Agoraphobic singer uses YouTube to reach an audience

By Marielies Stegbauer Aug 25, 2011, 3:06 GMT

London - The video sharing website YouTube has proven useful for several singing talent launching their careers. Canada's Justin Bieber, for example, uploaded videos before he became famous and was discovered by his present manager.

For 20-year-old Jemma Pixie Hixon from Britain, however, YouTube is the only way she has to present her music to the world. Hixon suffers from agoraphobia - fear of open spaces - and has not left her parents' home in Worcestershire in two years. But thanks to her music videos she has made thousands of online friends via Facebook and has been watched millions of times on YouTube.

Hixon first became a YouTube personality thanks to cover versions of songs by Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce. In the meantime her music videos have been clicked on millions of times. Her version of Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' is the most watched video on the Chinese website Youku. Hixon has also recorded her own original songs and placed them online.

Her sound studio is her bedroom where she carefully prepares her clothes, make-up and hair for each recording.

'The publicity I've received through YouTube has given me the opportunity to share my songs with people all over the world. I didn't need to leave my bedroom to do that,' said Hixon in an interview with Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper.

Hixon has suffered from panic attacks since she was six with bouts of dizziness, rapid heartbeat and nausea when entering open spaces and shopping malls. Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces, the belief that you cannot escape a dangerous situation. It is often confused with claustrophobia, fear of enclosed spaces.

Over the years Hixon's condition has become worse. At the age of 13 Hixon won a talent competition and performed on stage with the band the Sugarbabes. At the time she had no problem performing on TV.

She has tried several therapies but none has been successful at curing her agoraphobia.

Hixon has now completely dedicated herself to communicating via the internet. Even negative comments about her videos or insults about her condition are answered in a conscientious manner. She has 20,000 fans on Facebook with whom she is in regular contact. Many of them request Hixon to sing particular songs.

Hixon has received hope and encouragement from all over the world. 'You're an inspiration for me and you are so brave,' wrote one fan. Some of her followers also suffer from agoraphobia. 'Thank you for drawing attention to this condition,' wrote one.

Along with her followers Hixon also draws strength from her music. 'As soon as I start to sing I feel like a completely different person,' the 20-year-old said in an interview with the BBC.

'Normally I'm nervous and panicky. But as soon as I sing I feel almost confident.' She has not given up on her dream of one day standing on a stage again.