Today we have the great honor of bringing you an interview with Netflix teen star, George Dalton. At just 10-years-old, Dalton created a kid-friendly cover to Fetty Wap’s song “Trap Queen” that went viral on YouTube. Sadly, not all viewers were kind to Dalton. What was meant to be a fun song for kids brought out the worst cyberbullying tendencies in many adults. The joke’s on them, though, as Dalton pays them little mind and instead, used their negativity to strengthen his desire to speak out against all bullying.
Dalton is incredibly inspirational to people of all ages, especially to our kids who face bullying on a regular basis. I am just so impressed with how outspoken and passionate he is about his art. If you’re a fan of Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp, chances are you’ve seen Dalton. If you haven’t seen the show, well, keep an eye out for his name in other places, I have a feeling this young man is going to go far!
Related: Interview with Anti-Bullying Pop Star Spencer Kane
Interview with Anti-bullying Teen Star George Dalton
Our questions are in bold.
Your YouTube cover of “Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap went crazy viral! What inspired you to choose that particular song?
I wanted to take a relevant song and put a jazzy, kid friendly spin on it so more kids could listen to the song without having to turn down the volume on certain parts … they could just listen to it freely.
https://youtu.be/Zvo0Vm_3XIQ
George, I have to say, that singing voice of yours is just spectacular! Did you have any training? How long have you been singing?
Of course! I have an amazing vocal coach, Stephanie Frizzell, who has helped me on all of my songs and video releases. I have been singing as long as I can remember. It just makes me so happy, and I can express so much creativity through music!
We know that you can sing, and you got your TV start in 2 Broke Girls, so you can act, but I hear that you can also direct musicals? Wow! Tell us a bit about that?
When I was 8 years-old, I had an idea to write and direct a musical called “I CONFESS.” I decided to hold auditions and long story short, we premiered at the Whitefire Theater in 2013. It was a great experience, and all the kids involved were so talented and really helped bring my vision to life as well as make it so fun!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDYkJErCM9p/?taken-by=george_haslife
What is it like to be on the other side of the stage?
It was very different, because my attention had to be on everyone else, as opposed to acting, where it is very private and internal, and you are the only one in control. When directing, you need to depend on the people you are directing to bring all they can to the role and to contribute ideas I might have not thought about. When I am acting, it is really about depending on myself to show up and to bring my character to life.
You’ve worked with some pretty cool people on Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.” Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, to name a few. Do you have a dream co-star? Someone you would just LOVE to make a movie with?
Well, I have several but if I had to pick one right now, it would be Jessica Lange. I just loved her in American Horror Story, which is my favorite show.
I see from your website that you have two dogs, Ruby and Toto. I can guess where their names came from (for our readers who don’t get it, I’m thinking Wizard of Oz?). Can you tell us a little more about them? We love dogs!
Toto was, of course, named after Toto in The Wizard Of OZ, but Ruby was the first dog I ever had, and when my Mom brought her home, I was watching The Wizard Of Oz. It was during the part where Dorothy clicks her heels while she wears the ruby slippers. So there you go…RUBY!!
George, one of our main goals at OurFamilyWorld is educating parents about bullying and helping to put a stop to it. We know that your Trap Queen cover made you the target of some pretty nasty cyberbullying through comments on YouTube, yet you take it in stride and just keep on living your dream. How do you do it? What helps you the most when you see someone saying nasty things about your work?
My fans do! These are the people who keep me positive and make me want to keep going forward, because they really get that everything that I put out there is just me expressing my creativity in any way I can. Sadly, some people just cannot see that or respect this simple fact. I am not trying to please people, because you never really can. You are sharing a part of you while hoping others will have fun experiencing this with you.
What advice can you offer other kids your age who want to pursue passions but are too scared of what others will say? For example, a 10-year-old boy like yourself who loves being in band at school, but is terrified to do the concerts because he’s afraid of making mistakes and getting laughed at?
Don’t listen to anyone else but YOURSELF! You already know your best self when they don’t… Don’t listen to their negativity, because it is not real. It is an opinion you never asked for so just do your thing, because there will be others out there that will connect to you. Anything you do, do for you.
As parents, we always want to do our best to help our kids cope with bullying, but sometimes what we think is best isn’t always what our kids think will help them the most. As a young man, your perspective can really help us out. What do YOU think is the most helpful thing parents can do to help their kids deal with bullying?
Just guide them through all of it and help them see a brighter side to it. Keep them confident with who they are by speaking with them or finding something they are interested in whether it is sports, building models, or drawing. Whatever it may be, take an interest in what they may be excited about or want to try, and help them so focus on this skill so they can feel confident and accomplished.
With your positive attitude, passion for your arts and diverse talents, you’re such an inspiration to kids. Who inspires YOU?
In music, I would have to say Melanie Martinez and Halsey. Their music really takes me to other worlds and inspires my own creative ideas!
What’s next on the horizon, George? Do you have any exciting plans in the works?
I am releasing my EP soon that will have original songs which is very exciting for me, and my newest film, Wild Man, will be out soon. The rest I will just surprise you with!
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Well, we can’t wait to see what surprises George has in store for us! Thank you so much to George Dalton for taking the time out of his very busy life to talk to us!
I have never heard of George Dalton, it’s too bad that he had to experience cyber-bullying. I’m so glad he didn’t let the negativity get to him! Look at him now! That’s so cool.