INTERVIEW

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BEING A TEEN UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT, RELATIONSHIP ADVICE, AND HER DEBUT ALBUM: AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH TV'S BRAND NEW SWEETHEART
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Having grown up on one of the most popular TV shows, you probably know her as Casey Jenner from AMC's 'The Walking Dead'. But there's more to Sydney Evans than that. The fifteen-year-old L.A native is about to drop her debut album, titled 'Disconnected', has starred in a D-Com, and has friends in very high places. Still, everyone around the girl claims she's wise and down-to-earth, and a regular teenager. And as she walks in with excitement written all over her face and 'Casey' scribbled on her coffee cup, she feels nothing but just that.

Hello, Sydney! Thank you for taking the time to be here!

Thank you for having me!

What's up with your cup? Shouldn't it have your name on it?

[Laughs] I mean, technically it is my name, but yeah, it should say Sydney. I told the guy my name but I guess he recognized me. That's never happened before, actually. I thought it was pretty funny.

Speaking of Casey, how's filming going? Season six, right?

Yeah, season six... It's going well, for me at least. Not sure if I can say that for Casey.

Can you tell us any spoilers?

Well... I'm not really allowed to say much... Let's just say, it's been a wild ride.

Oh, you can't leave us hanging like that! What about Carsey?

I can say... It's gonna be- It's gonna be a bit of a bumpy ride, it always is, but they're together.

Good to hear. Now, speaking of that, what's with all the relationship buzz around you? You're fifteen and everyone seems to want to pair you up with people.

[Chuckles] Yeah, I'm apparently going out with everyone who's age appropriate in my cast, which can be annoying. But honestly, it's mostly quite fun, seeing the edits, and videos, and stuff. People get so worked up about it, it can be a bit too much, but it's mostly harmless fun.

So, you actually enjoy being shipped with people? I think that's the first time I've heard someone not whine about their fans wanting them to be with someone.

[Laughs] I think it's pretty funny, yeah! We're always laughing about it, me and Chandler [EDIT: Riggs]. I make him watch Vines with me sometimes. I even follow a few fan accounts. They're all so lovely and supportive, too. Most of my fans are, and when someone isn't there's always people defending me and the people I care about. It's amazing, honestly, and I'm so thankful.

Speaking of which- I'm sorry, I know you're probably so tired of being asked this, but I have to.

Oh, Jesus, here we go.

Are you seeing anyone?

[Sydney winces jokingly and laughs nervously] Well...

Oh. Oh, please do elaborate.

[Laughs] I really don't want to. [She leans back on her seat and shakes her head] I've started calling myself half-single. I'm only fifteen, I've only ever been in one long term relationship and it did not end well. Maybe, you're not supposed to admit that, but who cares, I feel truthful. I have something with someone, yes. Not quite sure what it is, but all people need to know is I'm happy.

So, is it not a serious thing?

[Hesitates] I legit have no clue how to answer that. It's our own thing. I could say it's casual, but like... It doesn't really feel like it. It's weird, man. I feel like when you're our age, everything feels more heightened. Like, nothing's quite too black and white, you know what I mean? So, I'm like, I'm not in a relationship, but I'm not single. I have no clue, dude.

Okay, it's a casual-not-casual-thing.

[Laughs] Pretty much, yeah.

Speaking of which, what relationship advice would you give girls your age?

Well, girls, guys, everything and between, and everything outside of that. My advice is to do you. Because who the hell am I to tell you what to do?

I could tell you take things slow, but maybe you just don't want to. I could tell you that you don't have to be in a relationship- And, that's incredibly true, you do not. But, maybe you loathe being single. I can tell you, do not do anything you don't want to. Never force anyone to do things they are not comfortable with. Question your certainties sometimes. Respect people and demand respect back. But, besides that, I don't think I have the authority to tell anyone what to or what not to do.

What about your music career? How's your album doing?

[Sydney yelps excitedly as she sits up, eyes wide] It's going great! I just finished recording it. I had to write and re-write it. There were songs that were supposed to be in it that I wrote a year ago that I will not force myself to sing now. I made sure that everything in it represents me now. Not a year ago when I started writing it. Because I have changed and grown so much since then.

I was far more anxious, I was in a relationship that I cannot even think about now. I've got a bigger friend group now, I know more people, I'm happy. I'm not gonna sing about things that bring me memories I want to forget. 'Disconnected' went from the tales of a thirteen/ fourteen-year-old's life to an album about moving on. About being happy.

I sing about- [Laughs] I sing about my casual-not-casual-thing in it. I sing about my job, my current friends, my family. I sing about me now. I spent a lot of time pushing it back because I wanted it to showcase how I am currently. And, I'm releasing it now because I just can't change it anymore. It's perfect- It encapsulates me completely. The good and the bad.

Can you tell us some spoilers about it? Maybe a couple song titles?

I can tell you... Okay, about a year ago, I put out an EP with the songs I've sung on the show [EDIT: The Walking Dead]. Well, one of them, 'Blue', I re-recorded it and it's on the album. I'm releasing a song called 'Run and Hide' in a couple days along with the 'Disconnected' music video. And, you can pre-order my album, still!

That's amazing. You said your album encapsulated you, and you mentioned your job. How's it been, growing up in such a big show like 'The Walking Dead'?

It's been crazy, dear Lord. I'm so grateful for everything. I was eleven when it started. None of us really knew it was gonna be this great thing. My brother, Axl, he read the comics before the show started, so when my manager got me the audition, he freaked out. He's the one who got me from L.A to Atlanta, he was the most supportive person in my life. He still is.

When I booked it, he picked me up and gave me the biggest hug and I genuinely couldn't understand why he was so happy about it. Because the comics had many, many fans, but I'd never heard of it. But, he just turned to me and went: "This is huge. This is gonna be huge, Syd." And he wasn't wrong.

Believe it or not, I don't have a lot of friends in my school. I go to a public school for half the year- Actually, I might start getting homeschooled, which is nice. But, for now, I go to a public high-school. Not a lot of people like me. They either think I'm stuck up, don't actually believe I go there because I'm not there for half the year, or think I'm gonna make them Instagram famous or something. So, I just hang out with friends from childhood, like my friend Jax [EDIT: Kirby] or people I've met in the industry, like Thea [EDIT: Velarde], and Katelyn [EDIT: Nacon], and Chandler. And obviously the whole cast of TWD, we're like a big family.

Well, I'm glad you have people by your side.

Thank you, so am I.

It's been a pleasure chatting with you, Sydney.

The please was all mine. I loved this! This was more like chatting with a friend rather than an interview.

Turns out Sydney's life is not just sunshine and rainbows. She seems to be handling it amazingly. After this sit-down, we here at Teen Vogue can really confirm how and mature the fifteen-year-old seems to be. Sydney Evans' debut album is out in stores on the 14th of July. Catch her on AMC's 'The Walking Dead', which comes back on October 11th.