Check Out Will Cullen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Cullen.

Hi Will, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always enjoyed being in front of the camera, center of attention, and just. making people laugh and smile. However, I picked up a guitar and began self-teaching about 3 years ago (2018), and figured out I can (kind of) sing about a year later. Since then, I have been able to just learn songs very quickly and store a sort of jukebox in my brain full of songs people love. I would always be the one singing songs around the campfire and even take requests at gigs and street performances.

It wasn’t until I downloaded Tiktok that I really became almost obsessive about music and entertainment. I would love to just sit around and ask random people and friends for a song they like and play it right back to them acoustically. So, I figured I would just record it and post it on Tiktok about a year ago. When I was getting millions of views a week, I knew I had to get out of my small-town university in Whitewater, WI, where I was originally studying business. Moving to Nashville has been the most influential and productive decision of my life so far. Still in school at Belmont University, I am studying Media Production in hopes of becoming a professional artist, videographer and content creator.

I knew my “singing for strangers” idea was a hit in the past, so I figured it would be perfect to have strangers sing WITH me instead given every other person in this city is extremely talented. The videos were insanely fun to make, as I would literally yell at strangers walking by “HEY! Do you sing?!?” I ended up making countless friends, meeting insanely talented musicians, and even started dating one of the strangers, whose video is at almost 6 million views.

With the following and relationships I have gained from these videos, I plan on releasing original music as soon as possible, singing with every possible talented individual I can in Nashville, and continuing to make people smile, laugh, and sing along.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not always been easy. It is an amazing feeling receiving hundreds of thousands of likes and followers, but it is quite difficult to keep up the content and keep them engaged and satisfied. I would take the time and energy to post at least once or twice a day for over 90% of the year, and it wasn’t always easy coming up with content.

Furthermore, the move to Nashville was both exciting and extremely challenging. There is little to no competition for entertainment in the small town of Whitewater, WI where I transferred from, but in Nashville, just about every single person I’m friends with now has the same exact dream.

These people are far more talented and experienced than I probably will ever be, so it’s very difficult to compete. The passion and drive many musicians have around Nashville is incredible and threatening, but it just makes me want to succeed even more.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I mainly am known for posting videos on TikTok, whether it be singing with or for strangers. I would sit somewhere public, and simply ask strangers walking by for a favorite song they have and play it back to them acoustically. I have a large assortment of songs in my head and have done over 15o videos now where I play the song on the spot.

I also had a few viral videos of being a nanny for some young kids over the summer. Currently, however, I make content, film events and concerts, perform locally around the downtown Nashville area, and am working on releasing original music. I am most proud of my ability to capture live audiences and play such a large variety of songs. I can very easily learn songs on the spot as well.

However, in Nashville, every other person is an extremely talented singer and songwriter. I think I bring an extra sense of friendliness, energy, and all-around fun to my performances and videos. I cannot wait to incorporate all the upbeat characteristics of my content into original music for everyone.

I will also have a few singles and an EP out by the end of the year.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think I am one of the luckiest people in Nashville. On one hand, I have spent countless hours practicing, singing, and developing the song database in my head for videos and performances.

However, the fact that I have the ability to share my videos with hundreds of thousands of people blows my mind. Millions of people have viewed my singing and it blows my mind every time I think about it. I am so lucky to have the ability to make so many people smile and just brighten people’s days.

I am also extremely thankful I can go to school and live in a place like Nashville where there is so much talent and need for entertainment. I have made hours and hours of videos for Tiktok, but I am very lucky I am one of the few people for the videos to take off and receive such good feedback.

Contact Info:

• Email: willcullenofficial@gmail.com
• Website: willcullenofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willcullenofficial/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFefuNM1Ye-AtnwKoUjJQ6g
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@willcullenofficial?lang=en

Image Credits
Tyler Mathews