Exclusive Interview: Sydney Agudong Chats Jayne Doe, “Welcome to Hollywood”, and More

Sydney Agudong is best known for the multilayered characters she’s brought to life in projects like Second Chances and On My Block. But she’s also a gifted singer-songwriter who recently released her debut single “Welcome to Hollywood” under the artist name, Jayne Doe. Sydney sat down with Pop Culturalist to introduce us to Jayne Doe and we discussed her musical debut.

PC: Tell us about “Welcome to Hollywood” and what inspired the song.
Jayne: Acting and music have been a dream of mine since I was little. I moved out to LA in 2018. It was a culture shock. I started off so excited. But slowly, the fast-paced and highly saturated industry started to weigh on me and my mental health.

The idea of Hollywood seems beautiful initially. There are countless opportunities for success and happiness, but no one sees how much the process takes from you before that can happen: the energy, the faith, the resilience, the time, etc. It can be heartbreaking to wish on a dream without anything to validate it.

I wrote “Welcome to Hollywood” in this mental state—while isolating myself from my friends and losing sight of everything that I had first believed in for myself and my future. Everyone has dreams. Everyone goes through the same fears. “Welcome to Hollywood” is my way of saying, “Good for you for taking that risk and doing the dang thing.” It’s cliché, but I believe it is about the journey. The time it takes to get there means more than the destination.

PC: You’re releasing music under the artist project, Jayne Doe. What is the backstory behind the name?
Jayne: I was an overthinker when I was younger. I always asked questions. I was skeptical and curious about the world. I wanted to figure out the underlying meaning of things people said or did every five minutes. I hated not being “in the know.” The perfectionist in me wanted to be the smartest, wisest, and best in school, which was unrealistic. But it always had me constantly working and dreaming.

When I got into high school, I was hit with “What do I do with my future?” I couldn’t let go of acting and singing, but at the same time, college applications were due. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. It was scary to think that I might make up my mind and commit to something that I might later realize wasn’t the right decision for me. I couldn’t embrace the unknown.

Music was a release through all of that. I ended up writing a song about it last year. It was about how I was feeling about who I was and what I was doing with my life. I was constantly asking myself the question, “What is this?” One line resonated with one of my girl friends, who was going through similar feelings at the time. That’s when it hit me. I was one out of a million people who were asking the same question about themselves and their future. Jayne Doe is a reimagined version of the original name Jane Doe, created to let myself and everyone know that it’s more than okay to not know all the answers.

PC: This is your debut single. What was the process like deciding what would be your musical introduction?
Jayne: I honestly wasn’t sure. It was such a big moment I felt I needed the right song that would represent me and my music. Many people suggested that I do a soft release to relieve the pressure of a debut, but I couldn’t do it. It felt like I would’ve been giving up in some way after all the time and effort that I and everyone behind me had put in. All I knew was that I wanted something that felt right and “Welcome to Hollywood” did. It made so much sense. Introducing my music under the artist name Jayne Doe was such a cool thing for me because with this debut I was finally saying, “Welcome to Hollywood, Jayne Doe.”

PC: With this being your debut single, did anything surprise you about the experience?
Jayne: Before “Welcome to Hollywood” came into play, we had been working on songs tirelessly to find the right fit. At one point, I got so discouraged and exhausted. Months and months working solely on one song, hellbent on trying to figure out what was missing. After the fourth revision/version of one particular song that we had been working on, I randomly started writing “Welcome to Hollywood.” I brought it to my producer, Reed, and all the pieces fell together in an instant. It was so weird! It was like for the first time perfection didn’t matter because the feeling was already there and everyone knew how to make it come alive. The song was mapped out and written in a matter of hours. It was a breath of fresh air and a huge sigh of relief.

PC: In addition to being a singer-songwriter, you’re also an actress. What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from acting that you’ve applied to your music career?
Jayne: I tried pursuing acting before I ever thought to make music a career. Music at the time was merely my outlet when I wasn’t acting, doing school, or taking part in extracurriculars. The biggest lesson that I’ve gradually learned from acting is that things take time and I need to let go of trying to rush my success. Living out the idea of “hurry up and wait” teaches you to be patient and builds in you a strong work ethic. When you audition for a role, you are sometimes given less than twenty-four hours to prepare and send it back, and then you may not hear feedback for several months, if at all sometimes. That’s just how it works, and the more I learned to accept that, the more I came to be at peace with it and appreciate where I am in the process with my art.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2022, can we expect more music from you?
Jayne: Yes! I’m so excited. We are currently working on more singles right now that will lead up to an EP later in the year! I also just finished some other music-related content and visuals that I am so proud of and just itching to share with people! So stay tuned!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jayne: Justin Timberlake. He’s so experimental and creative.

PC: First concert you attended?
Jayne: It was Justin Bieber. He came to Hawaii. My family and I flew out to Oahu to watch him in the nosebleed section. He’s a great live performer.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Jayne: Briston Maroney is a huge inspiration for me. I absolutely love his Carnival EP, but the Indiana EP hit home for me. That EP was so honest and conversational. It felt like a close friend. I want my songs to be like that—emotionally present but always grounded by wisdom—and I think he does it so well in this EP.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Jayne: I would love to open for Briston Maroney at the Staples Center, and then one day do a world tour at multiple big venues. That would be so cool.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Jayne: A solid playlist.

To keep up with Jayne, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify. Pick up or stream “Welcome to Hollywood” today.

Photo Credit: Joshua Mannila