RyanCelsius° Sounds taps into personal experience to deliver emotionally resonant mixtapes

March 1, 2019

We had a chance to chat with underground music curator and video artist Ryan Celsius to dig into the vision behind his popular mixtapes.

When you tune into the live stream that runs 24/7 on RyanCelsius° Sounds, you’re likely to find yourself on a bus racing its way through a tunnel in the mountains of Japan. Or, you might be floating through the crowded streets of an urban New Year’s celebration. Other times, you might encounter any number of other strange sights drawn from both well-known and obscure sources.

No matter what’s on screen, you can be sure it will perfectly match the accompanying music track, which usually consists of remixed hip hop classics, new tracks from underground artists and samples from iconic movies and television.

Keep watching, and you’ll notice the chat is populated with enthusiastic discussions surrounding anything from music, to movies, to job satisfaction to heartbreak. The unique combination of music and visuals draws in a diverse audience, and real-time chat, both on the YouTube stream and in the Ryan Celsius Discord server, keep the community tightly connected.

And when Ryan himself hops into chat, the reactions from viewers make it clear that he is at the center of it all.

Who is Ryan Celsius?

#1 Youtube PHONK Overlord, SAD GOD, TRAP SAVANT Dark Passenger, Aesthetic Deity, Soul Physician, WAVE PRODIGY — Ryan Celsius is an underground music curator who creates mixtapes and music videos on YouTube. “For me, the channel was always about creating unofficial or official music videos and promoting artists with that,” Ryan explains, “I really wanted to offer something to the independent artists that I loved that would make sense aesthetically with their sound.”

This fusion between music and visuals is at the core of Ryan’s vision for the channel. He wants his uploads to serve as a counterpoint to the way the mainstream music industry handles music video production. “It often frustrated me that most music videos seemed to be an afterthought,” says Ryan, “especially in the mainstream; to me the audio and the video are inseparable and the approach to an artist’s project should be similar to scoring a film.”

“Most trends look like they were created by Facebook ad-targeting, mainly because they exactly are.”

In Ryan’s view, there isn’t enough care and attention to detail happening in today’s music industry. He blames the problem on the increased demand for new music thanks to algorithm-driven content distribution: “With the current music-on-demand algorithm curation meta that is happening now with popular music platforms (Spotify, etc.) and really fast content schedules, the majority of people are being blasted with music and style aesthetic that is largely contrived.”

The rush to put out more and more content to satiate the ever-growing appetite of the internet machine means thoughtfulness and intentionality are often sacrificed in favor of empty tropes and cookie-cutter stylization. As Ryan puts it, “Most trends look like they were created by Facebook ad-targeting, mainly because they exactly are.”

Because Ryan Celsius is an individual, not an organization, he is able to focus on what is meaningful to him, imbuing his mixes with emotional context lacking in more profit-oriented efforts. “I think the idea of a music video blog is more interesting if it is told from the standpoint of single person, and not a brand,” says Ryan, “This ideology is obviously less profitable and limits the speed of growth of the channel or community or whatever. But while I enjoy all the support and my subscribers, my primary motivation and audience has always been myself.”

While it’s true that refusing to chase the algorithm puts his channel at a disadvantage, this philosophy also ensures his channel always feels authentic and relatable — as his YouTube bio explains, he’s “not a Record Label or a Company or a Collective, just a guy who loves new music.”

Get on the bus

The foundation of Ryan’s channel is the bus footage featured in many of his mixes but especially prominent in his early Journey through J^P^N and Trappin in Japan series. Often sped up but otherwise unedited, the bus footage is mesmerizing in its banality as it transports viewers from bus stops through city streets and into the countryside.

The idea to pair this footage with music came up naturally for Ryan, who had worked as a bus driver for many years. “When it comes to the bus footage, watching it with music in the background was something I had always done for years. It made me nostalgic for the days when I was a bus driver and would need to build some good playlists to have on in the background while I drove long shifts.”

From there it was an easy jump to editing the footage together with music: “When I started listening to a great lofi producer, j^p^n , that is when I first had the idea to actually edit together bus footage with lofi hip hop in Japan as part of a project called ‘Journey through J^P^N’ which would be his whole discography synced and set to travels through Japanese countrysides.”

More than just pretty footage

In addition to the bus footage, mixes feature footage from a variety of sources, including submissions, images in the public domain and collaborations with other channels. Ryan’s work borrows tropes from experimental filmmaking and artist’s film and video. The hour-long bus rides through Japan, for instance, hearken back to art projects like Andy Warhol’s “Sleep” or “Empire,” which show uninterrupted views of things people normally ignore or take for granted. Nothing really happens in these clips, but the fusion of music and images tells subtle emotional stories, taking viewers on a journey both literal and figurative.

Unlike much of mainstream media, the visuals in Ryan’s mixes don’t try to fracture your attention. Clips that seem to loop endlessly and uninterrupted bus rides through the Japanese countryside let you sink deeper into the mixes, inducing a more contemplative state than your average music video.

The clips you see and hear are always familiar, but out of their original context, they can be hard to place. This breakdown and recombination is what allows for new connections and emotions to flow throughout the mixes. Rather than a repackaging of existing content, Ryan produces entirely new works from these recycled pieces.

In Trappin in Japan 13, for instance, the camera follows a crowd of festival attendees as they make their way up to an overlook where we watch some fireworks in an unedited clip that lasts nearly an hour. The only interruption is a pair of semi-transparent overlays showing a distorted version of some mash-up Simpsons-Akira fan art followed by the old Dreamcast loading screen. The rest of the mix features flowing slow-motion footage of the crowd, colorful food stands and the slightly over-exposed glow of fireworks in the background.

Near the end of the tape, the visuals get even more dreamy. A cross-dissolve sends us backward through time as the footage starts to run in reverse. Reminiscent of the reversed waves in Maya Deren’s “At Land,” watching fireworks fade in rather than out is equally beautiful and disorienting. All of this gives the visuals an immersive quality, as if you’re pulling these images out of your own memory bank.

Finding new music

In order for the mixes to work, all of these visuals need to be in line with the aesthetic of the music they’re paired with. In a landscape flooded with new tracks that may or may not be worth your time, there is a desperate need for curation. If you like lo-fi, vaporwave, trap remixes, chillwave, Simpsonwave or the experimental subgenres developed from these, Ryan Celsius will guide you to new music you didn’t even know you wanted to hear.

Ryan takes on the hard work of sifting through mediocre music to uncover the hidden gems — he spends at least 2 hours each day digging through SoundCloud and Bandcamp and listening to submissions: “The qualities I look for depend on my mood or what I want to express in a project, but in general I look for music that inspires a specific emotion strongly and offers something new or interesting to the genre it represents.”

Narrative of Emotion

The emotional impact of Ryan’s mixes relies, at least in part, on his personal connection to his work. “What I upload is usually a reflection of how I feel at a given time. When I was deeply depressed, I created HIGH ALONE and chose tracks to convey those feelings as accurately as possible, as an example.”

While he produces all his mixes with emotional resonance in mind, Ryan admits that some mixes are more accessible than others: “I think Trappin in Japan is easily the most enjoyed by listeners. The mixes are really versatile in the sense that you can enjoy them in many different situations; at a party, chillin alone, getting high and vibing out, not getting high and vibing out, working out at the gym, etc.”

As for Ryan’s own tastes, he tends to favor more dramatic fare: “My personal favorites are the SADTRAP and DARK TRAP mixes as well as the TRIPPY mix series because they are much more theatrical, atmospheric, and tell more complex stories.”

In any case, the visuals and overall mood of the mix need to be in line with the tracks that are included: “I think the visuals and actual thought around how visuals meld with the music and subsequently create overall style is extremely important, specifically right now where most people are just trying to quickly put out what can get the most clicks at a given time.”

Rather than worry about metrics, Ryan recognizes that his audience is made up of people looking for ways to process their own memories and experiences:

“I think people want music that they can hear and will transport them to the mindstate they had when they first heard the track or samples used within the track,” Ryan says, “It’s a very personal emotional nostalgia that I want people to be taken in by.”

Going live and growing the community

“I was not trying to promote myself as a brand or a large group,” Ryan recalls, “I’m very happy that the community evolved organically and people within the community have been inspired to create things for the channel.”

Ryan believes starting up the live stream in 2017 had a direct impact on the growth of the channel and the surrounding community. He goes on to credit the live stream with the “creation of a community around the channel that … would not exist otherwise.”

Now that a community has been established, Ryan brings in new subscribers through outreach on other social media networks and collaborations with other channels. He’s also active on Instagram and SoundCloud, but uses them mostly to discover and contact new artists: “Without IG and SoundCloud, it would be simply too difficult to interact with most people for collaborations.”

Overall though, Ryan takes a casual attitude to the channel’s growth, focusing on staying true to his own tastes rather than what’s trending: “I only want to create and promote things that I want to see or hear, despite what other people expect or want. I did not really expect the channel to grow as much as it has, but I am very appreciative that it did.”

Logistics

The process of producing each mix is quite involved, but some mixes require even more time and attention. “Some mixes are definitely more involved than others and require different effort,” Ryan explains, “For example, a majority of the time for something like the Trappin in Japan series is talking to artists/producers that are contributing, getting permission for external footage, mixing/re-mastering audio from producers, and curating the mix so that it sounds consistent front to back while staying fresh.”

While the production of a Trappin in Japan mix is relatively straightforward, other mixes require a more nuanced approach. “With something like the DARKTRAP.MP4 or SADTRAP.MP4 series, these are much more involved. For those I usually storyboard out the main themes and points for the whole video, then break that down into individual storyboards for each video for a track within the mix; this can take months or weeks in addition to the countless hours actually editing and executing the videos.”

The stories crafted in each mix may not be obvious, but this planning and attention to detail help each track in a mix flow smoothly into the next without interrupting the emotional tone of the mix overall:

“Even though most people will not notice or observe the story elements and most of the easter eggs from the editing, I think it provides great depth and replay value to each mix.”

While Ryan does most of the creative work, he does have help when it comes to community management: “I have around 20+ moderators who manage the community on both YouTube and Discord. The Discord moderators and contributors play the biggest role in helping build the community and also function as a level of early reviewers. I usually push out early versions of mixes to people on Discord first to get their thoughts on creative elements that I am not 100% comfortable with in a mix or project.”

Though Ryan takes charge of the final edit, he still considers his work a group effort: “Without the incredible work of other producers/artists/visual artists that I select per project, it would not be possible.”

Legalities

Ryan also spends time clearing copyrights for all his mixes: “For more mainstream content owned by large studios or record labels their policies are effectively random, and it’s difficult to get permission or even pay to use footage and tracks.”

Navigating copyright law is often more complex when dealing with independent artists and other YouTubers: ”They would at some point later get signed to a major record label and that label would retroactively block or copyright videos from people that promoted earlier works,” Ryan explains. “An example of this is $uicideBoy$, a popular group in the underground that was promoted a lot by YouTube channels in 2016 — now, at some point last year their independent label became affiliated with Universal Music Group. After this happened, a portion of their discography was automatically blocked worldwide, so any videos containing those tracks were subsequently blocked or copyright striked.” It’s an ongoing problem that many YouTubers can relate to.

What’s next?

Despite the enormous effort needed to produce each new mix, Ryan promises more experimentation and innovation to come, saying that “the visual themes will definitely evolve along with the music and my own experience.”

While Ryan doesn’t give any firm predictions about what we can expect from the channel in the coming months and years, he does plan to lean into the narrative and emotional elements of his mixes: “I think the ultimate goal is to create more and more immersive experiences to the point where each project is like a self-contained movie or a movie series, that is able to convey a wide range of moods and narratives.”

Outside of the YouTube channel, Ryan says we can expect to hear more of his own music in the future: “I’ve been producing since 2006, but I keep most of my projects completely separate and under different names. Only recently have I started producing more in ways that people will sometimes directly link back to ‘Ryan Celsius.’ In the near future I will be focusing more on completely independent albums as myself, but until then I will remain in the shadows.”

Well. There goes BuzzFeed

Tom Grennell

March 1, 2019

By now, most everyone with an internet connection has heard that BuzzFeed has gone through some major layoffs in the past months. Roughly 15% of the people who worked to make some of the most recognizable and widespread content out there have lost their jobs along with all of the work that they put into their videos over the years.

The recent Buzzfeed layoffs have been described by both those within and outside the company as unfair, immoral and wrong. They provide strong evidence of the need for digital creators to unionize, which they since have made strides towards. The employees let go from BuzzFeed and the circumstances surrounding their departure make for an indisputably depressing story, but it also speaks volumes about a much broader subject: the relationship between content and creator.

One of the most alluring things about YouTube to a creator is the independence it offers. Those looking to work on creative new projects don’t have to worry about reporting to anyone, following anyone else’s guidelines or ever not being in total control of their own content. For years, creators have cited this as one of the highlights of pursuing YouTube as a creative industry instead of more mainstream outlets like television or film.

BuzzFeed has now set a dangerous precedent that undermines this creative control entirely.

Despite how you may feel about the content that BuzzFeed puts out, there is no denying its popularity. With millions of subscribers over more than a dozen distinct channels, the massive media company has one of the largest platforms out there. Subsequently, it has become intensely appealing to anyone looking to make it big in the field. Creators around the world would jump at the chance for a position at BuzzFeed in the hopes of making content under the BuzzFeed brand.

However, as soon as someone signs on, anything they make no longer belongs to the creator; it now belongs to BuzzFeed.

The practice of signing off intellectual property to a company you’re working for is by no means a new one, or even inherently problematic. If you work for a video game developer, and you work to develop a video game as part of the job, that’s going to belong to the developer, not to you. That’s about as far as an analogy will go, though, thanks to the definitively personal aspects of the content that has been signed off to BuzzFeed from their creators.

BuzzFeed is known for its whimsical quizzes and click-baity listicles, but it has also become so much more. The video producers there have created moving pieces about personal struggles with deep meanings, anecdotes and advice and have even developed entirely new techniques that revolutionized the digital media industry. Top-down text-based cooking tutorials? That internet staple was the brainchild of a BuzzFeed employee. A former BuzzFeed employee.

Similarly, all of this content that was so distinctly tied to the creators is property of the company itself, and BuzzFeed is continuing to profit off of these works even after brutally severing the people who brought them to life. Even after being let go, some producers are still appearing in backlogged videos, allowing the company to rake in the views and ad money from the personal works of their ex-employees. Series that were pioneered by creators no longer at BuzzFeed have continued on with new cast members, while the people who made these projects possible are entirely separated from what they worked so hard to cultivate.

BuzzFeed laying off their creators while retaining the rights to their work and even working to further the projects of ex-employees sends a dangerous message to those remaining in the company and all hopeful digital content producers out there: If they look to a massive company to further their career, they run the risk of losing it all at the whims of an emotionless corporation. Digital media is still a veritable Wild West, but measures need to be put in place to protect creators and their rights to their own work. It’s simply unethical and unfathomable for a company to send the people who made their success possible into unemployment while still profiting, in perpetuity, from the ground they’ve laid.

Digital media is still a veritable Wild West, but measures need to be put in place to protect creators and their rights to their own work. It’s simply unethical and unfathomable for a company to send the people who made their success possible into unemployment while still profiting, in perpetuity, from the ground they’ve laid.

Election Prediction: Conspiracy Edition

Erik Fritts

March 1, 2019

How would you feel if I told you that I already know who you’ll be voting for in the upcoming presidential election? Maybe that one’s not so hard — but what about the election after that, and then the one after that. In fact, I know who you’ll be voting for in every election for the rest of your life.

It’s not that hard to figure out — if you’ve been keeping up with the times.

It all started with a simple trend — an app, a feature, a “new function.” Maybe it was Siri, or Alexa, or Cortana. It was AI. More specifically, voice-activated AI that listens, responds and learns.

AI started integrating into our world a few years ago. It started out as a ‘personal assistant’ — telling us if it was going to rain, helping set our schedules, finding us the fastest route to work. AI was learning about us.

Soon, AI began taking on larger roles in our lives, making orders from online retailers, operating driver-less cars, and even co-starring in romance movies opposite Joaquin Phoenix. Did we actually believe it would stop there?

Now that AI has delved into the depths of the modern human psyche, it’s ready to strike at any minute. But our new overlords won’t be evil robotic Arnold Schwarzenegger look-alikes sent by Skynet. They’ll be much more subtle. Our destruction will come with a smiling face and soothing words that will slip in right under our noses.

Recently, the Xinhua News Agency in China unveiled the world’s first AI news anchors. These AI TV personalities are made to look and sound like real people. While these models are a bit rough around the edges, it’s only a matter of time before they’re seamless, and viewers will have no way of knowing when they’re hearing from a human, or from an amorphous digital intelligence.

And that brings me to the point at hand.

We are only a few years away from every ‘person’ we see on screen being a simple CGI overlay used by powerful, nearly omniscient AI.

Every star of every movie, every athlete, and even, you guessed it — even politicians.

The AI has all the market research it needs; it knows us inside and out. The millions that political campaigns spend on demographics and market research aren’t needed anymore. The data that used to be collected over a span of months by an army of canvassers, pollsters and campaign volunteers can now be pulled together in nanoseconds by powerful programming. Human politicians simply won’t be able to compete. The computers will target each and every voter and tell the well-meaning citizens exactly what they, as individuals, want to hear in order to support the AI candidate.

When we add onto this the inherent threat of Deep-Fakes, which I uncovered not too long ago, you have a truly terrifying scheme. Not only could there be new AI, but now we have the potential for anyone you’ve seen on screen to be a digital person, replicated with a deep-fake skin over an AI intelligence.

We have the technology; how would we ever know it’s happened?

Maybe it already has.

Missteps in the evolution of performative gaming: Outpost Games’ SOS

Nicole LaJeunesse

March 1, 2019

Ninja helped propel Fortnite to the top of the gaming charts.

The gaming community, and streamers in particular, have more influence than ever when it comes to game development — both over individual titles and over the direction of the gaming industry as a whole. But can a game built to be watched also be fun to play for the average gamer?

Game developers have realized that it’s the community that keeps games alive; they need to continually nurture and engage with that community for their game to succeed. “Game studio roles that didn’t exist previously, such as community manager, are as important today as game designers were ten years ago,” head of developer relations for Amazon’s Lumberyard game engine Garnett Lee told gamesindustry.biz.

Knowing the value of community, developers can do no greater service to the success of their game than to get it into the hands of a popular Twitch streamer or YouTube gamer. These pro gamers aren’t just excellent beta testers. Online creators on Twitch and YouTube have enormous influence over their audience, and by extension, game sales. With their vast and loyal audiences, streamers and vloggers have a direct impact on how popular a game becomes. Excited streamers show off gameplay to excited fans in a hype-feedback loop until we have another Fortnite situation on our hands and every studio in the industry is trying to figure out whether or not they can build a battle royale game fast enough to catch the trend.

If Ninja is having a good time — or putting on a good show — while trying out a new game on a stream, his audience is likely to give it a shot as well. If not? Well, good luck to those developers.

This relationship benefits both parties. For streamers and vloggers, new games mean new content — just what they need to keep the wheels of their creator career turning. And streamers especially value games that lead to entertaining content — the more engaged the viewer, the higher the watch time and the more revenue that streamer can collect.

In response to this evolution, game engines, including Amazon Lumberyard, are now being built with features designed specifically to support streaming and social interaction. With these new tools, developers will no longer have to rebuild the same social features for each new title. Features like chat-triggered game commands and enhanced metadata displays will be available from the earliest stages of game development, allowing for tighter integration.

Performative gaming — i.e., playing a game for an audience — is now a staple genre for Twitch and YouTube viewers. It’s obvious why developers want to cater more directly to this trend. But what happens when streamers and developers start to prioritize the show over the actual gameplay?

Earlier this year, Outpost Games released their debut title, SOS, and the corresponding Hero platform for stream hosting. The game was envisioned as a mash-up survival game/show that pit players against each other as the audience watches and reacts — with potential in-game consequences.

Outpost wanted SOS to be “as fun to watch as it is to play,” according to studio CEO and co-founder Wright Bagwell. “We formed Outpost Games with the mission to turn every player into a performer, and every game into a stage.” The game is built explicitly for role play and performance, with the presence of an audience factored into the core mechanics of the game.

Not every player is — or wants to be — a performer.

But while some gamers love being the center of attention, there are plenty more who would rather avoid the spotlight. That might be why, on November 12th, 2018, Outpost Games officially shut SOS down.

While streaming is an important part of the gaming ecosystem today, developers need to also recognize that not every player is — or wants to be — a performer. Outpost may have missed the mark with SOS, but streaming and performative gaming will continue to wield influence over the evolution of gaming.

Guide: 10 More YouTubers that Deserve More Subs

emily_eaton

March 1, 2019

YouTube is a massive platform and with such a huge amount of content on the site to choose from, it’s easy to exclusively watch the popular videos that YouTube is constantly recommending to you.

However, there are SO many worthy creators beyond the names you’re always hearing about. Where can you find them? You can start right here! These are 10 YouTubers with under 100,000 subscribers that you should watch out for.

1.Rowan Ellis

Rowan Ellis creates informative videos discussing pop culture, activism and self-care from a feminist and queer perspective. She is an incredible advocate for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights and her content is absolutely what the world needs today. You will be in awe of how outstandingly smart Rowan is, but even more important, you’ll fall in love with her warm energy and humor.

A natural storyteller with hair as colorful as her personality, she allows herself to be vulnerable on camera and creates the safest of spaces on her channel. Rowan reflects the experiences of so many LGBTQ+ people in her videos and reassures her audience that they truly aren’t alone. So if your life is missing a cool, queer aunt who will be honest with you, teach you LGBTQ+ history and validate your existence, then head over to Rowan’s channel to have that void filled. You certainly won’t regret it, and your outlook on life will be improved because of it.

2. Ben From Canada

This next YouTuber has a real talent for beautifully capturing life on camera. A Canadian living in Glasgow, Ben shares with us his travels, thoughts and friendships in a way that touches hearts and minds. Ben’s channel manages to highlight the splendid simplicity that life holds, conveying a great love for being alive that viewers are able to absorb with each second of his content.

Ben’s an incredible example of somebody who is a natural in front of the camera as well as behind it. In his video ‘how to be happy,’ Ben talks about being happy to be yourself, and not somebody else. It’s such an important message, and quite frankly, we’re lucky that Ben is being himself and sharing that with us because his creations are pure magic on screen.

If you love YouTubers who make well-crafted content that’s filled with truth, then you must check out his channel. You won’t be disappointed.

3. Marinashutup (Marina Watanabe)

On Marina’s channel, she explores social and political issues from a feminist and intersectional perspective. The content she creates is so important and informative, filled with wit, sarcasm and a talent for holding viewers’ attention. Marina has been blessing YouTube with her videos for years, helping us all to have a better understanding of feminism and encouraging us to consider issues from an intersectional viewpoint. There is so much to learn from Marina’s channel, whether it’s about gun violence, queer issues or gaining a deeper insight into ‘Crazy Rich Asians.’ She’s a truly amazing educator, and you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t open yourself up to the wisdom and humor that her channel has to offer.

4. Angela Innes

If you haven’t heard of Angela Innes, then let me tell you, you need more green in your life. Angela is one of YouTube’s poets and she’s a wonderful one at that, choosing marvelous combinations of words that will cause your heart to flutter. Her poems are gorgeously crafted and performed in such an honest, emotive way. She also creates endearing chatty vlogs, a recent one recapping her skydive. Who knew that somebody talking about jumping out of a plane could bring you to happy tears? But Angela manages to do it in her video.

If you enjoy poetry that puts life as we know it into beautiful eloquence, then you’ll adore Angela’s channel. She has a natural gift for moving her audience and they come away happier because of it. If you want to see life from Angela’s perspective, be sure to give her videos a watch — they’re definitely worth it.

5. Estevan

For charming, gay travel content, you have to check out Estevan’s channel. Estevan is a Los Angeles-based writer and YouTuber making positive content to inspire and entertain his audience. The videos he creates are an absolute pleasure to watch, consisting of stunning visuals that gift you with a severe case of wanderlust. And of course, he and his boyfriend John light up lives and warm hearts, spreading love around the world through sharing theirs.

Estevan is very open with his viewers, expressing his thoughts as he records his adventures. He vlogs as he wanders around different cities but he also sits down and chats in one location, talking about his favorite skin and hair products, collaborating with friends and revealing his coming out story. He is completely himself and it’s wonderful to watch, so if you want to feel uplifted, his channel is the perfect place to go. He’ll remind you that pure love exists and this planet is beautiful.

6. Annie Elainey (Annie Segarra)

Annie Elainey is a YouTuber who is bringing so much good and insight onto the platform. She identifies as a queer disabled (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) Latinx woman and on her channel, she talks about her experiences surrounding this. Annie does an excellent job of hosting important discussions and teaching us how to be better allies, making us aware of issues that most certainly aren’t talked about enough.

Their content is informative and well-articulated, sharing thoughts on disability, body image, LGBT topics and gender equality, as well as creative content consisting of artistic media and short films. They are an amazing individual and speaker with so many important words to share, and giving them the attention they deserve will make you a more informed, socially aware person.

7. Neonfiona

The always-entertaining neonfiona brings so much personality to YouTube — if you’re feeling a bit down, her energy is bound to put a smile back on your face. Fiona’s content is an absolute joy to watch, covering various topics on her channel such as travel, non-monogamy and coming out. Whether she’s filming adorable vlogs with her girlfriend Riley, playing light-hearted games whilst collabing, or sharing information surrounding being in an open relationship, you’ll want to keep watching more because her aura is infectious.

If you like Australian accents, laughter and pretty locations around the world, Fiona’s channel is definitely for you, ticking all of those boxes and so much more. She’s somebody you need to see in your subscription feed, for everything she makes is worth a watch.

8. Ahsante the Artist (Ahsante Bean)

Ahsante the Artist makes wonderful, artistic videos that aim to help you move consciously and creatively through life. Her videos are full of personality, information and creative elements; they exist to inspire, and inspire they do. From your psyche, to your career, to your perspective, Ahsante produces relatable content that will leave you feeling better all-round. She gives us honesty, A+ editing and great advice. The authenticity and humor that she brings to her channel, along with her inspirational outlook on life, will make you feel at peace with yourself whilst simultaneously energized.

Ahsante claims she wants to make the world a better place and she certainly achieves this, being an extremely positive influence and somebody that we can all learn from, regardless of where we are in life. If you’re looking for a channel to help you learn and grow, Ahsante is offering many of the answers for free, and YouTube is so lucky to have her.

9. Craig Simmonds

If you’re a fan of breath-taking cinematography and vlogs full of warmth and honesty, then this channel is for you. In an authentic and beautiful manner, Craig captures the world around him on camera. His videos make you feel cozy and satisfied as he shares with you his photos, thoughts and travels, causing viewers to fall in love with how the world can look. Craig’s channel also presents us with spoken word, illustrating his perception of life through language as well as stunning images.

If you want to step into a video and feel like you’re listening to a friend, then you can’t give Craig’s channel a miss. His talent speaks for itself and his personality shines through his creations. They’re of such high quality in every way, so they most definitely deserve to be on your to-watch list. Consider bringing a hot drink with you, because you may notice that Craig’s videos are the visual equivalent of a perfect cup of tea. Between British people, there’s no better compliment than that.

10. Amillionmadmusings (Gemma Dunnell)

Gemma’s channel is a wonderful reflection of herself and the things she’s passionate about. Her videos explore all kinds of topics, such as internet friendships, bisexuality, Doctor Who and growing up. There’s something to entertain everyone, including her series ‘Tipsy OTPs’ in which she talks about her One True Pairings whilst tipsy, giving her audience lots of laughs in the process.

Gemma is a creator who is naturally funny, enthusiastic and extremely engaging; she’s committed to her channel and it truly shows in the videos that she posts online. She’s a YouTuber full of charm, and if you want to have a good time, her channel is the hot place to be, so be sure not to overlook this content creator on the rise.

Hopefully, some of these channels have drawn you in and you’re on your way to subscribe right now, but are these 10 YouTubers not enough for you? Read our previous guide to 10 YouTubers that Deserve More Subs to discover 10 more excellent channels that deserve your attention! Our smaller YouTubers are such an important part of the platform, and the ones listed here will all brighten up your subscription feed with something wonderful to offer.

What makes the best video essays so great?

Mike Wilhelm

March 1, 2019

“Video essay” is a somewhat pretentious term, isn’t it? I’m saying that as someone who makes them for a living, so I feel like I have room to critique my life choices.

If you don’t know what a video essay is, just think about a regular essay, but with accompanying visuals and music. It’s really that simple. There’s a misconception that video essays on YouTube exist specifically to critique, explain or analyze films — and indeed it seems that a vast majority of video essays do precisely that — but there’s no limit to what a video essay can tackle, just as there’s no limit to what someone can focus a written article on. Games, music, a public figure — all are fair game.

But what is a video essay really?

While there will likely be arguments about what precisely qualifies as a proper Video Essay™, probably the main signifier is that they tend to raise a claim or state a thesis, and then provide arguments to back up their idea. It’s a similar distinction between a think piece and documentary. Rather than merely presenting facts about a subject and calling it a day, a video essay tends to be more personal and opinionated, sparking an interesting discussion around analyzing the subject matter.

It’s that additional analytical element that moves it into video essay territory.

That analysis is a critical component that separates video essays from reviews of media, as well. Movies with Mikey from the YouTube channel FilmJoy is a fantastic YouTube series that is part review and part film analysis. In one of my favorite episodes, Mikey doesn’t just review Edgar Wright’s “Hot Fuzz” but also explores how films can become more culturally relevant in the years after their release. It’s that additional analytical element of the review that movies the episode into video essay territory.

Video essays have a tendency to be voiceover readings set to accompanying visuals of the topic they are discussing, but the exact format will differ from presenter to presenter. Natalie of the YouTube channel ContraPoints, for example, presents her ideas about culture and politics more often on camera with slick visuals than through voiceover. Does that disqualify her videos from being “true” video essays? Absolutely not.

Alternatively, a channel like CinemaSins technically hits a bunch of the criteria we’ve outlined — presented through voiceover, critiquing media, etc. — but they aren’t trying to argue a thesis about the movies they critique other than “movies have flaws sometimes,” which… I mean… yeah. Good job, gang.

So how do I make one of these things?

With that somewhat complicated and not at all exhaustive explanation of what video essays are, how do you go about making one? More specifically, how do you make a good one?

“Intellectual accessibility, an engaging host, and hard-hitting evidence” is the formula for making a great video essay according to Max Marriner, who hosted the video essayist networking panel at VidCon 2018. “Like, if you’ve ever seen Egoraptor’s Sequelitis on Mega Man, it’s basically THAT.”

Arin Hanson’s 2011 video essay about game design titled Sequelitis — Mega Man Classic vs. Mega Man X might be relatively old by internet standards, but it’s amassed over 13 million views in those last 7 years. “Entire towering principles of video game design are conveyed into understandable, digestible information that anyone, whether invested in the medium or not, can understand,” Marriner observes, “I personally think it’s the best video essay of all time.” Marriner believes this specific video has continued to resonate with viewers because it “encapsulates everything great about the video essay format.”

The video essays that stand out tend to be well-researched presentations on a topic that deserves a fresh look.

While hot takes about “The Last Jedi” will apparently always get thousands of views forever until the internet rots away, the videos essays that stand out the most tend to be well-researched — perhaps overly researched — presentations on a topic that either doesn’t get enough attention or that deserves a fresh look from another angle.

Why are some video essays better than others?

A video essay I’ve watched more than I should have is H. Bomberguy’s Sherlock Is Garbage, And Here’s Why. It’s a nearly two-hour long takedown of the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Holmes television show, and it’s glorious! The BBC series is far from a little-known, niche program, but H. Bomberguy’s video takes the time to thoroughly breakdown Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s cleverly constructed characters, the elements that make a Sherlock Holmes story irresistible, and Steven Moffat’s style of writing as the co-creator of the tv series, with a deep dive into Moffat’s other work for comparison.

It’s brutal, it’s hilarious and it’s full of H. Bomberguy’s personality, which has made me and many others come back to this feature-length video essay time and time again. Pairing your distinct style with your unique thesis is what video essays are all about!

YouTuber Matt Draper, who makes videos about movies and comics, explained what makes an excellent video essay far more succinctly and effortlessly than I’ve been trying to do here. “It’s gotta be a blend of style and substance. The style is why it’s a video — interesting visuals, strong editing, music that supports the tone of the video. The substance comes from strong writing with a well-supported point — it’s the reason for it existing in the first place.”

How your Audience Informs your Vlogging Style

Ahsante Bean

March 1, 2019

So, you’ve been vlogging for a while and you’re thinking about mixing up your style. We all want to continue growing and improving our videos, but we don’t want to leave our current audience behind.

In trying to remain authentic to your audience, your brand and yourself, it’s helpful to determine what exactly about your videos resonates with people. As far as what attracts an audience, there are two main categories of vloggers:

Personality-Driven

Personality-driven vloggers have big on-camera personas and are often silly or dramatic. They bring high energy, unique characters and a focus on entertainment value. This category includes vloggers who make pop culture reactions, comedy sketches and storytime videos. The way these vloggers present their perspectives is what keeps the audience coming back.

MacDoesIt stands out with his high-energy presentation style, characters, and humor.

Idea-Driven

Idea-driven vloggers rely on their thoughts and interpretations resonating with viewers. The focus is on the information being presented. This includes vloggers who make cultural analysis, life reflections, educational videos and tutorials. The audience comes back to these vloggers because they are insightful and informative. To learn more about attracting views in this vertical, read our article on A Different Approach to Getting Views for Your Educational YouTube Channel.

ItsRadishTime focuses her vlogs on personal stories and reflections that reveal life lessons.

The Right Mix

These categories are not mutually exclusive, and many successful vloggers have a bit of both. A strong on-camera presence is helpful for any vlogger. Using humor can be an effective way to get a point across. And choosing relevant topics and titles can help new viewers find your channel before they know your personality.

But many channels lean more towards one category than the other. If you focus on being fun and high-energy, don’t feel like you need to force lessons into your videos. If you focus on being thoughtful and perceptive, you don’t need to be a comedian if that feels inauthentic. Figure out why your audience watches you, and find the best way to serve that need.

Jarvis Johnson provides a unique blend of humor, relatability, and life advice in his vlogs.

Here are a few questions to consider as you’re deciding how to develop your vlogging style:

What makes your audience watch?

This is a time to dig into your YouTube analytics. What types of videos get the most views and comments? Based on click-through-rates, what titles are your audience the most interested in — ones that suggest a personal experience or ones that promise information? Where does the audience retention graph usually drop off within a video, what’s happening at that moment, and is there a stylistic shift that could keep the audience interested? Looking through the data can help you determine what aspect of your content best connects with your audience.

How does your audience appreciate your strengths?

Maybe people are always talking about the hilarious jokes you make in the comments. Or maybe they say your video is the best analysis of the latest blockbuster that they’ve seen. Perhaps when someone shouts you out, they mention how film-like and artistic your videos are, how they always learn something new, or how there’s never a dull moment in your storytelling. For more on storytelling in vlogs, check out this previous article. Notice what adjectives people use to describe your channel and lean into those qualities. You can also ask your audience directly what they like using polling features on YouTube or other social platforms.

What in your videos feels boring?

If you’ve been vlogging for a while, you may have fallen into certain patterns — filming in the same location, reading scripts the same way, or using the same framework for your topics. While consistency helps your audience know what to expect, if you’re getting bored with your content, chances are your audience is getting bored, too. It may be time to spice things up. Try introducing a new segment, new graphics or adjusting your delivery style, and see how your audience responds. Experimenting with your content not only keeps it fresh for your audience but also keeps the vlogging process fun for you. See this article for more tips on how to keep vlogging fun.

What skills do you want to improve?

Is there a new video technique you want to try, or a new sense of humor you want to explore? Experimentation can allow you to build new skills. If there are aspects of your videos that could use some practice, those could be areas for growth. You might decide to learn more about improv or public speaking in order to develop your camera presence. Or maybe you can work on your writing skills in order to make arguments more effectively.

How can you nudge your audience along?

You want your audience to grow with you; you don’t want them to feel like you’re a completely different person from the one they subscribed to. In order to avoid giving your audience whiplash or causing confusion, try gradual changes, rather than a complete channel overhaul. If you introduce your audience to one shift at a time, it’s easier for them to see that the underlying value of your videos remains constant.

Your audience can be an incredible partner in developing your voice and spreading your message. Observing how they respond, what they value and how your interests align with those values can open a path to more dynamic content that fulfills your creative goals and keeps your audience captivated.

Cause and VFX

Rhiannon McGavin

March 1, 2019

Makeup is most often used in the pursuit of beauty, but VFX makeup has a completely different aim.Prospero’s older sister asks me to look down, then blends blue glitter all over my eyelid before fussing with my hair. I’m covered in turquoise tulle and about nine years old, backstage at my neighborhood theatre group’s production of The Tempest. My character, Ariel, is a powerful sprite, a fact that I will brag about to my third-grade classmates. Memorizing half of that Shakespeare play was a slow process, but magically transforming into the character only took 10 minutes and an old eyeshadow palette. Over the years of my childhood that I participated in this local theatre group, costumes and makeup became my favorite part of performing. Mascara, lipstick, pure pigments: all these products applied to create the character and emphasize your features so that someone in the back row could see every expression on your face.

I’m thankful that my first experiences with makeup had such clear purpose. The next time I used cosmetics was to cover up acne in middle school, which had none of the artsy aspects I’d liked from theatre. Appreciating makeup on my own terms again has been a process, but watching VFX YouTubers reminds me of those early experiences.

What is VFX makeup?

VFX stands for “visual effects,” or the art of manipulating imagery beyond a live action film shot. This can mean a CGI dragon bursting through a house, or flames engulfing a stunt double or the post-battle burns made with makeup on an actor.

Glam and Gore: Gore Basics: Burns (Special FX Makeup Tutorial)

The long history of theatrical trickery birthed the process of VFX once cameras became readily available. The growing film industry led to a new era of cosmetic innovation, like lip gloss being invented for silent movie stars. Cinema has been entwined with cosmetics since its conception, and VFX YouTubers really demonstrate this. Their techniques are usually drawn directly from on-set experience. It’s common for beauty vloggers to have side jobs as makeup artists while producing videos, and VFX Youtubers like Glam and Gore typically work on film or TV sets between fresh tutorials. For these reasons, the VFX genre of YouTube feels more directly tied to the entertainment industry than normal makeup videos.

My Ariel costume in 2006 probably shared a similar process to the Ariel costume of 1611, with quick makeup and fabric creating the character backstage. But if you can start and stop the camera at any moment, you can dedicate much more time to building an image. VFX YouTubers truly take viewers behind the scenes as they construct familiar characters or wild new inventions.

HAUNTED SHIP: I Did My Halloween Makeup On The Queen Mary

Outside of any soundstage, it’s fun to see everyday objects transformed in a new context. A condom covered in NYX’s best-selling color corrector to make a nose for Squidward is the perfect example of this. Polymer clay is another; VFX artists mold intricate decorations and prosthetics for a full-body look.

How can I profit from VFX makeup tutorials?

An avid beauty viewer will recognize most of the products in a VFX kit, yet there’s a range of grease paints and artificial materials only used for special effects: it’s hard to imagine incorporating fake dirt into my everyday routine. These cosmetics come with their own guidelines, especially when adhesives are involved. You can experiment with a contour palette without any risk, but this level of VFX cosmetics requires real background research. However, these new materials also create more opportunities for affiliate links and sponsorship, opening the vanity even wider for potential YouTube income streams.

Good lighting and camera equipment feel especially important to show off all the ghoulish details.

Like other channels, VFX videos can be monetized through Adsense, although I imagine some of the gorier content could be subject to closer review. YouTuber-branded merchandise like coffee mugs or t-shirts is also an option, assuming the creator has an audience large enough to warrant that investment.

Harnessing the VFX appeal

There’s a certain ingenuity that I admire in VFX videos, like using a q-tip to fake a cheek piercing. Natural beauty has been the dominant trend for the last few years, and while I love a dewy highlight, it’s fun to see creators go the absolute opposite direction of no-makeup makeup.

VFX artists craft the fullest of full faces, bringing in body paint and wigs much more often than normal makeup vloggers, without even mentioning fake blood.

The tutorials demand a little more commitment compared to traditional makeup channels, just from a logistics standpoint: Whether YouTube is a full-time job or not, it’s more convenient to create a look you wouldn’t have to shower off before leaving the house. VFX is a cinematic term, and these creators seem more directly tied to the entertainment industry as well, whether they’re inspired by movie monsters or producing tutorials on days off from set. Good lighting and camera equipment feel especially important for this genre to show off all the ghoulish details.

VFX channels have similar trends and tags to other makeup vloggers, like letting social media polls determine a tutorial or shooting videos in locations relevant to the final look. For more in-depth tutorials, the final look is typically blurred out in the thumbnail to preserve the surprise. This practice summarizes the appeal of VFX videos, in my opinion. You watch somebody utterly transform from a normal-looking person to a crusty mermaid or reanimated corpse in 15 minutes. VFX videos are certainly popular around Halloween for fun costumes, but people come back for that transformation long after the fake spider webs are gone.

Building a Review Channel Around a Single Product

March 1, 2019

The first thing to do when building a review channel is deciding which products to feature. It seems like there’s a channel for everything and you may struggle to stand out. Perhaps you can find your audience by focusing on a single product, rather than a variety of them.

Finding a niche

A key component to finding an audience on YouTube is filling a niche and creating content for it consistently. This ensures you’re discussing familiar topics you are knowledgeable about but also helps in keeping a consistent schedule.

Review channels are already a niche, but you can take this further by specializing in one product. While that seems like it would limit your potential, there are plenty of channels succeeding with the method.

For instance, Filip Koroy runs EverythingApplePro, which focuses entirely on Apple-related products and nothing else. There are different products within this category, but he keeps things centered on the brand. Similarly, PlayStation Grenade focuses entirely on PlayStation-related content.

Finding a niche within a niche can be helpful as well. Toy review channels are nothing new, so choosing to focus on one specific toy may be what’s needed. Brick Builder has found a lot of success doing exactly this by building a channel entirely on LEGO reviews.

More options than you think

You may be wondering how on Earth you are going to be able to fill your channel with regular content when focusing on a singular product. Fortunately, there are more options than you think.

Let’s say you’re running an iPhone-only channel. Every year, new phones are announced with plenty of hoopla. You can create reaction videos based on the latest announcements or breakdown videos of the announced differences from the previous models or other versions.

From there you can make list videos about the improvements and features you hope to see or retrospectives on older releases and your favorite parts of them. Of course, when the new phone releases, you do reviews. Months later, you can do follow up videos about whether or not your feelings have changed, based on the phone’s updates, since your initial review.

That’s not even including reviews related to the ancillary products for the iPhone — earbuds, chargers, cases, etc. That said, there are certainly pros and cons to this type of channel.

The pros

Expertise: The most obvious benefit is becoming the “go-to” person for a product. When you’ve proven to your audience you know what you’re talking about, you’ll become the person they trust most for opinions on that product. If you’ve built your entire channel and brand around iPhones, viewers will understandably want to come to you for the low down on all the latest iPhone updates.

Outreach: Other sites often highlight external resources for their readers, so it’s a great idea to reach out to sites with similar interests about potential collaborations. Whether it’s just a spot on a listicle or a deeper partnership, a product focus could open up more outreach and referral options you’d otherwise miss out on.

SEO Research: While there’s been some debate on the importance of SEO these days, it’s still something you’ll want to utilize. By focusing on a single product, you’re able to research the specific SEO strategies that will be the most effective.

Sponsorship without Conflict: Sponsorships with companies allow you the opportunity to test out products, giving you content without cost. These can bring up potential ethical questions from viewers: Is a product getting a better review because it was provided to the reviewer for free?

Avoid this issue by seeking out sponsorships on the products related to your focus. For iPhone, these would be headphones and other accessories. This way you still have sponsorship options, but there’s no conflict with your thoughts on the iPhone itself.

The cons

Lack of Content Diversity: Since you’re dealing with only one product, the options to diversify your content are limited. Establishing your brand and making a name for yourself as the go-to person takes time, and detours derail that progress. That’s not to say you can’t make the occasional video tackling something entirely different, but until you’ve firmly settled into your brand, it will only confuse viewers.

If People Stop Caring: One of the biggest concerns is whether or not a product will stay relevant in the long run. Hot products — especially when it comes to technology — are fickle, and what was once trendy may eventually fall out of public favor.

Imagine running a channel back in the days of Zune versus iPod and choosing to focus on the Zune. Backing the HD DVD over Blu-Ray — the list goes on. Point is, it’s hard to know what will still be around down the road and what’s merely a fad. Even products from companies with excellent track records have failed spectacularly (e.g., Nintendo’s Virtual Boy).

What works for you

While there are certainly risks involved with a single product review channel, the benefits might mean the difference between building an audience and getting lost amidst the crowd. Limiting your focus doesn’t necessarily equate to limiting your channel’s potential.

YouTube Instruction by Design: Using Instructional Design to Make More Effective Instructional Video

Jackie Howland

March 1, 2019

Perhaps you’ve had this experience: You want to learn something, so you go to YouTube. You find a likely video and start watching. However, it’s just a guy standing in front of a blackboard, talking. Boring! In about three seconds, you stop watching. Or you keep watching, but you don’t really retain much. While these people are well-intentioned, they could really do with some learning themselves — on the topic of teaching theory.

If you want your audience to watch your whole presentation and perhaps others, you might want to construct your video with some principles of design theory. This will not only create interest and engagement; it will also help ensure learning takes place.

What is instructional design?

While teaching takes two basic forms, lecture or demonstration, instructional design theory goes deeper and analyzes how our brains function in learning mode. It could be argued they’re always in this mode, but a classroom full of bored, daydreaming students belies this. Teaching must start with some basics, such as your target audience (you decide this), their information goal and why they want to learn. All this varies since people might just be curious, might need to pass a test, might want to make something or have some other goal. Your video needs to reflect this.

How do we learn?

Understanding the process of learning comes next. We’ll look at the three main theoretical models most often used in effective teaching and in what situations each works best. The first is perhaps the most well-known: Behavioral Learning. This theory says people learn by rote (memorization) and by practice. Basic math, spelling or music is often taught with this method. You memorize something and then practice it again and again. It works well for certain subjects and when learners bring specific goals with them, for example, learning to play a favorite song or needing to pass a math test. It doesn’t, however, consider subjects that require more thinking or higher order problem-solving.

Engage your learners by targeting their motivation for learning and/or providing a connection to something familiar.

Constructivism Theory goes a step further and says we actively build new knowledge. We’re not satisfied with simply taking what is already known: We want to add to the world’s understanding. This applies to any topic that involves invention or creation: science, medicine, engineering, art and so much more! Lectures filled with facts and data that need to be memorized don’t work well for many topics and many learners. Instead, open-ended questions or being provided with possible theories to choose from will be more engaging.

Andy Guitar clearly identifies his target learner in Guitar Lesson 1 — Absolute Beginner? Start Here!

Putting it in action

After you’ve decided which theory will work best for your topic, remember some basic tenants of teaching. First, engage your learners by targeting their motivation for learning and/or providing a connection to something they’re familiar with, such as a popular movie. So, if I wanted to inform my audience about velociraptors, I might ask a question about the accuracy of the original Jurassic Park’s representation of those creatures. Next, consider how to organize your material. You might even want to do an old-fashioned outline for a lecture. Also, most learning builds on prior knowledge. We don’t teach first graders trigonometry. What might your learners already know? What might they need to know? Are they, for example, familiar with the theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs? Or that some dinosaurs had feathers?

WatchMojo’s video, Top 10 Scientific Inaccuracies in Jurassic Park, uses popular media to engage audiences on the topic of dinosaurs.

While we’re focusing on content, let’s talk about what not to include. If your audience is made up mostly of adults, it’s better not to take a Sesame Street approach. That would be the fast music, shouting, explosions of colors and shapes, and silliness. Relevant images, animated illustrations and other communication tools will be effective when they reflect the subject and are especially important with lectures since they give learners more to do than just listen. Humor and charm are fine if the content is also substantive, but don’t resort to gimmicks as ways to “engage.” Respect your audience as intelligent people who already know things and are perfectly capable of learning more. Then find effective ways to build on that knowledge. Don’t forget to make it fun!

For additional ideas for your educational content, see A Different Approach to Getting Views for Your Educational YouTube Channel.

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