Between schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and family commitments, the girls at the Academy are still finding time to shape their futures. Some are turning their musical passions into something bigger–writing, recording, and releasing their own songs. Two seniors, Judy Anne Jackson and Layla Evans, are emerging as Academy’s rising stars.
JudyAnne Jackson (‘26) wrote her first song at the age of eight. “It was the first time the power of songwriting helped me express myself and understand what I was going through,” she said.
From then on, she was hooked.
Her creative process for writing begins very simply–in her notes app “I keep a list of titles and phrases that inspire me,” she said, “I often look back at my ideas and find something that sticks out to me. Then, I find an interesting chord progression and improvise melodies and lyrics.”
Jackson also has experience with co-writing, which she says has been a “wonderful experience. I think co-writing is amazing because it is a great way to bring in different perspectives into songs.”
As for her favorite part of the process, she loves to perform. She says that she “loves getting to share my music with others and connect with them.” In 2023, she performed at a release show for her second EP, “Dear Me,” which was one of “my most special performances I’ve ever done,” Jackson says. “It was a surreal experience for the audience to sing my songs with me.”
Jackson hopes to continue to write, record, and perform wherever she can. She sees herself living in Nashville, writing, and touring around the U.S. “I can’t see myself doing anything else but music. This is my passion and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” says Jackson.
Another artist, Layla Evans (‘26), began writing music seriously four years ago. She just released her first single “Will Power” on Spotify in August. She decided to release her music for college because her portfolio required three to four songs, and if she had one out “it’s more helpful for them to get a gauge on my creative and artistic abilities,” she said.
“It was a very last minute decision,” said Evans. “But the support I’ve received since it came out has been so amazing and I am so grateful.”
Evans draws most of her musical inspiration from artists like Billie Eilish and Renee Rapp, she says. On top of writing music, the majority of her classes are focused on music. She takes AP Music Theory, an independent performing arts study, and is a member of the Quarter Notes.
As for her creative process, she says that she begins with instrumentals and then moves on to lyrics. Evans says, “If something sounds interesting, I take it and run. Sometimes I’ll start with lyrics, but most of the time an instrument is how I create melodies.”
Evans has hopes to go into the music industry in the future. She says that she wants to go into either the music business or directly songwriting.
From classrooms to recording studios, Judy Anne Jackson and Layla Evans prove that creativity can thrive everywhere. As Jackson and Evans continue to share their gifts with the Academy and the rest of the world, they offer important messages to other aspiring artists. “I think that we should all be more willing to be creative and meow back at cats,” said Layla Evans.
