Apparently sitting a few feet away from one of the biggest (and cutest!) Asian American YouTube stars (and by that I’m saying 130,000+ subscribers and 24,000,000+ upload views) wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be, at least not with Jason Chen. I mean, his latest video cover on “Never Say Never” got 50,000+ views in just one day. But still, it’s crazy to believe that I spent two hours eating Taiwanese desserts and chatting with the guy whose songs I put on repeat.

So before I tell you how the interview went over tea and boba drinks, (with two interruptions by fans wanting to take pictures), here’s a quick intro and some fun facts:

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We all know Joseph Vincent is good looking. We also know Michelle Phan has some sort of magical ability with her makeup. Those are two facts we have no doubt about. But what happens when Michelle collaborates with Joseph to create a male makeup tutorial? Do we get an even better looking Joseph Vincent? (Don’t worry if you’re kind of cringing at the thought of guys with makeup; it’s not something I approve of on a daily basis either, but when it comes to the stage, I can make some exceptions.) Think about it: some audience members are sitting far away and you want them to be able to see you. With an endless list of shows to perform in, Joseph Vincent is constantly seen on stage many, many feet away from fans, so it’s important to have his features defined. So let’s see how Michelle Phan created a sleep-deprived rock star look for him. Also take note of her pink blazer and nails: she’s right on trend with spring colors!

So what do you think?

“I don’t have to work in the summer.”

-Joseph Vincent (when he found out he won a million dollars on The Ellen Show)

ISSUE: Winter 2010

On The Rise

Photo courtesy of Carmen Chan | www.carmen-chan.com

When Joseph Vincent first performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he was nervous. If you watch the Youtube clip of the episode, you can see Vincent stepping onstage, his brown eyes scanning the audience in wide-eyed wonder, as if he can’t believe this is all happening. For a guy who regularly sings in front of more than 90,776 viewers, it may be surprising that he’s not used to that kind of attention. But it’s probably because those audience members are usually watching him on a computer screen.

Vincent may have risen to fame in 2007 when he started posting videos of his acoustic versions of Top 40’s on the video-sharing site, but the crooner prefers live performances. “[When] people see me on Youtube, I sing, boom, it’s done,” he says. “Onstage, they see me talk and say, ‘oh, I didn’t realize you were so funny or quirky.’ I get to be random.”

Vincent won DeGeneres’ heart (and $10,000 from her online talent competition) last summer and has since been signed with Plan C Management. The Filipino American singer is currently working on nailing down his sound. He counts Jason Mraz as a major inspiration. “That guy is just insane live. I hope to be on that level someday,” he says.

The level that Vincent is on is already impressive considering the 21-year-old only started playing the guitar when he was 15 and has never taken a singing or guitar lesson in his life. And it’s not likely that he’ll use his winnings to start either. When he learned that he had won the competition, his first reaction was, “I don’t have to work in the summer.”

Ironically, with a new CD in the works and gigs lined up across the country, it seems like Vincent will be working plenty in the new year. — Janice Jann

More stories from Audrey Magazine’s Archives here.

Living in America, we sometimes get so caught up in the lifestyle here that we forget about our own cultures. Or maybe we haven’t forgotten but can’t find enough opportunities to celebrate our cultural identities. On February 20, it’s your chance to reconnect with your heritage and embrace your inner Asian. This year, USC CASA (University of Southern California Chinese American Student Association) is putting on their 12th annual culture show, Legacy, to remind us of why we should never let go of our ancestral roots.

This student-run production takes us onto the journey of a contemporary young man, Jason Wu, from Los Angeles who one day finds himself in Imperial China, struggling through the unfamiliar land to find his way back home. However, trouble strikes upon the dynasty and to break the commotion, our hero must go face-to-face with history. The time travel theme may be cliché, but his search to reconnect with this Asian roots makes it a meaningful watch. Not only can you expect to see talented acting, you can also anticipate guest performances such as hip-hop dance and martial arts. Joseph Vincent has confirmed to be on the show as their special guest as well, and to be able to see a YouTube hottie live is always a plus!

Speaking from personal experience, I have thoroughly enjoyed last year’s culture show that also touched on the issue of identity crisis. I am not just saying this because I am a proud sister of last year’s CASA culture show director, but because it is amazing how the art of performance can always remind us to never lose track of who we are.

Please show your support for the college Asian community and honor your Asian identities! It’s FREE! For more information, visit their official website or their facebook event page.

Here’s a teaser video for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aUCNyJNf7I

DETAILS

Date: Sunday, February 20, 2011

Time: Doors open at 6:30pm; Show starts at 7pm

Venue: USC Bovard Auditorium
3551 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089

Cost: FREE admission, but be sure to pick up a ticket before they run out by contacting Cathy Liu (cathyliu@usc.edu) or by making a reservation here

YouTube has allowed us a glimpse into the world of gifted musicians and comedians who perform in the comfort of their own homes. Those who have had some success in more mainstream platforms include makeup guru Michelle Phan (who’s now makes makeup videos for Lancome), AJ Rafael (who tried out for American Idol), and Kevin Wu (who most recently starred in The Amazing Race), but that hasn’t stopped them from continuing to stream online. To pass on the stream, here’s a toast to the YouTube stars we know and love from 2010.

Joseph Vincent’s acoustic soul and Filipino American baby face continue to make girls and boys alike swoon, especially after his appearance on The Ellen Degeneres show last April.

Peter Chao delivers somewhat of the Chinese version of the Ken Jeong persona with his focus on societal and pop culture issues like bullying, Megan Fox’s hotness and PDA. As the number 1 and 2 Most Viewed in Canada of all time, Chao will be touring south to Washington and California in January 2011.

Her smooth strokes and smooth voice has landed Michelle Phan a Lancome career as the company’s first video makeup artist. Her makeup tutorials are made easy and accessible for millions of viewers, whether it’s Lady Gaga’s latest look or something more for everyday.

L.A. local Jason Chen, number 38 Most Viewed on Youtube for December, has been swooping the scene over the recent months. His covers, including Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” created on Garageband and Logic Studio, are now available on iTunes.

Who are your favorite YouTube stars? Tell us and you just might see them in Audrey!

Joseph Vincent, 21, has been on our radar ever since the baby-faced crooner took the stage on “The Ellen Show” in an Ellen’s Wonderful Web of Wonderment competition. After battling with other young Youtube wonders for a month-long competition, Vincent was invited back a second time on the Emmy-winning daytime show and awarded a surprise $10,000 even though another contestant, 12-year old Greyson Chance, had already won the competition.

Talent aside, we wanted to get to know this Filipino music artist a little better. He’ll be featured in the Personalities section of the Winter 2010-11 issue of Audrey, but here’s a couple of Joseph Vincent facts to tide you over until the issue comes out early December. (Subscribe here.)

Joseph Vincent…

Started to play guitar to get the girls.

When I was 15, in Spanish class, this high school heartthrob who was a year older than me, went up in class with a guitar and started singing. I was like, that’s pretty cool. I want to do that.

Likes the fact that he’s never had taken a singing or guitar lesson ever in his life.

I think (taking lessons) would kill it. When I go in for recording sessions, producers usually are great musicians and I just pick it up from them.  It’s a really good learning experience.

Curses. A lot.

I don’t really feel nervous posting up the videos. Except for this next one I’m about to post. It’s the f-u song with the cuss words by Ceelo.  We put tracking and it sounds really nice but it might not be appropriate for a lot of the younger audiences.  Especially after Ellen, people think you’re a sweet boy you shouldn’t tarnish your reputation. I do like it. I do curse but I don’t like to put it too much in my music. I think it’s a good song and the message is really funny. We decided to censor it though. It had too many curse words.

Is a Public Health Policy major at UC Irvine.

I also worked at a company that worked with autistic kids.  I would probably go into that if music didn’t work out. Or nursing.

Didn’t get star-struck when he met Ellen (maybe a little)…

When I met Ellen, yea, it’s cool but if you keep the mentality that they’re just another person. And she is so cool despite her status or what not. Yea, she is so cool.

…But he did get star-struck when he saw Kobe.

I saw him at the Bluffs in Irvine. And I ran up to him with a sharpie and a hat. He was with his kids. I was like, “Kobe can you sign my hat?” And he was like, “uh it’s kind of hard right now.” So I said, okay! And I walked away. I was more nervous to talk to him than my first show. My heart was like, dum dum dum dum.  I’ve never felt that before. Kobe’s so cool. 

Is not the owner of the messy bed in his videos.

I do my videos and (my fans) keep complaining about my bed but it’s not my bed, it’s my roommates’ bed.  They complain ‘cause it’s messy.  My side is messier but I put his on camera. He hates it.

Can pass for being 14.

There were three other contestants in the segment and they were all 12 years old so I was looking at the pictures, 12… 12… 12… 20 year old! They were like, look at that old guy and a bunch of kids. But the funny thing was, after the second time, after I got out, people were like, you’re really good for being 14! I was like, I’m actually, um, 20.  They thought I was really young.

Can’t touch the $10,000 he won on Ellen.

I put it in an account and I can’t touch it for 9 months.  It’s a great idea.  I didn’t want to touch it. If I were to touch it, it would be bad. I’d buy a house. (imitating father) No son, you can’t buy a house with that. What am I going to do with the money? Not sure.  Live off of it? I bought a Mac though.

Photo credits to Carmen Chan.

Finally! Our Winter 2010-11 Issue is out! Check out our stunning red-headed, be-freckled Asian American cover girl Angelina, luxuriating in the afterglow of the season!

Inside we’ve got all sorts of goodies for you like:

* The Green Hornet‘s Jay Chou

* YouTube mega-star Joseph Vincent

* Behind the scenes on American Idol with their resident stylist Soyon An

* More photos from Audrey’s Night Out 2010

* Escape (vicarously) to an Ayurveda spa in southern India

* Resolutions (the dating kind) for the new year

* Holiday dressing, tuxedo-style

* Cozy knits and rapturous wraps for a winter getaway

* Luxe beauty products

* Plus films, TV, books, music, food, travel and all the stories that matter to you!

Get Audrey Magazine now!

Stepping out with a Youtube star can be a scary thing.  I had the chance to venture out with Youtube sensation Joseph Vincent and experience first-hand what life can be like when over 95,000 people subscribe to your Youtube channel.

We were checking out the Bruno Mars concert at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA.  Mars killed it onstage, leaving the crowd pumped and excited from the free show.

Once the concert was over, a fan leaked it out that Joseph Vincent was in the audience. One “can I take a picture with you” led to another and soon, there was a swarm over the 21-years old singer. Vincent himself was surprised with all the brou-ha-ha. “Uh, Bruno Mars went that way, I think,” he pointed out. But nope, these girls wanted to take a picture with Joseph Vincent, not Bruno Mars.

The recognition didn’t end. Cameras were flashing everywhere and Vincent was getting stopped left and right. It got so bad that mall security had to escort us inside the AMC movie theater just so the crowd would dissipate.

How does Vincent handle all the attention?

“Oh, it’s fun. I love it. And none of the people are too aggressive so it’s cool. But yea, they’re really cute and nervous. They say, “I’ve seen you on Youtube, can I take a picture with you?” At first, I didn’t  know how to act but now I’m more used to it.”

Judging from the singer’s busy schedule, from his B Here tour through some of America’s finest colleges to an upcoming album in the works, it looks like the fan recognition in public places is just going to get bigger.

No matter what, the singer will still take time out to take pictures with his good friends though. (Here with his college buddies.)

Can’t get enough of Joseph Vincent? Check him out in the pages of Audrey Magazine’s winter issue hitting the stands early December. Subscribe to Audrey here.

Photos courtesy of Carmen Chan.