A Star is Born! Meet Carly Rose

At the mere age of thirteen, Carly Rose Sonenclar has achieved more stardom than most artists many years her senior. With pop icon Britney Spears as her mentor, Sonenclar rose to fame as runner-up on the X Factor and is now poised to become America’s next young pop superstar. Sonenclar is bringing soul back into the pop genre: her first audition for the hit series was an incredible rendition of Nina Simone’s, Feeling Good. With her beautifully soulful voice, she has garnered devoted fans from over a dozen countries and achieved worldwide fame on iTunes and YouTube. Even with her humble persona, this talented teen brings every bit of confidence straight to the stage. We take a moment to catch up with Carly at one of her favorite boutiques, Marteal and Estrada, in her hometown area in Westchester,NY.

RAINE: How did you get started in the performing arts?

SONENCLAR: I started acting and singing in local classes when I was 5 years old. One day, the whole class went to audition for a talent manager in the city. I recited a Welch’s Grape Juice commercial and was signed. I started auditioning for Broadway and got my big break in Les Miserables. That was when I realized this is what I want to do.

RAINE: As a child performer, what were some of the sacrifices you have had to make?

SONENCLAR: While on the X Factor, I missed a lot of school and am now catching up on everything. Despite not being with my friends for a long time and missing certain events, I wouldn’t change anything for my experiences.

RAINE: What made you decide to try out for X Factor?

SONENCLAR: I watched the whole first season, but was still too young to audition at that time and had to wait. Watching Rachel Crow and Drew and seeing how they were able to get really far on the show showed me that it could happen and I could potentially be like that.RAINE: On you audition, what did it feel like walking off the stage for the first time after the judges and audience gave you that standing ovation?

SONENCLAR: I had been waiting to perform for ten hours and was anxious to get onstage. The anticipation was getting hard to deal with and it was a very nerve-racking setting. When they had me on deck on the side of the stage I could see the judges and the audience. It was so weird to see the judges’ faces for the first time. It was a surreal experience and afterwards I felt like “what just happened?” I knew then that this experience could be amazing and life changing.

RAINE: What advice helped you get through the competition?

SONENCLAR: Don’t get too happy in the good times and don’t get too low in the bad times. You can go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. It’s been an emotional roller coaster; but I have taken that advice through everything.

RAINE: Who or what has inspired you throughout this journey?

SONENCLAR: My drive and love for music as well as my family and friends - also, the people congratulating me after every performance and how much I really want to succeed and do well. And just how much my family sacrificed during the show: we were apart for a while with my brother off at college, my dad home alone, and my mom and I together.

RAINE: How did you come into your own style?

SONENCLAR: As the show went on, my fashion became more important to me. I want to look good and figure out what my image is. I like the Boho look and I’m inspired by Mary Kate and Ashley. I also like rock and roll inspired pieces like leather jackets. The show helped me realize that I like hats, scarves, and different bracelets – any cool, unique accessories.

RAINE: Do you see yourself getting more into fashion?

SONENCLAR: I would love to have my own clothing line. I have always admired celebrities like Selena Gomez: they figure out their style and create a clothing line based on their image. I have always thought that was cool. I’ve really gotten to love fashion and want my style to be unique and relatable.

RAINE: Do you plan on continuing to act as well?

SONENCLAR: I definitely want to continue acting. I love doing it and never lost interest in it . People are expecting me to go right into music and put out a song, but right now I’m figuring out what my path should be.

RAINE: What would your dream role be?

SONENCLAR: I would love to be in a movie that is gets a great response from critics and audiences. That would be a good way to establish myself as a respected artist. I would like to act and sing throughout my career and want to be respected in both areas.

RAINE: What was the most rewarding aspect of being on X Factor?

SONENCLAR: There were a lot of obstacles that I had to overcome as an artist. I had to learn so many songs in the last week: including the song of the season, the song with the celebrity, the ensemble, the duet, and the 5 million dollar song. It was a lesson for me to handle pressure and learn quickly and cope with a lot of stuff going on. I had to juggle rehearsing, sound check, sound blocking, and interviews. I was really nervous and stressed and my vocal coach told me the experience was going to prepare me for anything that came after the show. Nothing for me could be as hard as that experience and it has prepared me for anything. It helped me feel confidence in myself that I can be ready for anything that comes at me.

RAINE: What was it like to work with Britney?

SONENCLAR: Britney was amazing. She’s such a nice person. She was kind of shy and very humble. She’d never talk about herself and I really respected that. Being humble is more important than anything. She showed RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 15 33 me that even at her level of fame you can still be humble. That was amazing to me. She always told me to be confident in everything you do and that you never get used to the cameras being in your face. She takes every experience as a new experience.

RAINE: What charitable activities have you gotten involved with?

SONENCLAR: I’m an ambassador for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. I go to Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC and volunteer with KidZone TV, a small TV studio in the children’s hospital where they film a show and the patients can watch it live in their rooms. I would go on the show and sing and the host would ask me questions and the children would call in and ask me questions as well. I’ve been getting more involved in the charity and it’s rewarding to see the kids and what they go through and bring them a smile.