Can a simple street performer with a violin break the internet?

Co-authored with my brother Arun, who also chose the links

(This article is about a youtube star.  There are many social media “stars” whose “content” is empty and self-indulgent.  This is not one of those.  Read on and play the links to see!)

Karolina Protsenko just turned 14.  Her youtube channel is approaching eight million subscribers, she has over a billion views, and she has done it almost entirely with home-made videos of her busking (playing music on the street for passers-by).  She is now making fully produced music videos, but street performances remain her bread and butter.

The remarkable thing is that she has done this mostly without singing.  She has a good voice and has recorded a few videos in which she accompanies her own vocals, but her fame comes from playing the violin.  Yes, the violin.  In a popular music culture which prizes lyrics over musicianship, it’s a challenge to break through just playing instrumentals.  It’s even stranger when the instrument is something not typically associated with popular music.  But the numbers don't lie.

Karolina was born in Ukraine, to musician parents (both sing and play guitar).  They moved to the U.S. when she was six.  She was exposed to lots of music growing up, and gravitated to the violin as her primary instrument.  She says she practices classical violin 2-3 hours a day, but her impact has come from her covers of popular songs.  Honestly, I don’t care for many of the originals, but I love Karolina’s interpretations of them.  In those cases where the originals actually have musical depth, she does them full justice.

Her technical skills are still developing, but she is already clean and precise, and plays with the freedom and confidence of a much more experienced performer. Most important of all, she plays with feeling.  Audiences, including little children (and the occasional dog) seem moved by her sound.  To top it off, she dances while she plays.

Youtube has thousands of videos of “prodigies”.  In most cases, the term is unfair both to the young artists and to their audiences.  In Karolina’s case, it was completely appropriate, though she is now at the stage where the term is no longer necessary.

“Somewhere over the Rainbow” (age 10) 

She already understands the difference between playing a song and interpreting it.

Just ask the dog (at 2:53ff)!

“Faded” (age 10) (original by Alan Walker)

Alan Walker himself commented on this video “This is amazing!”

Here are Arun’s thoughts on the source of Karolina’s appeal: “If I try to find a recurring theme in the comments to her videos, it is the strong emotional response she generates by her interpretations and playing.  Unlike the many musicians who evoke their own emotions through facial contortions and weird movements, Karolina expresses it purely through her playing and dancing.  It seems to come naturally.  When she is in the zone she becomes the music.” In the next video you will see her slip into that zone as the song progresses:

“Nothing Else Matters” (Metallica) (age 13)

A typical comment to this video:  "I’m a huge Metallica fan. I must say that is the most amazing rendition I’ve ever heard. I got literal chills. Bravo!"

If enough of you request it, I’ll do another post on Karolina.