Our jxdn feature originally was published in our September 2021 issue. Purchase a print copy here.
The first time anyone attends a music festival will always be memorable. For pop-punk singer Jaden Hossler, professionally known as Jxdn, Chicago’s iconic Lollapalooza music festival was definitely one to remember. Not only was it his first time attending a music festival, but he was also hitting the stage in front of thousands of people.
Just a 20-year-old kid excited to be on this musical journey, and having the opportunity is thrilling. He says, “The energy from the fans is unreal. Last night at Reggie’s, it was so unexpected to see that many people there for me, you know?” A rising star and enjoying every moment, “I think people are starting to see me as the kid that’s about to be next, which I’m totally good to wait for my turn because being the biggest is a really big responsibility and opportunity. So, right now, I’m just ready to show people what I can do.”
The pop-punk artist that is, perfectly put by Jxdn himself, “a very good representation of what’s old, but making it new again.” Although he doesn’t have as much experience as his peers, it’s what makes him unique and a growing artist. “I think that I have a really fresh perspective on pop-punk because I didn’t grow up with it and listen to it growing up. I’ve been really immersed in it for the last two or three years. I think it gives me that edge that most people who have been absorbing it since they were a kid don’t have because I’m okay to be ‘wrong.’ And I think that a big part of pop-punk music is being able to fail.”
To be at Lollapalooza was a full-circle moment for Jxdn, as the singer has always been inspired by, and looked up to, Chicago native Juice WRLD. “It’s funny because I’m not just a fan — I’ve only been to one concert in my life and it was a Juice WRLD concert — That was the night that I decided to make music just because of the way Juice WRLD was so vulnerable,” he said, unironically wearing a Juice WRLD shirt.
In awe, that might of how much music brings people together, saying, “It literally was unifying thousands of people that probably would maybe hate each other if they weren’t inside the same scenes or listened to the same music.”
“I promised myself that night, if I ever got in front of this many people, I’m going to do what he did.” And that’s exactly what he’s accomplished. Continuing saying, “So the coolest part is today, in my set, I’m going to sing my music that is super inspired from Blink-182, Juice WRLD and a bunch of different things. And then, I actually put ‘Armed and Dangerous’ at the end of my set, so we get to give respect to the Legend, which is in Chicago, which is a dream.”
Jxdn has been on a rollercoaster that only goes up since his debut 2020 single “Comatose” and most recently a gold-selling single with “Angels & Demons.”
“It’s been a super humbling experience learning that what I think is best isn’t always best.” With friends and mentors like Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker, he’s destined for success.
“I got really, really blessed with [Barker] — He gave me the golden ticket. [Barker] signing me gave me the confidence I needed to be who I am right now because my initial goal was literally to be signed by Juice WRLD, as far-fetched as it sounds.”
With so much adoration, he says, “[Barker] is that same energy, and he just never stops — He’s so creative. And because of that, the music itself, I think every song that we’ve made is just continually grown because my career started with the first song I ever made — it wasn’t like the tenth song I made.”
Not only is Jxdn friends with and mentored by Barker, but he was the first signee to DTA Records. “He’s taught me so much about just life in general. He’s really stepped in as a figure in my life, like a mentor — really like a dad.”
Now with his debut album TELL ME ABOUT TOMORROW out, the rollercoaster continues to go up. Taking a year to create and originally very pop-centered, Hossler finally found his sound in music.
“I realized that’s not my strong suit. I fit really well in the pop-punk genre. And as soon as I realized that and felt comfortable with it, I just went for it. That’s really when it all changed.”
With Barker by his side, every session and song added more and more to Jxdn’s love and confirmation of his sound. “I think ‘THINK ABOUT ME’ when we made that song, that’s when I was like, ‘Oh shit… I think we could do this.’”
With each song having a special meaning for Jxdn, representing different moments and emotions in his life, “ANGELS & DEMONS PT. 2” is his favorite.
“‘ANGELS & DEMONS PT. 2’ is such a cool story because like first, ‘ANGELS & DEMONS’ is about having your highs and lows. And it really represents when I got arrested and how it was the lowest point in my life. The lyrics are really powerful — ‘Hang me on a wall / Take a look and tear me down / ‘Cause that’s all you want’ because that’s how the world is.”
It’s a statement that he’s here to stay, saying, “Being able to say that and then say ‘fuck it’ and just like, go crazy and be like ‘I’m still a rock star’ whether other people think it or not.”
Knowing he could make a mark in music, “I said that before I ever made my first song, and I’ll say that until I die because I know I was born to do this stuff. I don’t need people’s approval because I’m not here to change your mind. I’m here to make you feel something because that’s all I want.”
More than anything, his fans are the biggest part of him, always encouraging them to follow their dreams.
He gives them a special message: “To my fans, you have so much more of a purpose than you think you do. I didn’t think I was going anywhere, seriously. I didn’t even know I had talent, and I did. You’re not alone with me. If you listen to music, you’re not because I know if you feel that, just know that I felt it, too. And that’s really comforting to know. I just hope that they understand they have a purpose. And if they want to be like me up on stage, they can.”
Fans will get a lot more of that this year and finally be able to see him live as he goes on his first tour with Machine Gun Kelly.
One thing about Jxdn is that he doesn’t take this journey for granted and is always looking to learn and grow, “I’ve just been trying to learn and take advice when I can because I don’t know everything. I think that the reason that my music keeps getting better is because I am willing for it to be better than what I could make myself.”
Jxdn is showing the world what he is capable of and is so much more than what people may assume. His willingness and hunger to learn and grow, along with his passion and humility, are what makes him an incredible artist.
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