Hey Jackson!! So excited to be chatting with you!! What inspired you to pursue acting?
I started acting because of a friend. I would ask him, ”Hey, you wanna come over after school,” and he would say “I can’t today I have an audition.” That inspired me to ask my parents if I could try acting. So, I got a commercial agent and my first audition was for a Nissan commercial and I ended up booking it. That motivated me to continue to audition. I eventually thought it was time to step it up and get a theatrical agent. So, I did, and after several auditions I ended up booking the role of Young Max on Disney Channel’s original series Sydney to the Max.
Have you always wanted to be an actor?
I have always loved watching tv and film. But it wasn’t until about the age of 9 where I really wanted to pursue acting. My parents tell me that I have been a performer since I was a toddler and that all their friends would tell them I should get an agent.
Where did your love of acting come from?
My dad is a boom operator and does feature films and sometimes my mom and I would visit him on set. And I’ve always loved seeing how much fun the actors had while making the movie. It almost seemed like they weren’t even working, it was just complete fun! I now know that it is alot of hard work but it is also a ton of fun.
You are well known for your role on Sydney To The Max, What has it been like for you to be on this popular Disney show?
It is absolutely the best experience of my life. I am so grateful for the opportunities the role has provided and for my platform that I can use to advocate for causes that I’m passionate about. I love interacting with all my supporters. It is amazing to be a small part of something that brings joy to people and brightens their day, especially during recent times. Being part of the Disney Family is such an honor.
How do you manage school with your busy schedule?
Overall, I’ve gotten pretty used to it. I attend set school when the show is in production and I have an amazing set teacher, Lois, who really cares about my education. I am also lucky to have an awesome mom that really keeps me on track and helps me stay focused on my educational goals.
What’s an average day for you look like?
An average day when the show is in production is very full. I wake up early, get ready, and head over to set. I usually arrive around 8:00 am. Then, I normally get something to eat and head over to set school. I’m in school for an average of 3-5 hours on a normal day. Then, we have rehearsals, lunch, and after lunch we either have more rehearsals or a producer/network
run through depending on what day it is. When we wrap, I sometimes attend events or head home for the rest of the night. At home, I spend most of my spare time in my music studio working on music.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to make music, skateboard, surf, and play basketball.
Have you ever been starstruck by someone? If so when, where, and who was it?
I met Will Smith at the Spies In Disguise movie premiere at El Capitan in Hollywood. I got a photo with him and absolutely freaked out. He’s a legend and he was so down to earth and nice. He really made a huge impression on me.
How has this whole acting career experience been?
It has been a wild ride. I’ve gotten to experience some amazing things. Of course, there are always some ups and downs, but overall it has been phenomenal and I’m learning and growing from the experience every day.
Do you have any other acting projects in the works you can tell us about?
Right now I’m laser focused on getting back into production of Season 3 of Sydney to the Max. Production was postponed due to COVID-19.
You are now transitioning to becoming a pop star as well!! What led you to pursue music?
Yes!! I’ve always listened to alot of music, but I never thought about making music until about a year ago. I was scrolling through YouTube and a video popped up from Internet Money Records featuring Nick Mira. The video was about making a melodic trap beat in 10 minutes. For that entire ten minutes, I watched in awe. He was making the beats for some of my favorite songs. This inspired me to begin taking drum and music theory lessons. From there, I started messing around with GarageBand and then I purchased Logic Pro X, the music production software that I currently use. I continued to develop my beat making skills. My parents encouraged me to try writing lyrics and singing over my beats, so I started taking vocal lessons. With each song my vocals and lyrics continued to develop. I have many songs under my belt and look forward to releasing several singles over the upcoming months beginning with I’m Yours, my debut single, on June 26.
You are gearing up for the release of your amazing new single “I’m Yours”!! How excited are you to get this new song out into the world?
I am beyond excited to share my passion for music with my supporters. This song is really near and dear to my heart and I can’t wait for people to hear it!!! I kept my passion for music and singing to myself for so long and now I finally get to share it with everyone and it is a great feeling.
What do you hope your supporters will think of the new single?
I just hope that they enjoy it. My goal with music is to always make the listener feel something. I think that many listeners will be able to identify with the song. Whether you are currently experiencing your first love or you are reminiscing about a past first love, it is my sincere hope that the song will touch the listener.
Can you tell us how this song came about?
Definitely. During the quarantine, I was just in my home studio and I was going through some of the beats that I had made that week. I had gone through about 7 or 8 beats and I wasn’t feeling any of them. I was just about ready to turn all my equipment off and stop doing music for the night when something told me to click on this random beat I had made. I instantly knew that it was the one. I started to freestyle some melodies and lyrics and eventually I’m Yours was born. The song is about a special girl and teenage love and experiencing your first love.
What’s it feel like to be releasing your own original music?
I have so many different feelings about releasing my own original music. I am so excited to see how everyone reacts to it and at the same time, I feel very vulnerable. No matter what, I’m just really proud to say that I am the producer, singer, and songwriter of my music. That feels really good.
How would you describe your fans? – what’s three words you would use to describe your fans?
1. Supportive 2. Positive and 3. PHENOMENAL
Is there anyone in the music business you are dying to meet?
My number one dream is to go to the Internet Money house and meet Nick Mira and all the other producers and artists there.
Why do you think social media is so important for teen artists like yourself?
Social media is a great tool that really helps an Independent Artist of any age make their music more accessible to the public. I feel really fortunate that I can stream my music as an Independent Artist as I continue to grow and develop as a producer, singer, and songwriter.
What would you say is your biggest dream/goal right now?
I just want as many people as possible to hear my music.
Any last things you want to tell your supporters?
I love you guys. I see you. Your support means the world to me and it is truly appreciated.