YouTube has birthed the careers of some of the most famous artists we know today. Justin Beiber was the first real YouTube success story people heard about, though there have been countless others since.

Some stars you may not know were discovered on YouTube include Halsey, Alessia Cara, Shawn Mendes, Tori Kelly, and, of course, Alex Aiono. If you’re a fan of Alex, that last one shouldn’t be a surprise. Alex wouldn’t be anywhere near where he is today without his YouTube channel, which has over six million followers (and hundreds more views). So – what made Alex special enough to join the ranks of the other successful YouTube to big-time stars? It’s that voice and his producing skills. His mashups? We’re obsessed. Read below to learn more.

Alex’s Origin Story

A lot of kids think they’re going to be famous when they grow up. Many parents write that off as a phase – but Alex’s parents knew he was serious. They supported his dream so fully that they moved the whole family from Phoenix to Los Angelos to help Alex pursue his dreams. They did everything they could to help him along his way to success, including stuffing the whole family into a one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica.

From YouTube to Netflix and Beyond

In the mid-2010s, Aiono was making as many videos as he could to get himself out there. It wasn’t until he started making “mashups” or combinations of songs that he started getting millions of views. That mashup got him the attention he needed to sign with Interscope Records in 2017, who he remains with (along with Become Records) today. Alex has a lot of exciting projects coming up, including a spot in the Netflix movie Finding Ohana.