Born and raised in Carroll, Iowa, TAYDEM has been creating for as long as she can remember. Music first captured her through church singing and the lyrics she wrote in high school as a form of therapy. After graduation, she stepped into acting and quickly landed the lead role in the psychological horror short In The Dark.
In 2023, she launched her music career with “Are You Clapping?” and has since explored a wide range of genres as an independent artist who writes and produces her own work. Her performing‑arts roots run deep—from early acting lessons at Serendipity to joining Peak Agency in 2017, which led to roles in commercials, print, short films, and features.
You’ve mentioned that music has always been a part of your life. Can you share a specific moment from your childhood that particularly influenced your passion for music?
I think my dad had to be the biggest influence on me when it came to music. I listened to what he listened to overall, and he would always sing to me and my brothers. He even wrote his own songs sometimes! I guess just being around him made me want to sing, and eventually I started writing songs too. My first songs were absolutely terrible, though. One moment that influenced me to keep going with music was when I wrote a song for my mom. That was the first time I was able to write a song that made sense, flowed decently, and the lyrics didn’t feel dull or cheesy. Writing that song for my mom helped me figure out my writing process, which made me want to keep writing!
Transitioning from acting to music can be a big leap. What was the most surprising challenge you encountered in starting your music career?
I would have to say that one of the biggest differences and challenges I’d faced was the royalties of music. With acting projects I’ve done, you would always have a set contract of how much you were getting paid, but being an independent artist making music isn’t like that at all. I don’t have any family or friends in the music industry, so I had to figure out most of it on my own or with the help of my parents. We read about a lot of independent artists not getting paid what they were owed because they didn’t fill out certain documents. So trying to figure out what I needed to sign up for to make sure I was getting paid was really tricky. It seems like every week there is something new I’m learning about music and the industry of it. But I’ve been very blessed to have the help of some people, like Captain Eddie from Heart of Indie Radio, teaching me the ways of the industry.
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Your debut song, “Are You Clapping?” marked the beginning of your music journey. What inspired the theme or message behind that song?
I wrote that song when I was frustrated and tired of being someone that didn’t feel like me. I just felt like I was lacking in every way, like I was never doing enough, especially when it came to dating. People told me I should wear make up, that I wasn’t talking enough, or that I needed to smile more. So what I kept hearing was, “You need to act like someone else for someone to like you.” All those emotions got built up to a point where I wrote about them as a journal entry, and then that journal entry turned into my lyrics. The song has lyrics that are sarcastic and confident. I wanted to write a song that said, “I’ve tried your ways, now I’m just going to live my own way.” And to be so confident that you can even ask for applause.
You’ve expressed an interest in exploring various genres. Are there any specific genres or artists that inspire your sound or influence your music style?
I would say jazz has a big influence on my sound. I just love the freedom of jazz. Sometimes POP can feel too scripted and polished, so I love how jazz kind of does what it feels. Lesley Gore has been an artist I’ve been listening to, and there are aspects of her songs and the certain things she does with her voice that I’ve been recently inspired by. I think the more I produce music, the closer I’ll get to finding my genre/voice.
As an independent artist, what aspects of writing and producing your own music do you enjoy the most, and how does it shape your artistry?
I enjoy being involved with every aspect of the song. I get to write the lyrics and produce the music to accompany the lyrics, and then I get to add the fun details when doing the mixing. When I’m writing music, I can feel what I want to say, but it’s not always easy putting it into words. I love that moment you feel, after many failed attempts, when you finally find the right words! There is so much to learn about producing and mixing, which can be exhausting, but I love that everyday I’m learning something new. I think being involved with all of it helps me form my own voice, and I’m interested to see how my sound evolves as time goes by.
Collaboration can often lead to exciting results. Are there any artists or producers you dream of working with in the future?
There are so many talented and hardworking artists that I feel like it’s so difficult to choose. Right now I would say an artist I think would be really fun to work with would be Rosé. I think her voice is so unique, and the songs that she has been involved in writing are so emotional and real. She has been in a tough industry since she was young, so I bet there would be a lot she could teach me.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you? Can you give us a teaser about any upcoming projects, performances, or songs that fans can look forward to?
Right now I’m working on finishing up some music videos for the new EP, so people can be on the look out for those! It’s been fun to create some visuals to go along with the songs, so I hope people enjoy the music videos as well. And I’m always working on something new when it comes to my music, so there will definitely be more to hear in the future.
Website: taydemmusic.com
Instagram: @tshoe23
TikTok: @taydemmusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mmA9oDy8UHKyb5AFSjCGK?si=M17ELvZ4QZS6sSzX1sowrg
