While most teenagers’ weekends consist of sports, friends or club/ extracurricular activities, aspiring singer Ayla Potamkin of AHS spends her weekends writing songs, singing and recording songs and filming music videos in both Los Angeles and Aspen.

Potamkin has been singing her whole life, but has become serious about it in the past two years. She records some of her songs in a studio on Cemetery Lane in Aspen where Beyoncé and many artists have recorded songs. She records most of her songs in Los Angeles. She has recently had a music room installed in her house including many instruments as well as microphones. There, Potamkin practices her passion.

On October 21, Potamkin traveled to the constitutional center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Liberty Medal, an award given to those who have shown extraordinary courage and tried to gain liberty for all. Potamkin wrote, sang and filmed a music video for her original song, “America”, which was supposed to be played at this particular event. In fact, an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer was dedicated to Potamkin and her song. Unfortunately due to a variety of issues, the song could not be played. Potamkin said she felt disappointed especially since she worked so hard on it but it was still a great honor to be at the event and to meet Yousafzai.

“I was really sad after all the effort I put into it, but in the end I was glad to have a cool music video and the great experience of meeting Malala,” Potamkin said.

Potamkin has spent several weekends in LA recording. Most recently she spent two weekends filming her music video. In total, Potamkin estimates filming her music video took a total of 25 hours to create. Despite all this work, Potamkin enjoys being involved with the music industry and says it is all worth it.

“It’s a super cool experience; all the people are really nice,” Potamkin said.

Potamkin wants to keep singing and she hopes there will be more opportunities ahead. So far she has recorded 12 songs. Four of her songs are even on her official Sound Cloud account.

Her song and music video to “America” currently has over 60,000 views on her YouTube channel. On her Sound Cloud account, most of the songs have between 100 and 600 listens. Her official Facebook page has over 1,500 likes. With numbers like these, Potamkin is on her way to internet fame.

It is possible that in the year’s ahead Potamkin’s songs just might end up on the radio. From AHS to LA to PA, and back, Ayla Potamkin is well on her way to pursuing her dream of being a singer.