Jaden and Willow Smith did an interview for The New York Times’ T Magazine in honor of their dual album releases this month. They needed to each release their own album because, as the interview reveals, no one album can contain the insight of this 16-year-old and 14-year-old into life’s greatest mysteries.
Proceed with caution into this equally inspirational and terrifying life advice from Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s offspring, as told to T Magazine.
The Smiths on creativity:”
‘Wow, I am so lucky to have a body and to breathe and to be able to look at this.’ ” To which her older brother Jaden, a 16-year-old actor and musician, adds: “And the huge, terrible thing the world would be missing by not expressing yourself.”
Jaden on time:
“But on the level of being here on Earth, if you are aware in a moment, one second can last a year. And if you are unaware, your whole childhood, your whole life can pass by in six seconds.”
Jaden on truth:
“As soon as me and Willow started releasing music, that’s one thing that the whole world took away is, okay, they unlocked another step of honesty. If these guys can be honest about everything, then we can be more honest.
“Willow on confidence:
“Caring less what everybody else thinks, but also caring less and less about what your own mind thinks, because what your own mind thinks, sometimes, is the thing that makes you sad.
“Willow on source energy & universal truths:
“I mean, ‘Whip My Hair’ was a great thing. When I look back I think, ‘Wow, I did so much for young Black girls and girls around the world. Telling them that they can be themselves and to not be afraid to be themselves.’ And I’m doing that now but in a whole different way, coming from source energy and universal truths.
“Willow on fashion:
“I like to go to places with my high-fashion things where there are a lot of cameras. So I can just go there and be like, ‘Yep, yep, I’m looking so sick.’ But in my regular life, I put on clothes that I can climb trees in.”
Jaden on school:
“You never learn anything in school. Think about how many car accidents happen every day. Driver’s ed? What’s up? I still haven’t been to driver’s ed because if everybody I know has been in an accident, I can’t see how driver’s ed is really helping them out.”
Jaden on work:
“That’s another thing: What’s your job, what’s your career? Nah, I am. I’m going to imprint myself on everything in this world.”
Willow on work:
“There’re no novels that I like to read so I write my own novels, and then I read them again, and it’s the best thing.”
