Gen Z's Musical Maven: How Sadie Jean's Authentic Sound and Resilience Define a New Era

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It is no secret that Gen Z is full of talent, and Sadie Jean is a shining example of this creative brilliance. With her honest songwriting and captivating sound, Sadie has quickly made a name for herself in the music industry. From growing up in Orange County, California, to her breakout single, WYD Now?”, released in October 2021, Sadie has showcased her unique ability to channel personal experiences into powerful tracks. The incredible success with her single, “Locksmith” further highlights her resilience and growth as an artist. As she continues to captivate audiences, Sadie Jean embodies the exceptional talent that defines this generation.

Sadie Jean's passion for music ignited early, long before she could even speak. Despite growing up in a family where music was not a central focus, her natural creativity and early songwriting instincts set her apart. After being put in piano lessons at a young age, she found she was drawn to creating melodies and rhythms and began crafting songs that reflected her deep-seated love for music.

As Sadie Jean’s passion for music grew, so did the challenges of balancing her dreams with societal expectations. The fear of pursuing what many deemed an unrealistic career path weighed heavily on her.

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Sadie’s journey to NYU was unexpected. Despite initially applying to LMU to study sound design, she discovered her acceptance to NYU’s prestigious music program and was thrilled. She admitted, "I didn’t even check the application portal once the results had been released, because I thought there was no way I was going to get in." This surprising acceptance marked the beginning of an extraordinary chapter in her life.

During the challenges of the pandemic, Sadie connected with fellow students through Zoom writing sessions. "David Alexander who is now my close friend, texted in our Clive class GroupMe, and was like, 'I’m doing Zoom sessions every day if anyone wants to write with me.'" This text led to a collaboration between the two artists that produced some of her best work. "We wrote this really good song, one of the best songs I had ever written up until then." These early collaborations, including writing sessions with Grace Enger and David, were formative in developing her musical style.

As the trio began to travel and write together, Sadie experienced a significant creative breakthrough. "We were like, This is crazy. We found we were great at writing songs together and it was so fun." One notable outcome of this creative synergy was her debut single, “WYD Now” written during a period of personal heartbreak. This song, born out of raw emotion, "really changed my (Sadies) life so much."

Sadie’s time at NYU was more than just a phase of formal education; it was a transformative period that initiated her growth as an artist and solidified her commitment to pursuing music.

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When Sadie Jean’s music began to gain viral attention, she experienced a whirlwind of emotions. At just 19, she found herself grappling with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Reflecting on this period, Sadie shared, "I was really nervous to share my music with people. I remember being like, Oh my God, all these people are looking at this video of me—that’s so scary." Despite her nerves, she was exhilarated by the unexpected response. "I remember asking myself, what’s going to happen next?"

The experience was both thrilling and overwhelming. She recounted how she and her collaborators, David and Grace, would message each other regarding the success of the initial video posted on Tiktok. Sadie, who was new to the music industry at the time and unfamiliar with its inner workings, found the rapid escalation of attention particularly daunting. "I didn’t know anyone in the music industry. I didn’t know anything about anything, and so it was very overwhelming."

Despite feeling overwhelmed, Sadie’s initial reaction was one of immense gratitude and excitement. "I was just so stoked and grateful and excited," she reflected. The combination of emotions marked the beginning of a transformative journey in her music career.

Following the success of her debut single, "WYD Now?," Sadie Jean faced the daunting challenge of releasing her second track. The pressure to follow up with a successful song was immense. Sadie revealed, “I waited like 10 months to release my second song because I was freaking out so much. Everyone kept saying, 'Your second song after your first big one has to do better,' and that was so much pressure. I was 19 and just freaking out.”

Initially, Sadie planned to release a song titled "After All." She had even announced it, complete with a pre-save link, cover art, and a music video. However, overwhelmed by anxiety and self-doubt, she decided to pull the release just a week before it was scheduled. Sadie explained, “I was a mess, and then I felt like, ‘I think Locksmith should be the second song.’”

The release of "Locksmith" was a pivotal moment. Sadie felt immense relief when it was well-received. “I was really relieved, because I was getting a lot of heat for pulling 'After All,'” she said. “I wanted to prove everyone wrong, and I was just so relieved that it did well.” Despite her initial fears, Sadie found satisfaction in the success of "Locksmith," which she described as a more personal and authentic representation of herself compared to the song it replaced.

The period following "Locksmith" was marked by a more relaxed approach to her music. Sadie acknowledged the struggle of balancing self-criticism with creative freedom, reflecting, “It took a lot of support from the people in my life and a lot of self-talk to retrain my brain. I had to shift my perspective from being obsessed with commercial success to building something long-lasting and personal.”

Sadie Jean’s journey through touring has been a transformative experience, marked by dramatic shifts in scale and intensity. Her initial foray into live performances was with Johnny Orlando, where she grappled with stage fright performing in front of a crowd of 200 people—a nerve-wracking yet manageable number for many artists. “I still get stage fright to perform in front of 200 people,” Sadie admitted. However, her apprehension reached new heights with the Rod Wave tour, where she found herself on an elevated stage in front of thousands. “Before the first Rod Wave show, I thought I was going to pass out on stage,” she confessed. The sheer magnitude of the audience was overwhelming, and the prospect of performing in such uncharted territory was both exhilarating and intimidating.

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The Rod Wave tour presented Sadie with an incredible opportunity to witness and learn from a seasoned artist. Despite only performing one song, Sadie immersed herself in the experience, drawing inspiration from Rod Wave’s performance and artistic approach. “It was the craziest experience of my life,” she reflected. “I just had the best time watching Rod and learning from him. He’s a genius.” The tour not only offered valuable lessons in performance but also helped her build a deeper sense of self-confidence. “Every night I was so nervous, but I think the Rod tour gave me such self-confidence in everything I do now,” she shared.

When it came time for her own headline tour, Sadies approach came with newfound assurance. The experience of performing in front of large crowds had prepared her for the challenge, and she embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm. “I remember telling myself, I can do this because I did the thing that scared me the most in the world,” she said. The headline tour also provided her with a deeper connection to her audience. Despite the vulnerability of sharing deeply personal songs, Sadie felt supported and cherished by her fans. “Everyone was so nice and supportive,” she said. “It was the best time ever.” The tour solidified her confidence and affirmed her place as an artist, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Sadie Jean's journey through her recent project, Simple Like 17, reflects a deeply personal evolution marked by a transition from teenage years into adulthood. Her latest release is a poignant exploration of time and age, capturing the essence of her growth over the past few years. “I started writing it when I was 19 and finished it at 21,” she explained. “It was a lot about that transition from teen years to twenties, using a breakup as a metaphor for letting go of my teenage life.” Her track “You Don’t” deals with the emotional fallout of that breakup, while “Aisle 6” reflects on the surreal experience of turning 21 and confronting the realities of adulthood. The project concludes with “Shut Up About It,” a humorous take on her lingering fixation with past relationships, embodying the sense of her still being caught up in the teenage years even as she ages.

Reflecting on her songwriting process, Sadie noted that while her tastes and influences have evolved, her core style remains constant. “I think my taste is evolving, but I always like what I like,” she said. Her early work was heavily influenced by the artists she was listening to at the time, which is evident in the production and writing of her earlier songs. As she progresses, she’s learning to balance her meticulous nature with a more relaxed approach to creativity. “I’m trying to be less precious and more playful with my writing,” she shared. This shift can be heard in the more recent tracks of her EP, where she embraces a more forgiving attitude towards her work.

If she could give advice to her younger self at the start of her music career, Sadie would simply offer reassurance. “I’d be excited to tell her that it’s all gonna work out,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to change anything because even the hard parts were crucial to who I am now.” Her journey has been a testament to resilience and growth, reflecting both the challenges and triumphs that have shaped her career.