazed by everything from singing animals to pranks gone awry to undiscovered talents. Many aspiring musicians from all around the globe use the site as an outlet, with some of the best musical gems hidden in the clutter of clips. These are the five YouTube songsters we’re obsessing about this week.
1. Megan and Liz (MeganandLiz)
The twin duo, Megan and Liz, have become a sensation on YouTube and otherwise with their beautifully harmonizing vocals and immense individual talent. Theirs is the 34th most subscribed channel, and they have over five million channel views. They were featured on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show, where they met Taylor Swift, one of their main influences. Megan and Liz do covers of many popular songs, and Megan sometimes plays guitar as well. They also write their own original songs, and the pair has since released an EP entitled “All of Our Boyfriends.”
2. A Minter Condition (mintercondition)
The unsigned and relatively unknown YouTube singer, known only as A Minter Condition, is a great example that views are not directly related to talent. With only 40,000 overall channel views — and the most on any one video being 500 — it is clear A Minter Condition is a hidden gem in the YouTube music scene. He writes many of his own songs, although he got his start only one year ago doing covers of Anberlin. His voice and natural talent on the guitar, paired with his unassuming and humble demeanor, make him both likeable and likely to make it big in the music business.
3. Christina Grimmie (zeldaxlove64)
Christina Grimmie, known as zeldaxlove64, is the 11th most subscribed musician on YouTube of all time and the 70th most subscribed channel of all time. She has achieved a hefty amount of notoriety through her videos and has almost 11 million channel views. She has earned her fame with her amazing voice and amusingly awkward audience interactions. Her vocal talent and range sets her far apart from the crowd of people trying to make it big on YouTube.
4. Kate McGill (katem3)
English songster Kate McGill, from Carmarthen, Wales, has become known on YouTube for her sweet-voiced, poignant covers and acoustic guitar. Covering lesser known but nonetheless winning songs such as “Someone Like You” by Adele and “Crossfire” by Brandon Flowers — frontman of rock band The Killers — McGill truly impresses with a voice akin to British pop stars Lily Allen and Kate Nash. Her most popular cover, the heartfelt and brilliant “White Blank Page” by Mumford & Sons has earned the singer over 160,000 views and almost matches the soul and effect of the original. Filming her solo performances from either her keyboard or bathroom floor, McGill has a certain authenticity that makes her great.
5. Sam Tsui (KurtHugoSchneider)
Perhaps one of the most well-known YouTube singing sensations is 21-year-old talent Sam Tsui. Featured on his producer Kurt Schneider’s channel, KurtHugoSchneider, he is a student at Yale University and has already made appearances on many major daytime talk shows, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in February. His flawless vocals are the perfect match to the popular pop songs he covers, with Schneider’s well-produced videos only adding to the magic. Tsui’s most popular YouTube video, with over 11 million hits, is “Just a Dream” by Nelly. With Schneider on piano and fellow songster Christina Grimmie offering her vocal talents, the cover brings a whole new light to the worn-out chart topper. Tsui’s voice is effortlessly refreshing and has gone viral, with a digital album entitled “The Covers” released last year.