ROLLA- Going To Succeed (Youtuber & Musician) (September 2021)

Issue Seventeen- September 2021:

By Mercedes Barreto

When you find a relatable source of entertainment, one might ask some curious questions. Where did this start, and how is it so enjoyable? How did you come across such an entertaining source? ROLLA is a Youtuber and musician who is undeniably a great and relatable source of up-and-coming entertainment. We read about her aspirations for success in this guided and informative article.

What began your interest in voice-over work and in your YouTube channel? Why should we be interested, in your own words?

“What began my interest in voice-over work started since I was a child listening to different comedians impersonate different actors/actresses and cartoons. I’ve always been drawn to commercials (improvisation, for example, getting into character for a role/ I’m open to being like my free personality if that makes sense). Some may think it is corny, but it’s corny and funny with a message. With that being said, this is a big reason why I took a big interest in starting my own Youtube channel. With Youtube being the biggest search engine, I can now fulfill pretty much all my acting and music needs, to be seen and heard. Although it hasn’t been easy, I believe that my team and I have something different from the typical normal YouTubers. Everyone is doing hair, or food, or auto, make-up, etc. This list goes on. My team and I love bringing what we bring, and on this Youtube Channel, you will catch loads of laughter, as well as some vlogging, pranks, skits, social engagements & spontaneous adventures with The Act N’ Klass. Spontaneity is important to me because no one will ever know what we bring to the channel. I think of ourselves as the multiply capable ones of all television stations. Some stations may not be relatable to all, but there is something for everyone.”

What do you do to prepare before a voice-acting job, or before the filming of a video? Do you have a certain pre-routine ritual, or does this come naturally to you? How so? What do you feel or perceive before completing either of these tasks?

“How I prepare before a voice-acting role is the same as how I prepare myself before I sing (practice and more practice as well as getting my voice warmed up before taking the mic). With a voice-acting job, I like to listen to other voiceovers to impersonate. Again, it’s my way of warming up and or preparing myself for the audition/opportunity. I also like to try listening or watching my favorite comedian(s) roasting and or performing impersonations. What I feel and or perceive before completing these tasks is what the role may entitle, if that makes sense. As far as how my voice should come across, it could come across as motherly, or very energetic, very happy, or enthusiastic, soft-spoken, etc. Mostly, how I feel before I start is: I can do this, and, Let’s Do This!”

When you consider the pandemic and its reach on a large majority of people, how has Covid impacted you with its reach on your life/daily life? Would you say it has impacted you positively, negatively, or how exactly? How does this reflect on your YouTube channel/voice-over work?

“The pandemic/Covid has impacted me as an artist tremendously, due to so many restrictions which to me, personally have just been ‘out the behind’. I say this with the utmost respect to those that have been suffering worse, but that does not take away from those folks (artists) like myself that are working and trying to build a foundation of supporters and fans to soon and eventually be able to depend on their music & Youtube channel full time. This quote-on-quote pandemic has caused events, performances, festivals, and radio appearances to cease. It’s caused havoc, and I would love for it to be gone and over completely! To regain back being able to travel, to go places without a mask, and being able to interact with people whilst not feeling paranoid, as well as just being able to get back to a slightly normal life again would be great. I need to work continuously, and I can not do that if I’m told to stay at home when I know nothing is wrong with me or my team. It’s a complete hold-up!”

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If you could pick either a YouTube video or voice-over reel to pitch to two top industry executives in the entertainment industry, who would you pitch to if you had the choice? What would you pitch to those individuals, if it’s your passion?

“I am trembling reading these questions here, at this fourth question, because all I have is my word. I am very passionate about my work, especially of my music & Youtube channel. My pitch is just that I share my voice and my story, which includes my team & me. I have also started a reality TV show series entitled, ‘Love Isn’t Easy Speak Now Or Peace’. In this show, we speak about our situations with family, about how my wife and I got together, about how we are trying to raise four children, about losing a daughter to DCF, about my son transitioning into a man, the custody battles of an old divorce, and of being homeless all while still pursuing careers and working regular 9-5’s. With that being said, this is my pitch to Kelly Campbell Of Hulu And Reed Hastings Of Netflix, considering that this is just a random choice. My story may be relatable, or it may not be, but my team & I have a story that has impacted us in many forms of how we see things and do things individually and as a whole.”

Where can we find your work, and why should we? What makes your channel/voice special? What makes it different, and why should we care, in your own opinion?

“I am always assumed to be a rapper because I don’t present myself as a typical singer. I am a lesbian female singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, co-producer, video creator/influencer & co-editor. My team and I create content to create laughter, as well as bringing relatable content ‘to the surface’, as I do for my music writing. This is music that is authentic and true to me. I am on the listed social media as follows:

1. Twitter – @ musicsmilewitme
2. Instagram – @ musicsmilewitme
3. Youtube – @ musicsmilewitme
4. Bandcamp – http://www.musicsmilewitme.bandcamp.com
5. Tik Tok – @ theactnklass
6. Youtube – @ theactnklass or klassact
7. Youtube – @ Klass Act Reality TV”

Anything to add here?

“To sum it all up, I am blessed and grateful for everything I’ve had to go through to get to this point. It may not be fair, but who said life is fair? I am still moving forward, and I have not let the obstacles beat me. I am not one to easily falter on situations, and I envision where I want my life to be and I continue to proceed in that direction. Whether hard or easy, I am determined to grow my support foundation via my music and Youtube channel. Whatever I wish to dip my fingers in, I am going to succeed.”