With her successful YouTube channel, Rosie McClelland currently has 830k subscribers and can often be found uploading videos including morning routines and music covers, and has attended events such as BBC Summer Social. Also a singer, Rosie has recently released her newest single Tik Tok, which she worked on in LA, and filmed her music video for the song ahead of lockdown. Rosie became well-known when a video of her and her cousin Sophia Grace went viral performing Super Bass by Nicki Minaj which led to them appearing numerous times on Ellen, as well as filming their own movie – Sophia Grace and Rosie’s Royal Adventure – with Warner Bros. Earlier this year, Rosie announced she has her own edit with New Look, and to celebrate, she hosted an exclusive meet and greet at Bluewater Shopping Centre. Answering our questions, Rosie speaks about running her YouTube channel, releasing her new single Tik Tok and working with New Look.
Can you say more about your YouTube channel and what videos you like to upload?
My YouTube channel is made up of fun, kid-friendly videos! My audience especially like my ‘Morning Routines’, ‘Shopping Hauls’ and, of course, my music videos and song covers.
How has your channel changed over time and what upcoming plans do you have for it?
My channel has basically grown with me, I have grown up on social media since the age of five – so my followers have watched me grow and change in real time! I am so excited for many more music videos and also to maybe move more into the beauty and makeup world – as I get older and experiment with more products!
How much fun do you have filming your videos and how do you decide what to film?
Filming is so much fun because I get to see so many different places, meet different people and also be creative. I would only ever film something I am totally happy with as I want to stay true to who I am. I would rather get 100K views on something I’m proud of than 1M on something I’m not.
Do you have a favourite aspect of being a YouTuber?
I love to inspire people and spread positivity, so being able to create content that makes people happy and inspires them to have fun is the most important thing to me. YouTube has also helped me express myself and encouraged me to explore my love for music. Since I became active on my YouTube channel back in 2017, I have released three singles and three music videos with over ten million views on YouTube. So, I am so, so thankful – to say the least!
You’ve recently released your latest single Tik Tok, how long has it been in the making and what’s the response been like so far from your listeners?
Tik Tok was so much fun to make, I worked with the most amazing producers and songwriters in LA and it took just one day to write and record. I was amazed and so excited for everybody to hear it. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing team who worked on the song – from the producer Alawn, co-writer Dyson and my management team, The Hello Group! The response has been amazing, it’s a real summer vibe, so I want wait to see it do its thing over the summer months…
For those that haven’t heard the song, can you say what it’s about and what was it like hearing the finished release for the first time?
As I said, Tik Tok is such summer vibes – I think it’s my favourite release so far! It’s all about getting your body moving and when you hear it it does exactly that! I was super surprised at my vocal ability on this and I hit new heights in the recording, I also learnt a lot too! When we listened back to the song at the end of the recording day, we were all jumping around the studio – it was a real special moment.
How did you celebrate the single release and how was it having it released during lockdown?
We celebrated at home in the UK, it was just me, my mum, dad and brother! We spent most of the day on FaceTime and Zoom to family and friends. It wasn’t the same as my other releases, as my mum always throws a big party – but it was still special and we were safe, so that was the main thing!
What was the music video like to film for Tik Tok?
We were so lucky to have filmed the video just before lockdown! The shoot was full of colour, outfit changes and dancing – it was a great shoot and I love the outcome! The video was shot in the UK, so I do want to shoot my next video back in LA (in the sun, or maybe on a beach in Spain).
You’ve previously attended BBC Summer Social, what was this like?
Singing live on stage at the BBC Summer Social was one of my biggest highlights! This is what I was born to do and I can’t wait to do it again… I will definitely be performing live as soon as everything is up and running again, I cannot wait!
How does it feel seeing so many people enjoying your work?
It feels amazing, I do what I do because I love it and to have lots of other people love it too is such a big bonus! I do still see myself as a regular girl though and I will always be that way.
What do you like doing away from music and YouTube?
I spend as much time with my friends and family as I can. I am lucky enough to have my cousin Lily (@lilybakes) as my best friend, we even go to the same school and we launched her baking channel recently – so we can have more in common and help each other through the journey of social media! Basically, have each other’s backs, no matter what.
Who are some of your favourite music artists and YouTubers?
I love Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Ariana Grande and Emma Heesters!
When you were younger, one of your videos went viral, what do you remember most about this and appearing on shows like Ellen and Sam & Cat?
I remember so much from the Ellen days, but then my mum talks about a lot of the show, I’m sometimes like, “I don’t remember that?”. My best memories were just running around the Ellen studios with Sophia, my cousin! We basically spent four years of our lives at the studio – we had our very own dressing room, and every time we went back, all of our things were still in the drawers and cupboards where we left them. We once spied on JLo in her changing room. Since I was only five and Sophia was eight, I guess that was okay?!
You starred in your own movie, released books and won Choice Web Stars at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards, how did you find the experience?
Shooting our movie Sophia Grace and Rosie’s Royal Adventure was the experience of a lifetime, we spent five weeks in South Africa with our family and the Warner Bros team! I think that’s when everybody realised I could actually act. It also made me want to be a film star one day too!
We understand you’ve launched an edit with New Look, what was this like to do?
Getting my own edit with New Look was a dream come true, I mean, what girl doesn’t want her own edit in one of the UK’s biggest retailers?! I loved the process, the team were super kind and the edit sold out in lots of the shops in the first few days! I would love to do more fashion projects soon!
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Categories: home, Interview, Music, Reality & TV Personalities, Young Performers, YouTube/Online Content