Just shy of thirteen, actress/singer Jaidyn Triplett’s exceptional talent is only surpassed by the deep-rooted empathy she shows for others, especially those of her age. As she balances her successful careers in acting and music alongside her thriving baking business, she strives to make the world a better place, ensuring her ever-growing base of fans always know that they are not alone.
Can you share the inspiration behind your upcoming single “ENOUGH” and how it relates to embracing self-worth in today’s digital world?
Mental health has always been something that I enjoy speaking about. It’s something that I want to bring more attention to, especially with kids my age—teens… I want more people to know what we go through, as well. So, with “Enough,” I wanted it to be a catchy song that had positive affirmations. That way, if it gets stuck in your head, at least what’s in your head is something good, something positive, and something that could further progress your mindset into something beautiful.
How does “ENOUGH” differ thematically or musically from your previous hit singles “Bopstar” and “Tornado”?
I feel like all of them really had an intention behind them and all of them really did have a meaning. But for “Enough,” I think that this was one that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and the moment I stepped into the studio, I think it was the first song that I recorded. It was definitely just something that I had my mind set on. I was like, this is what I’m going to make this song about. This is what I want to sing about. This is what I want to get out into the world.
With the release of your EP approaching, what can fans anticipate in terms of the overall vibe or themes explored in this collection of songs?
I think that fans can expect different genres. I think that over the course of my singing career, I definitely want to explore a lot of different genres. It’s actually dropping tonight at midnight (Friday at midnight), so go ahead and go listen to that. I am so excited for it to come out. The music video for one of the new singles on there, “Gone With The Wind” is releasing on the 18th. I’m beyond excited about that. I’m so happy. “Gone With The Wind” is one of my favorite songs on the EP. I think that they should look for surprises, more catchy songs with good elements.
Could you describe the creative process behind your EP and how it reflects your growth as an artist since your earlier works?
I first started writing songs when I was about nine. Honestly, maybe younger, probably like seven… My dad noticed that I really did have a passion and love for music. And, when I first got into the studio, I was definitely very nervous because there were professionals there, producers like Sean Hamilton, and talented writers. I felt like, “Oh, I don’t know if I should be here.” I went from recording voice memos on my iPad to doing this now. I definitely wasn’t the best at the beginning, but no one is perfect when they first start doing something they love. But I that I have progressed a lot as a singer. Even in this recent singing class that I just had twenty or thirty minutes ago, I think that I have definitely changed a lot with my range and the notes that I can hit. Watching this process and having people acknowledge my growth has been a really cool experience.
In what ways do you infuse your personal experiences into your music, particularly in tracks featured on your upcoming EP?
I think putting mental health and mantras into a song is my way of putting my personality and the things that I advocate for into songs. For my entire journey, I want people to go along with me and I want people to know that I am vulnerable and that I’m not perfect. I have dealt with being stressed and having anxiety—the things that everyone goes through. That’s my way of really putting myself into songs so that people feel like I’m connected to them.
As an Afro-Latina artist, how does your cultural background influence your musical style?
I think that I definitely want to explore more genres from both of my cultures. I am African American and Puerto Rican. I want to do a reggaetón song. I want to do more hip-hop songs. I want to be able to explore all of them. That way I can really showcase who I am and where I come from.
What challenges have you encountered in the entertainment industry, and how have these experiences shaped your artistic journey leading up to this EP release?
My mantra, as you can probably guess, is I’m enough. Throughout my acting career, there were a lot of ‘no’s. Once you get that ‘yes,’ and you realize that all this work has been for something and you continue telling yourself that you are enough, that’s one way to get over that disappointment… Me being a pre-teen—I am about to turn thirteen in a week actually—dealing with school, having to memorize lines for being on-set, and having a baking business, I think it was a lot to juggle at once. But I want people to know that there are ways to help yourself with that and there are ways to prioritize to help relieve your anxiety.
Are there any collaborations or special moments during the creation of your EP that stand out to you and significantly impacted the final product?
I think having my dad there. He wrote two of the songs five or six years ago, maybe more… I think to be able to sing the songs that he wrote is really special. I think he feels the same way, too. A song he wrote when I was five, I am now singing it at almost thirteen. It’s like really cool.
How do you balance your acting career with your music career, and do these different creative outlets influence each other?
I love to stay busy. I love having multiple hobbies. I like having a lot of things to do. At first, it was kind of stressful to manage this appearance on this new show or having to go to the set. When the acting stuff kind of slowed down, that was when I was able to really focus on my music. I am going to be heading to London early next year to record more music. I am really excited to learn how to balance both of them at the same time, but right now, I am really focusing on music.
With the recent cancellation of the reboot of iCarly, what emotions or reflections does this evoke for you personally, considering your involvement in the show?
I think that iCarly and the people who were attached to it—the producers, cast, and crew—have changed my life profoundly. I think this is just opening more doors for more opportunities for me. We had three seasons, almost three years, of filming and spending time with each other every day from six in the morning until 4 PM and hanging out outside of that. That won’t stop. I love hanging out with Miranda, Laci, Mia, and everyone from the cast and crew. I am really just thankful for iCarly and everything it brought to me, including growth as a person and an actor with all the advice I received during that time. I am really excited about all the opportunities the future will bring.
Be’n Original
