This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 Champion Issue of Showstopper Magazine.
Born and raised in Florida, Kayden Muller-Janssen grew up riding horses and rescuing animals on her family farm. She always had a love for the arts, but the presence of her father, Dutch Olympian horseback rider Sjef Janssen, loomed large, making the leap from the equestrian world to the art world a challenge. That is until her mom, an international dressage trainer, put her into theater. “After that, I knew immediately that I wanted to pursue singing and acting as a full-time career,” she reflected. “The rest is history!”
Coping Through Music
“Music has been like a best friend to me for as long as I can remember,” Kayden revealed. Being bullied in school, Kayden said she “found solace in listening to artists across different genres.” She felt that music spoke to her and made her realize others had similar experiences. “I resonated with the lyrics and melodies, it made me feel less alone and inspired me to start writing my own music,” she explained. “When I’m feeling conflicted about anything in my life, I turn to songwriting to express myself and cope with my emotions. Music is my therapy, and it will forever play a huge role in my life.”
Inspired by the songwriters that helped her through her tough times, Kayden inspires us to do the same. “My music comes from a very personal place,” she shared. “I am not afraid to be vulnerable and put all my emotions into my songs, and I think that’s why my audience resonates with it. They feel that they can relate to the situation I’m singing about, and hopefully it helps them in any way they need and makes them feel less alone.”
Her New EP
Kayden’s vulnerability shines through in her new, fittingly-titled album, Unraveled. “I really unraveled all my emotions and angst into each song,” she shared, “and I wanted the title to represent that.” The album’s sound is inspired by Kayden’s love of soul and R&B music, and she says the songwriting and production were “pretty swift and effortless.” “When you feel a good vibe for a song and a storyline is attached, the song really writes itself.”
Her Love of Acting
Singing isn’t Kayden’s only passion. She’s also a television and movie actor! Her most recent role as Hartle in The Villains of Valley View has garnered a lot of attention. It’s also one that Kayden felt she could really relate to. “Hartley reminds me so much of my younger self, so when it comes to playing her, I pull inspiration from my own childhood. Hartley and I both have very bubbly personalities; she’s a very enthusiastic and charismatic person.”
While Kayden finds many similarities between her and her character, the role of Hartley has also influenced how she approaches her own life. “Playing a character like her is really refreshing and inspires me to be more passionate about everything in life.”
Finding Inspiration
Kayden’s many passions keep her busy, and sometimes it’s hard to find a balance between her love of music and her love of acting. “It can be hard to find the energy and time to make music while I’m on set,” she shared. “So I try to stay inspired by listening to new artists while working.” She sometimes gets writer’s block when she’s immersed in a character, but she’s found a way around that. “What’s helped when I’m feeling stuck is making songs based on the character I’m playing,” she revealed. “It inspires a new perspective for my songwriting and allows more space for me to be creative.”
Not Horsing Around
With most of her family immersed in the equestrian world, Kayden has been taught quite a few lessons that have helped her find success in the art world. “To be successful in the equestrian community, you need to be dedicated, meticulously detailed, and constantly improving on your craft,” she told us. “I think these values profoundly influenced my approach to the entertainment industry. I think it’s taught me to be resilient, to keep getting up after you fall, and don’t take no for an answer.”
