Meet Taidyn

We were lucky to catch up with Taidyn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taidyn, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been held to high standards, whether externally enforced or self-imposed. Before I started singing and writing songs, I was an actress, talk show host, and model. My job was to be whoever or whatever other people expected, A teenage ghost, a Catholic schoolgirl, a high schooler in the 80’s. And in my real life, nothing was different, I was expected to be happy, optimistic, outgoing, and positive all the time, no matter what.

When I was 16, this identity crumbled. All of a sudden I was sad, depressed, anxious, struggling with my mental health for the first time in my life, experiencing insecurity about my body and personality, and not recognizing myself at all for the first time. I remember writing my first real songs in that time. Songs that reflected how I was actually feeling about myself, relationships, situations, God. I remember thinking it was just fun, just a hobby. Because why would society care what a 16 year old girl has to say? I’m too young to release music, I have no money, I’m not good enough, etc.

That was until I listened to Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album “SOUR.” Olivia was 17 when she released that album, a mere year older than I was at the time. I listened to it over and over again for months, in awe of its depth considering its shallow appearance. I thought it was so cool that she managed to do something so profound and unique with the biggest cliché in music (love/breakups). And I remember thinking “Wow, maybe I can do this too.” Because if she can, why can’t I? I let that album (among others) inspire me to push my creative bounds, and make my writing better. And I started improving.

Later that year, my friendship with my best friend for the past 14 years ended. I remember being the most broken, hurt, and angry I’ve ever been in my life because deep down I had known it was going to happen for a long time, but didn’t have the strength to admit it to myself. One day I had the thought “Home is where the heart is, but my heart is with you, so how am I supposed to get it back?” and how that relates to losing a friend you’ve been clinging onto, despite them being behind walls they won’t let you through. Then I sat down and wrote “I’ve been knocking on your door all my life, begging through the walls to come inside, it’s been all that’s on my mind, I’ve lived out here and I’m not fine” which would become the first verse of “home is where the heart is.”

After I finished writing that song, I stared at it in disbelief. I was proud of it in ways I never thought possible, and that was the moment I realized that I can do this, and I will do it. No matter what “limits” the world or other people tell me exist. From this point on, I’m going to be who I want, not what others make me. I’m going to tell MY story instead of playing characters in everyone else’s.

I still struggle with imposter syndrome sometimes. The thoughts that every other musician my age is better than me, knows more than me, and has been doing it far longer than me have haunted me since I started writing. I used to be so worried about catching up and “knowing what I was talking about” so I wouldn’t be perceived as, or feel inferior. I spent so long not releasing music because I didn’t have the money for a producer, or the skills or equipment to attempt recording and producing music myself. I thought my voice wasn’t good enough and that I needed a huge social media following before I could even think about putting stuff out. I created all these obstacles and setbacks for myself that just discouraged me more than anything.

Art is subjective. Not everyone is going to like what you do, but no matter what you make, there will be people who resonate with it, understand it, appreciate it, and consume it. Let those people fuel you, while remembering that hate is inevitable. Every great artist, writer, and musician has critics, (even the beloved ones.) If 90% of your feedback from friends, family, strangers, and viewers is positive, don’t listen to the 10% that isn’t.

No artist is perfect, and once I stopped thinking I had to be perfect before releasing music, and adopted the mindset that it’s a learning curve and the greatness I hope to achieve will come from time, faith, and effort, I broke free from the chains of imposter syndrome.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I sing, write songs, and I’ve been working on a novel for almost 4 years now. I am 18 years old, and a devout follower of Christ. I want to bring people to Jesus through writing music about my secular experiences, relating people through the power of emotions, and preaching that Jesus is the way through those feelings, and accepting your identity in Christ will give you the freedom from being defined by your feelings and experiences.

I’ve been working on producing my debut single “good liar” for 8 months, and I’m finally beginning to get somewhere with it. I plan to release it in May, so be on the lookout for an official release date on my instagram. In the mean time I have a rough draft music video for a song called “mean it” on my YouTube channel. I’m still working on getting the song ready to put on music streaming services, but be on the lookout for that later this year as well.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most important thing in my creative journey has been my persistence, determination, confidence, and willingness to learn. You have to be hyper-aware that you don’t know everything, and be willing to accept help from anyone who knows more than you do, no matter what. Younger, older, been doing it less time than you, etc. If they know ANYTHING you don’t, listen to them. Knowledge and connections are everything.

And as I said before, don’t give up, be confident. Find good people to look up to (friends, family members, other artists.) Also recognize the difference between wanting to be LIKE someone (doing what they do) and wanting to BE someone. Don’t compare yourself to famous people or think they’re better than you because of their status, riches, or accolades. Celebrities are just people too, and I’m willing to bet that they don’t know what they’re doing all the time either. Mistakes are sewn into the fabric of human nature, embrace them. If you tried your very best, and still messed up, get up, brush it off, and move on. It’s not the first time and it’s not the last.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Jesus Christ, above all. the Bible reminds me that God is right by my side to catch me when I fall, and hold my hand through hardships.

But on this earth, the person who means the most to me is my dad. He’s not only accepted me at my best and worst, but he’s made me the person I am today, and has been my best friend for my entire life. My work ethic, perseverance, determination, charisma, charm, and writing abilities all come from him. Watching him bend over backward for his job, and our family time and time over was inspiring, to say the least. And I just remember thinking he was a superhero and I wanted to be just like him. When he saw opportunities he wanted, he reached for them, no matter his qualifications, no matter the pay, etc. And he got a lot of things just by asking. That stuck with me. He wouldn’t have the career he has if he didn’t take risks (like dropping out of college 2 weeks before graduation to take a journalism job in Ketchikan, Alaska.)

I carry a lot of qualities from my mom, and she inspired me in a multitude of ways as well (staying soft in a hard world, killing people with kindness, forgiving no matter how hard it is, etc.), and I do not mean to discredit her by focusing on my dad. I love my family very much, and they’re not only the reason I’m alive, but also my biggest encouragement and inspiration. Their support and unconditional love mean the world to me.

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