Before her mom signed her up for AGT, VanderWaal sang covers on YouTube and performed at open mic nights, though she seemed to lack the eerie, career-focused single-mindedness of many child stars. Most singing competition contestants are adults by the time they compete — they’re old enough to know how bad they want it. Is VanderWaal ready to live a life dominated by the album-tour-album-tour cycle? “Yeah, I guess so,” she says. “I don’t know. It’s all new to me.” Is that what she wants? “Um, yeah? I think?” If she didn’t want that, who would she tell? “My dad.” And he would tell her she could stop any time she wanted? “Yeah, absolutely. So would my mom.”