My Interview With YouTube Star Ysabellabrave
Robert Paul Reyes
March 21, 2007
Ysabellabrave (MaryAnne) is one of the biggest stars on YouTube; she has thousands of fans who anxiously wait for her next video. From her videos we have learned tidbits of information: She’s a natural blond; lives in California; works for Yahoo; has been singing for only a year ...
Don’t let the Betty Boop mannerisms fool you, Ysabella is a very intelligent and articulate young woman. Hopefully, this interview will please Ysabella’s legion of fans who want to know everything there is to know about her.
RPR: Evangelical/fundamentalist Christians don’t compartmentalize their lives. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” How do you reconcile your participation in Horrorfest with your evangelical faith? Can you honestly say that participating in an event that promotes horror films, glorifies God? The horror films of today are not of the campy “Nightmare on Elm Street” variety; they are gruesome, graphic and disturbing.
Ysabella: To me, Horror movies have been two things: morality tales and roller coasters for the mind. I enjoy the thrill, the exaggerated good versus evil, I realize that they are entirely fiction. I think many people agree with me on this. I also enjoy the macabre, and I see no problems with grown people enjoying horror movies. I think as far as glorifying God, it is important to remember that there is evil in the world, and that God gave us great imaginations to enjoy (I enjoy Grimm fairy tales for the same reasons). I will not watch horror movies about the devil or documentary-style films on murderers as entertainment - I think this becomes an entirely different experience.
RPR: Who is your favorite singer?
Ysabella: My favorite female singer is Nina Simone, favorite male is a tie with Peter Tosh and Muddy Waters.
RPR: Are you in a romantic relationship?
Ysabella: I am not in a romantic relationship at this time.
RPR: I love pets, I have two cats and a dog. Will your cats continue to make occasional cameo appearances in your videos?
Ysabella: They may, but I don’t promise anything. They’ve been through surgery recently for spaying and they’re not in the mood to be messed with. Besides this, I don’t think they care for the heavy lighting and extremely loud music that I have to use for the songs.
RPR: You are a fraud analyst for Yahoo, it would be in your company’s best interests to see you succeed as a singer. It would be great publicity for them; have they promoted your singing career in any way? If not, why not?
Ysabella: At work, we are here to work. People’s private lives or professional lives not pertaining to Yahoo! really have no place here; as hard as we work, we don’t have time for much else.
RPR: Rap/Hip Hop is your fave genre of music. As a Christian how can you listen to a genre of music that is misogynist, homophobic and materialistic? And please don’t answer that most of rap music is not negative. One time I wrote an essay about rap music, and for research I listened to and read the lyrics of all the rap artists that were in the Billboard charts. Every single one of the CD’s I listened to had, what I considered, objectionable material.
Ysabella: Take Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y, or Tupac’s Keep Ya Head Up. Both of these songs are wonderful examples to the contrary.
Like a lot of great music, Rap and Hip Hop are invaluable as social commentary. Whenever there is a genre of music that is hard to listen to, find out what they are saying, why they are saying it, what are they trying to get across? As hip hop and rap are incredibly lyrical, the words are the key. Someone with tons of ice on their neck, are they saying “money is the key”, or “I have made a living when I have always been told (and my people always told) I could not”? Many people prejudge and miss the point - but the songs were written more for those who will ‘get it’ than for everyone. I think when you don’t come from the world the people are singing in, the point is almost in code and difficult to miss. Look at 2LiveCrew’s “Banned in the U.S.A.” - what is he really singing about? How does this change one’s point of view on the song they’re referring to? These are issues that not everyone cares about or needs to, but those who hold strong opinions might try looking at it from the inside out for a change.
That being said, my favorite rap and hip hop is Gospel rap and hip hop (Holy Hip Hop). It sounds like a joke, but it’s actually GREAT. I recommend Tha Preachaholicz’s “Club Blazer” or “Poison” by Double. People still have a problem with this music, and it is for the same reasons.
RPR: You go by the screen name “Ysabellabrave”, at some point are you going to use your real name? When individuals adopt a screen name, they usually adopt a persona to go along with it. When I read a posting online or view a video by an individual using a screen name, I automatically take everything they say with a grain of salt. I don’t think you are another “Lonelygirl15”, but it would give you more credibility if you use your real name.
Ysabella: My father came up with ysabellabrave as a screen name for me years ago. Starting up Youtube, I just used that as it was easy to remember. I am MaryAnne Ysabella, mainly known as MaryAnne. At this point people can call me any of these things, whichever they’re more comfortable with. Anyone who’s been around a moment knows my first name by now.
RPR: You make a real emotional connection with your fans, are you afraid of stalkers? Perhaps this is one reason you don’t use your real name.
Ysabella: I do use my real name, my real name is not a secret. I do not actively use my last name because that would be simply foolish. I’m only ‘afraid’ of stalkers the way any woman needs to be cautious in everyday life, but there’s no fear there. It’s a rare person stupid enough to mess with me, and if anyone should be afraid, it’s them.
RPR: When you hit the Big Time, will you remember your Yahoo fans and the bloggers/editorialists who promoted you?
Ysabella: I don’t know what is going to happen to me. I would like to say, though, that it has never been in my character to think anyone can be ‘above’ or ‘below’ anyone, if that is what you mean by this question. I really appreciate the loyalty that many of my new friends have shown to me through this wild trip. Will I literally remember or even be aware of someone saying, even now, ‘hey I’m Christine, I wrote about you!’ or ‘hey I’m Joe, I wrote a comment in your song, I told my family and friends about you!’ - maybe, maybe not. Will I appreciate them? Yes I do, and yes I will.
RPR: When you record your first CD, will it be a collection of Jazz standards and show tunes or something more contemporary?
Ysabella: I have no idea. This all has been and will continue to be surprising to me as it goes along.
RPR: You are loved by people of all ages, including children, will you consider doing a lullaby or children’s song?
Ysabella: I have people that play me in pediatric wards of hospitals for children because it soothes them. I have people that play me to their children - by demand! I think music as a language transcends many categories it’s stuffed into and can be appreciated on more levels than initially imagined. If I am moved to do a song like this, I will. If I’m not, I won’t, same as with every song I have sung.
RPR: Ysabella you are beautiful, will you ever videotape yourself, giving your fans a view of your whole body?
Ysabella: I have a video of the song “Sooner or Later” in which I do this.
RPR: Ysabella, thanks so much for granting me an interview. Forgive me if some of the questions were tough, but I think it will help your career if you answer some difficult questions.
RPR: You really are my fave singer, I anxiously wait for your next video. I’ve turned on many family members and friends on to you.
Ysabella: No problem. I’m not doing this for ‘my career’. My career is in internet fraud right now. I’m doing this for the sake of the truth.
MaryAnne
Please go to Ysabellabrave.com and watch her videos
Don’t let the Betty Boop mannerisms fool you, Ysabella is a very intelligent and articulate young woman. Hopefully, this interview will please Ysabella’s legion of fans who want to know everything there is to know about her.
RPR: Evangelical/fundamentalist Christians don’t compartmentalize their lives. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” How do you reconcile your participation in Horrorfest with your evangelical faith? Can you honestly say that participating in an event that promotes horror films, glorifies God? The horror films of today are not of the campy “Nightmare on Elm Street” variety; they are gruesome, graphic and disturbing.
Ysabella: To me, Horror movies have been two things: morality tales and roller coasters for the mind. I enjoy the thrill, the exaggerated good versus evil, I realize that they are entirely fiction. I think many people agree with me on this. I also enjoy the macabre, and I see no problems with grown people enjoying horror movies. I think as far as glorifying God, it is important to remember that there is evil in the world, and that God gave us great imaginations to enjoy (I enjoy Grimm fairy tales for the same reasons). I will not watch horror movies about the devil or documentary-style films on murderers as entertainment - I think this becomes an entirely different experience.
RPR: Who is your favorite singer?
Ysabella: My favorite female singer is Nina Simone, favorite male is a tie with Peter Tosh and Muddy Waters.
RPR: Are you in a romantic relationship?
Ysabella: I am not in a romantic relationship at this time.
RPR: I love pets, I have two cats and a dog. Will your cats continue to make occasional cameo appearances in your videos?
Ysabella: They may, but I don’t promise anything. They’ve been through surgery recently for spaying and they’re not in the mood to be messed with. Besides this, I don’t think they care for the heavy lighting and extremely loud music that I have to use for the songs.
RPR: You are a fraud analyst for Yahoo, it would be in your company’s best interests to see you succeed as a singer. It would be great publicity for them; have they promoted your singing career in any way? If not, why not?
Ysabella: At work, we are here to work. People’s private lives or professional lives not pertaining to Yahoo! really have no place here; as hard as we work, we don’t have time for much else.
RPR: Rap/Hip Hop is your fave genre of music. As a Christian how can you listen to a genre of music that is misogynist, homophobic and materialistic? And please don’t answer that most of rap music is not negative. One time I wrote an essay about rap music, and for research I listened to and read the lyrics of all the rap artists that were in the Billboard charts. Every single one of the CD’s I listened to had, what I considered, objectionable material.
Ysabella: Take Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y, or Tupac’s Keep Ya Head Up. Both of these songs are wonderful examples to the contrary.
Like a lot of great music, Rap and Hip Hop are invaluable as social commentary. Whenever there is a genre of music that is hard to listen to, find out what they are saying, why they are saying it, what are they trying to get across? As hip hop and rap are incredibly lyrical, the words are the key. Someone with tons of ice on their neck, are they saying “money is the key”, or “I have made a living when I have always been told (and my people always told) I could not”? Many people prejudge and miss the point - but the songs were written more for those who will ‘get it’ than for everyone. I think when you don’t come from the world the people are singing in, the point is almost in code and difficult to miss. Look at 2LiveCrew’s “Banned in the U.S.A.” - what is he really singing about? How does this change one’s point of view on the song they’re referring to? These are issues that not everyone cares about or needs to, but those who hold strong opinions might try looking at it from the inside out for a change.
That being said, my favorite rap and hip hop is Gospel rap and hip hop (Holy Hip Hop). It sounds like a joke, but it’s actually GREAT. I recommend Tha Preachaholicz’s “Club Blazer” or “Poison” by Double. People still have a problem with this music, and it is for the same reasons.
RPR: You go by the screen name “Ysabellabrave”, at some point are you going to use your real name? When individuals adopt a screen name, they usually adopt a persona to go along with it. When I read a posting online or view a video by an individual using a screen name, I automatically take everything they say with a grain of salt. I don’t think you are another “Lonelygirl15”, but it would give you more credibility if you use your real name.
Ysabella: My father came up with ysabellabrave as a screen name for me years ago. Starting up Youtube, I just used that as it was easy to remember. I am MaryAnne Ysabella, mainly known as MaryAnne. At this point people can call me any of these things, whichever they’re more comfortable with. Anyone who’s been around a moment knows my first name by now.
RPR: You make a real emotional connection with your fans, are you afraid of stalkers? Perhaps this is one reason you don’t use your real name.
Ysabella: I do use my real name, my real name is not a secret. I do not actively use my last name because that would be simply foolish. I’m only ‘afraid’ of stalkers the way any woman needs to be cautious in everyday life, but there’s no fear there. It’s a rare person stupid enough to mess with me, and if anyone should be afraid, it’s them.
RPR: When you hit the Big Time, will you remember your Yahoo fans and the bloggers/editorialists who promoted you?
Ysabella: I don’t know what is going to happen to me. I would like to say, though, that it has never been in my character to think anyone can be ‘above’ or ‘below’ anyone, if that is what you mean by this question. I really appreciate the loyalty that many of my new friends have shown to me through this wild trip. Will I literally remember or even be aware of someone saying, even now, ‘hey I’m Christine, I wrote about you!’ or ‘hey I’m Joe, I wrote a comment in your song, I told my family and friends about you!’ - maybe, maybe not. Will I appreciate them? Yes I do, and yes I will.
RPR: When you record your first CD, will it be a collection of Jazz standards and show tunes or something more contemporary?
Ysabella: I have no idea. This all has been and will continue to be surprising to me as it goes along.
RPR: You are loved by people of all ages, including children, will you consider doing a lullaby or children’s song?
Ysabella: I have people that play me in pediatric wards of hospitals for children because it soothes them. I have people that play me to their children - by demand! I think music as a language transcends many categories it’s stuffed into and can be appreciated on more levels than initially imagined. If I am moved to do a song like this, I will. If I’m not, I won’t, same as with every song I have sung.
RPR: Ysabella you are beautiful, will you ever videotape yourself, giving your fans a view of your whole body?
Ysabella: I have a video of the song “Sooner or Later” in which I do this.
RPR: Ysabella, thanks so much for granting me an interview. Forgive me if some of the questions were tough, but I think it will help your career if you answer some difficult questions.
RPR: You really are my fave singer, I anxiously wait for your next video. I’ve turned on many family members and friends on to you.
Ysabella: No problem. I’m not doing this for ‘my career’. My career is in internet fraud right now. I’m doing this for the sake of the truth.
MaryAnne
Please go to Ysabellabrave.com and watch her videos
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