The Best of Both Worlds: Life as a Teen Singer-Songwriter

Written By: Jasmine Jenna
instagram.com/jasmineejenna

Have you ever wondered how Hannah Montana lived the double life? From the glamourous, sparkly dresses she wore while performing on stage, to studying for the tests and hanging out with her best friends, Hannah got the best of both worlds.

Well, I’m Jasmine Jenna, a 16-year-old singer-songwriter and a proud student of St. Augustine Catholic High School. Though I am nowhere near Hannah’s level of success, I have learned so much throughout the beginning of my career, like the best ways to manage school and music, writing songs, struggles, and so much more. Follow along to learn more about my journey.

When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a singer?

Strangely, there never was a moment of realization for me. Becoming a singer was always something I dreamed of doing, as if it was a thought ingrained in my mind from the day I left the womb. There was never a day where I pictured myself doing anything different.

How do you balance pursuing school and music?

It can be very overwhelming a lot of the time. School is always my top priority, so I work on my music during the weekends or stress-free days. Truly, even when I am hyperfocused on school, I am always writing. I think it’s important for me to have a strong balance of both (or should I say, the best of both worlds…).

Do you feel like you tend to write songs about the good times, the bad times, or both? How has making music helped you get through these experiences?

Honestly, I feel like I write about so many different emotions within my life, from the happiest to the saddest. In moments of joy or sorrow, I constantly lean into my writing. Despite how I may be feeling in the moment, the best songs come out of moments filled with emotion, so I really try my best to capture my feelings through my lyrics.

What is something you struggle with in your career?

I struggle with ignoring the numbers. I focus so much of my attention on how well my music or my content is doing, which is overwhelming. The music industry is so competitive and it can be hard to feel like you are getting places when the numbers aren’t peaking. However, I try my best to let go and just step back once I put something out into the world.

What advice do you have for other teen small artists?

As someone who began her music career with no knowledge of what to do and nobody to turn to for advice, I have gathered so many tips that I wish someone had shared with me. So much of the music we hear today is derived from what is trending on the Internet, making it crucial for artists to post online. Posting originals is great and can do very well, but covers are even better because this content can reach fans of those artists. Be sure to use a maximum of five hashtags in your content, and be specific to reach a catered audience. The biggest tip I can truly give you though is to never give up. Growing up, I stopped telling people that I wanted to become a singer because I was so used to people telling me such a career was unrealistic and would not get me anywhere. But I never stopped believing and I urge you to do the same. If you love something and dedicate your heart to it, anything is possible.

What is your favourite lyric you’ve ever written?

Currently, my favourite lyrics are from the bridge of my next single, ‘we don’t talk’. The bridge begins with, “I’ve got to let go in order to grow / How can I when you’re all that I know? / Knowing you is like muscle memory / I can’t erase our everything”. The lyric, “I’ve got to let go in order to grow,” helped me recognize how change cannot happen if you do not let go of your past. “Knowing you is like muscle memory” was a lyric that came to me quickly, in a way that I knew it was destined to be in the song. It is such an honest thought, but still something I needed to dig deep enough to admit.

What are your future plans for music?

I have been trying to keep my future plans a secret. However, I can reveal that I’ve been working on my debut body of work. I can’t say whether it is an EP or album (just for the element of surprise), but I’ve always dreamed of having a body of work out in the world, so this process has been the most exciting for me. I came up with the concept for this project when I was twelve years old and sick of being locked inside during the pandemic, so I began writing loads of new songs and came up with the project’s title.

What can people expect from your upcoming project?

I feel like this project is really just a summary of being a teenager and all the emotions experienced during this time in my life. Many of the songs talk about love, overthinking, friendships, nostalgia, jealousy, insecurities, and loneliness. It feels honest and emotional, while also being fun and chaotic, and I feel like it perfectly captures adolescence. I can’t wait to reveal the title and for it to not only be my piece of work, but also the world’s to know.

Thank you for tuning in and listening to pieces of my story. If you’re a student who is interested in learning more about careers in music or looking for advice, please feel free to reach out to me via social media (@jasmineejenna on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube). I cannot wait for everything to come, and I am so excited to share it with my fellow peers.

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