CARLY ESCOTO went from Starbucks barista to bestselling pop artist faster than you can froth a latte. Escoto was one of the 15 Starbucks employees chosen to record a song on Off the Clock Vol. 1: New Music from Up & Coming Starbucks Artists. Her song “Stay for Good” beat out 800 other employee entries. Escoto, 20, is an art student at Moorpark Community College in California and a founder of the Tuesday Night Live youth gathering in Thousand Oaks, California.
YWJ: How did you come to faith in Christ?
Escoto: The summer between freshman and sophomore year of high school at a Young Life camp was when I became a Christian. I’d been going to Young Life since freshman year of high school because my soccer coach told me about it. I felt safe; I felt accepted for who I was. I was able to put my walls down for one night a week and I saw what these Christians were filled with that I couldn’t grasp on my own. I faced the decision to take it seriously at camp and I chose to go with God.
YWJ: When did you start singing?
Escoto: I never took lessons. I knew I could sing my whole life but I was in constant fear of being mocked. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago at a Young Life camp when I was really encouraged by my boss to sing in front of people. I was working at a coffee shop there and I was always singing along to the radio. People just started encouraging me. My boss, Beth, told me, “God gave you a voice like that for a reason.”
YWJ: How has the Starbucks contest impacted your life?
Escoto: It’s insane. I almost didn’t send in my songs because I thought there was no way. The night before I found out that I won, I just prayed, “Open the door and I’ll walk.” I’m just amazed that God has transformed me and given me a gift to sing songs and move people. I’m so humbled.
I don’t know where this is going to go, which scares me, but I’m excited. It’s been such a crazy experience to walk into a Starbucks and hear myself singing a song that I wrote. We made it on the Billboard charts two days ago, number 190, but it’s only been out a week. People come in and ask me to sign their CD. It’s like signing a yearbook but way dorkier; I know I’m not that cool. I’m, like, making their drinks, but hey, I’ll do it.
YWJ: How has this experience influenced the kids you lead?
Escoto: I’ll bring them to open mics and encourage them in their talent. It’s mostly guys in bands, but it’s been cool to play with and write with a couple of girls.
YWJ: What are your plans?
Escoto: It really depends on the response to the CD. I’m terrible with my future plans because my whole life has not been according to my own plans, and I don’t think it ever will be. I’ll just pray about it and go where I’m led.
YWJ: What advice would you give youth leaders?
Escoto: Keep it real, humble, and human. Use your own experiences with struggle. Kids think they are morally worse than their leaders, that you’ve mastered it and don’t struggle anymore. Sharing in your own weakness and explaining that we all struggle is important. Rely on God’s patience, because high school kids can be gnarly. Be patient with them and know that God is the one that will change them. Just love them, speak truth, and walk with them. God will work in his time. Encourage them and empower them. Deep down they’re all just broken little kids.
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Student journalists Tara Sharp, Bethany Leach, Brandon Moyles and Cristy McNatt wrote this article as part of their work for a Point Loma Nazarene University journalism class.
