R-Jeneration: Henderson teen finds new outlet for musical expression

YouTube has become the home to many musicians. Artists such as Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Rebecca Black have tapped into the trend.

But big names aren't the only ones taking advantage of the forum.

Musician Jackie Mack, a senior at Green Valley High School, says she joined YouTube to get exposure.

"I am trying to move on in my career as a professional singer, that is what I want to do," Mack says. "You have to have a strong fan base before anyone signs you. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and all those Internet things are just a good way to put your name out there."

Performing in front of a live audience has enabled Mack to express herself and share her passion for music.

"Singing itself is like therapy for me, but being onstage is a whole different feeling," Mack says. "It is the reason why I do what I do. There is nothing like being onstage and performing and just reaching out. There is a connection that is made onstage with the audience and that's what I love the most."

With the help of her manager, Delly Fortang, Mack has performed at Laziza Hookah Lounge, Havana at Bellagio, Cadillac Ranch, Town Square, Sam's Town, the Henderson Pavilion and almost all the libraries in Henderson. She also has tried out for several competitions such as "American Idol," "American Teen Idol" and many talent shows in Las Vegas.

"I have a manager and she pretty much books every show for me," Mack says. "She found me at a talent show and she heard me sing. She told me that she wanted to take me with her. Ever since then she has been my vocal coach and manager at the same time."

Along with the support of her family, Mack's biggest supporters in her audience are some of her closest friends.

"I've seen her perform at Laziza restaurant and she was amazing," says Mackenzie Butler, a Green Valley senior. "She has a really unique voice and she can sing at any pitch."

Along with seeing her sing at Laziza, Butler has seen Mack perform the national anthem at her school basketball games.

"When I first heard her voice, I was shocked," Butler says. "I didn't think she was that good, but she definitely was."

Though Mack performs songs from Beyonce or Aretha Franklin during a live performance, she is open to anything for her YouTube music videos.

"Sometimes I get songs requested. Some people are like, 'OK, we need a girl to sing this song' and they know that it fits my voice, but mainly when it comes to me, I pick songs that I like and that I can work the stage with," Mack says. Just recently, Mack has started to write her own songs. She recently performed her songs "Hello" and "So What" on her YouTube channel, omgitsJackieMack.

"I replicate a lot of people a lot. I do a lot of covers like Beyonce and a lot of Aretha. But I also do my own music sometimes. I just started that actually now that I learned to play the guitar," Mack says.

Mack first started singing when she attended church at a young age. She soon found her way to the musical theater where she got a chance to both sing and act onstage.

"I did a lot of musicals when I was younger, like 'Annie' and 'Sound of Music,' " Mack says. "That is where I started off from, like stage musical stuff, but then I started moving over to singing."

With more than 446 hits so far on YouTube, Mack says she hopes to one day match the 1,468,943,268 hits of her fellow YouTube musician Justin Bieber.

"There's nothing like it, I just can't explain. Without music, I would just die, so it just basically just keeps me alive," she says. "Just be looking out for me."