My name is Karlijn (Carline for the English speaking) and I live in the Netherlands. I am 15 years old and my birthday is on the 9th of April. I live with my parents, 3 older brothers and my two dogs not far from Rotterdam. I love singing and I drive my brothers crazy with singing all day haha! When I was 6 years old I found out that I loved to sing and from that moment on I haven't stopped! First I sang Dutch songs from the 'Kinderen voor Kinderen' CD's and I participated in several contests singing songs from these CD's. When I was 8 years old I sang LIVE in the finals of Zuid-Holland with a band for about 700 people. This was my first big performance and I loved it! I loved dancing and singing on such an enormous stage and from that time on I knew I wanted to be famous ;o)) When I was 11 years old I started singing in English and I loved doing this. My first talent contest where I sang English songs was so overwhelming for me. I was only 11 years old and competing with 20-40 years old male and female singers. But I loved it and I came 2nd in my first 'real' talent contest. I have done so many talent contests now. In 2010 I won 'Brielle Got Talent', did a photoshoot , made my first 'real' video and recorded several songs in a studio.
At the age of 12, I started with singing lessons once a week. I now have singing lessons twice a month with a
different teacher. I started guitar lessons in 2011 and more recently started with piano and dance lessons, all of which I enjoy so much!
different teacher. I started guitar lessons in 2011 and more recently started with piano and dance lessons, all of which I enjoy so much!
Early in 2012, I appeared twice on Dutch Television on a show called 'The Winner Is'. I loved being on the amazing stage and everything else that goes along with appearing on such a show and on television. My ultimate dream is to become famous in the Netherlands one day and then spread my wings and conquer the World!! Haha, I better keep dreaming LOL! When I saw the movie 'Burlesque' I was even more determined to be famous one day. I love Christina Aguilera, she inspires me enormously!
For over 7 years I competed in Gymnastics. You would find me in the gymnastics hall for about 15 hours a week and 5 times I made it to the DUTCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS at my level. Very sadly, in February 2012, I made the decision to stop with gymnastics after battling against two long term injuries. It had become obvious that I would never get back to the level I was at, but it was still a hard decision to make. I still want to stay fit though, so I have just started fitness and ‘street dance’ classes which I LOVE!
I am now in my final school exam year which is tough. I need to manage my time between school, homework, singing, playing guitar and piano and my fitness and street dance classes. And of course my opportunities to perform, record songs and shoot videos. After my exams I hope to be allowed on to full time music college in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This will allow me to fully develop my skills and talent to a point where I am truly ready to conquer the World! ;o))
The free time that I have left, I love to spend walking and playing with my dog and hanging out with my friends who are very important to me. I also love to message with people from all over the world on YouTube. I have made so many wonderful and supportive friends through YouTube and Facebook and I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart…. guys you are just AMAZING!
Thank you for visiting my page. I hope you like it & leave a comment. Please also check out my WEBSITE, subscribe to my YOUTUBE CHANNEL and become a fan on my REVERBNATION PAGE as well. I really appreciate your support!! You can follow me on Twitter too. All the links are below.
xx ♥♥ Karlijn ♥♥
We recently had the chance to interview this 15 year old Singer and Songwriter whose really talented. Here are Karlijn answers to our questions.
When did you start singing?
I started singing when I was six years old. I sang along with some Barbie dvd’s and my mum was quite surprised. She told me that I had a lovely voice. Then, when I was eight years old, I started to sing some Dutch songs from a famous Kids choir. It’s called ‘Kids for Kids’. I really loved their songs and there was a talent contest where you had to sing songs from this choir and this was the first contest I participated in. I participated 4 times and made it to the semi-finals 3 times.
Was it your dream to be a singer?
I don’t really know how old I was when I said to my mum that I wanted to be a famous singer, but I do know that I was very young when I said this. I always loved to sing, and I always practiced a song until I was happy about the way I sung it. So it has always been my dream to be a singer and I know I am a singer now, but now it’s my dream to be a famous singer.
Tell us about your style of singing?
My style of singing is mostly pop. I love the songs from Rihanna, Jessie J, Christina Aguilera, Adele, Justin Bieber, Beyonce etc. I also like other songs from artists, like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, and that’s more country. And it is always a challenge to sing songs outside your comfort zone.
Do your parents and friends support you?
Yes of course. My parents do support me so well. They help me with everything. Especially my mum, she helps me on YouTube with the comments and she’s like a manager to me. And my dad helps me with the more difficult things, like reading a contract, and he drives me everywhere. I mean If I have to perform, or if I have a studio session. I have a very close friend in the UK, who helps me with YT, my FB fanpage, Reverbnation and my Twitter fanpage. He is like my manager abroad. He helps my mum and me with writing in good English. My friends also support me. They are very proud of me, and they love my voice.
Do you write your own songs?
I do write lyrics and I started making music for these lyrics as well. I have a lot of lyrics that I wrote myself, but I still think it’s very difficult to make my own music. So till now I only have a few original songs that are written for me, but I’m working on a song that’s really one of my own.
If so, tell us what goes into writing a great song?
Mostly, when I write my lyrics, I write about how I felt when something has happened. Like an emotional happening, or something very excited. I think it’s easier to make a good ballad, than a very happy song. When I feel very sad, the words come naturally and it is easy to write good lyrics. I put on very sad music and everything goes automatically. The words come into my head and I make good sentences of them, well I’m trying to make good sentences haha.
Where was your first performance, were you excited?
My very first big performance was on the talent show of ‘Kids for Kids’, this Dutch kids choir, when I was eight years old. I was so excited but also very nervous. It was my first big performance for a huge audience and with a live band and I was only eight years old! But I loved to be on stage and I still do.
Where have you been able to perform?
I’ve been able to perform in some theatres, and after that I performed in a lot of small cafes, and I also participated in a talent show last year and this time I was on television twice. At the beginning of this month I had my first international concert in London and I had such an amazing time. I hope to do this again in the near future!
Who inspires you with your singing and songwriting?
I think the people I see on YouTube really inspire me. I search a lot on YouTube and I see a lot of very talented singers. And when I see a very good video it inspires me to do something better or to just try to get better. Because sometimes when I watch a video I get a little envious and I want to be like them so badly and then those videos inspires me to sing, and write my own lyrics.
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I think it would be in New York in Madison Square Garden. I just love New York. I’ve been there a year ago and I loved the time I spent there. It has been one of the most amazing holidays, and one I will never forget. The city is so huge, the skyscrapers are beautiful and just the whole place gets my attention. And when I get older I’m sure that I’m gonna live there. I have to haha.
Along the same line, who would you love to perform with?
That’s a very hard question.. I would love to perform with Christina Aguilera, Beyonce or Adele, and it would be perfect if i could perform with someone of my own age like Justin Bieber or Usher. I don’t really know, there are so many great artist who I would love to perform with..
What are some of your goals for your Music?
The Grammy’s. No just kidding, that’s it a bit exaggerated. But I would love to get noticed by a big label and to get my own original song and work with some huge artists. My first goal is to graduate and to be accepted on my new school. It’s a Music school and I really want to be accepted there. After college my wish is to become popular with my own album in the US and the UK and Europe!
What do you hope to accomplish with your singing/songwriting?
What I love about most songs is the lyrics. The lyrics of a song is what hits me the most. After that it’s the music. So I want to put all of myself into a song and try to make the fans feel what I feel. The lyrics also have to hit them. And what you see a lot is that there are people who pick a line from a song and put it on twitter or Facebook because they think it’s a very beautiful sentence. Well, that’s what I want to reach. That people pick a sentence out of my song/lyrics and put it on Twitter or anything just because they think it’s a beautiful sentence and because it says something about their life or the experiences they have had. I just want people to feel better when they have listened to my songs. That everything they feel is in my songs and that everything I write is like it is written for them.
Do you have any advice for those wanting to start a career in singing and songwriting?
Never give up. Try anything to reach your goal. I haven’t reached my goal yet, and I have a very very long way to go if I want to reach my goal. Don’t be too happy with yourself and definitely don’t get too arrogant. There will always be things you can improve about yourself.
Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you, your singing/songwriting?
I also play the guitar and the piano.
Do you have any other talents?
I used to be a gymnast. I used to practice fifteen hours a week and I have done gymnastics for 7 years. I quit because I had to many injuries.
You can find this talented 15 year old Singer and Songwriter Karlijn Verhagen by going to one of the sites below.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarlijnVerhagen
Official Website: http://www.karlijnverhagen.com/
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/karlijnverhagen
Karlijn whose only 15 years old has a very bright future ahead as she is a wonderful Singer from the Netherlands.
RCN America is pleased to have Karlijn Verhagen featured as our latest "Musician Spotlight", where we highlight, promote up and coming musicians that have amazing vocals, sound, style and/or who are able to play an instrument well singing.
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