BY: Alexis Eichelberger

So many of our favorite stars have used the internet to kick start their careers. Whether they took to YouTube to post cover songs, published original work on SoundCloud, or are recent TikTok phenoms, each of them cleverly used social media to get where they are.

Here are twelve of our favorite artists who got their starts creating music at home and have since achieved online stardom:

 

THE SUPERSTARS

 

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish and her brother/collaborator Finneas got their start writing and producing original tracks at home. Billie’s breakthrough came when the siblings’ original song “Ocean Eyes” went viral on SoundCloud. Both are now Grammy Award winners.

 

Justin Bieber

Only the most authentic Justin Bieber fans remember his YouTube covers. The Biebs was discovered by the infamous music industry tycoon Scooter Braun in 2007 after Braun saw one of Bieber’s videos. Soon after, Bieber began recording his first demo tapes when he was just 13 years old.

 

Shawn Mendes

And Justin Bieber walked so Shawn Mendes could run. He learned to play the guitar by watching YouTube videos and gained followers after posting a cover of Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me.” Mendes is an international star with a documentary about his life set for release this month.

 

5 Seconds of Summer

The Australian rockers 5 Seconds of Summer had a decent following on social media before their YouTube covers caught a record label’s attention. After the band’s first EP went viral, the guys found themselves playing on some of the world’s biggest stages as One Direction’s opening act. Now, they’re continuing to win us over with their modern pop-punk blend.

 

Post Malone

Last but not least, is the Grammy nominee Post Malone. His humble beginnings were also on YouTube, where he posted covers of his favorite songs, and SoundCloud, where his breakthrough single “White Iverson” was first posted. He’s now one of the world’s biggest acts and is a favorite for Grammy nominations this year.

 

THE RISING STARS

 

Lil Nas X

The most notable name on our rising star list, Lil Nas X, has already scored Grammy nominations and has yet to release a full-length album. He got his start as an internet personality, creating funny content on Facebook, Twitter, and Vine. His music career took off when “Old Town Road” (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) went viral on TikTok and eventually became the biggest song of 2019.

 

Clairo 

Clairo is an up-and-comer in the indie world with an affinity for delicate bedroom pop tunes. She got noticed when the original songs she posted to YouTube went viral. (If you want more on Clairo, check out our full profile on her.)

 

Jorja Smith

Jorja Smith is quite the phenom in her home country, the U.K., and her base in the U.S. is growing. She went viral on SoundCloud and experienced the spotlight when Drake called her self-produced track “Where Did I Go?” his favorite song of the moment after its release in 2016.

 

Bazzi

Before TikTok, there was Vine. That’s where R&B crooner Bazzi got his start streaming short clips of himself singing. He was also the first to release a Vine “Featured Track” on the platform. You’ve probably enjoyed some of his popular songs like “Beautiful” and “Mine,” which are both certified platinum.

 

BUBBLING UNDER

 

Andrea Russett

Andrea Russett is one of YouTube’s most enduring stars. She has millions of followers on the platform, Twitter, and Instagram. While she’s best known for her funny and relatable content, her most recent venture is singing. She released her first single “Darkest Hour” earlier this year, and to her fans’ delight, more music is reportedly on the way.

 

Abigail Barlow

TikTok is also giving rise to a new generation of artists. A clip of Abigail Barlow’s song “Heartbreak Hotel” went viral earlier this year after she posted a homemade recording to the platform. Now, the official studio version of the track has more than 5 million streams on Spotify. She also released her first EP this year. 

 

Salem Ilese

Salem Ilese released her first EP in 2019, but her career took off this year when her song “Mad At Disney” went viral on TikTok. Since then, her earlier work is getting more attention on streaming platforms, and her future is looking bright.