Exclusive Interview: Just Jayne Talk New Single “The Way We Were,” Touring with Maddie & Tae, and What’s Next
- Mikaila Storrs
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
Huddled around a Zoom screen, the girls of Just Jayne (Jillian Steele, Taylor Edwards, and Rachel Wiggins) caught up with us to chat about their new single “The Way We Were,” their spontaneous sidewalk performance at CMA Fest, hitting the road with Maddie & Tae, and everything else they’ve been up to.
Before diving into their new single, we had to rewind a bit and find out how Just Jayne came to life, and what the story was behind the name. Jillian, Taylor, and Rachel originally met in college, but it wasn’t until they landed in a writing session together that the magic really started. “I joke that we fell in love during our first session,” Taylor said, laughing. “It cringes them out so much, but obviously it’s true because here we are two years later.” Each of them brought their own flavor to the mix. Rachel came in with strong country roots, Taylor leaned more pop, and somehow, it all just worked.
So, where did the name come from? They admitted they went through a long list of ideas before their manager suggested trying to mash up letters from all their names. That’s how “Jayne” was born. But Jayne quickly became more than just a name—it became a whole persona. “Jayne is the girl that we all make up together because we did come from three different, like sounds and perspectives and states. And so Jayne is like who we are collectively,” Taylor said. “And it's fun because instead of like a hot girl walk, we're like a hot Jayne walk. Like we just interchange girl, with Jayne.” At this point, it’s safe to say Jayne is just that girl.
We got into the story behind their brand-new release, “The Way We Were,” which officially drops today. When asked what pulled them in, the girls said they rely on a simple gut check; if one of them hears a song and feels something real, there’s a good chance it’ll resonate with listeners too. That’s exactly how this one hit. “When we first heard that song, we were like, oh my gosh, this is, this is hitting all of us. And we loved that,” they shared. “It was so moody and cool. Like, I mean, we got it pitched to us, and it was unfinished. And so we went back to LA and finished it with the writers out there, we brought in our perspective on it.”
It was actually one of the very first songs they worked on as a group. Jillian mentioned it happened during their first writing trip to LA, which made it all the more special. From there, they put the full Just Jayne spin on it, adding harmonies, shaping the vibe, and turning it into something that felt totally their own.
As for what the song is about, Rachel broke it down perfectly:
“'The Way We Were' is basically about like when you're in a relationship and you're like, I really miss the beginning phases of the relationship, when we used to have so much fun. Like, if you're just in a weird spot in a relationship, or you can even relate it to a past relationship. Like, I just miss it. You just look back at the good times, like the honeymoon phase.”
The girls recently wrapped up their run on tour with Maddie & Tae and also made an appearance at CMA Fest in Nashville. While their set at the festival didn’t quite go as planned thanks to a sudden downpour, they didn’t let the rain stop them. In true Nashville spirit, they pivoted and ended up playing an impromptu sidewalk set for fans. “It’s such a fan-centered festival,” they said. “So even getting rained out, we were like, okay, how can we swerve really quick? Like, I think it’s about making moments, too. And so it was fun to play on the sidewalk.”
Their favorite memory from the tour? Jillian lit up talking about their LA show: “LA was fun because it was like the first time our entire team came, like we had family and friends.” For Rachel, it was all about the Big Apple. “I had never been to New York before and Jillian’s from New York, so our first show of the tour was there,” she said. “It was like all of Jillian’s family, and I just got to eat bagels and stuff.” Iconic.
Just Jayne isn’t slowing down anytime soon—in fact, they’re fully booked and thriving. When asked what’s next, they didn’t hold back: “Just more music. There's going to be so much music this summer. More shows this summer. Another single,” they teased. But even with their packed schedule, they’re making sure to carve out time for a little fun. “We’re probably going to go to the pool too,” Taylor said. Jillian chimed in, “Yeah, we’re going to tan and like burn our skin,” and Rachel closed it out with a smile: “Yeah. And drink spicy margaritas.”
Because at the end of the day, that’s the heart of Just Jayne, three best friends who happen to make really great music together.
Watch All The Things Music: The Podcast x Just Jayne here:
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUST JAYNE:
