Kayden James Buchanan
Kayden James Buchanan (born December 24, 2003)[1] is a Canadian internet personality, film director, screenwriter, music producer, and recording artist known professionally as Journxl. He is the founder of ICEYGEN Records, an independent Canadian record label and creative collective.
Kayden first gained attention online through his YouTube web series Psycho Brother (2017), which accumulated over 50,000 views, and later through his short films, vlogs, and music projects. His work as Journxl combines lo-fi, jazz, and ambient influences with cinematic storytelling, blending his background in film and music production.
Kayden James Buchanan | |
|---|---|
| File:Buchanan Profile 2017.jpg Buchanan in 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 24, 2003 (age 21) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | YouTuber · Director · Screenwriter · Filmmaker · Music Producer |
| Website | iceygenrecords.com |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Genre | Vlogs · Short films · Lo-fi music |
| Subscribers | 200+ |
| Total views | 20,000+ |
| Network | Kayden James Media / ICEYGEN Records |
Early life
Buchanan was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in a creative household. He began experimenting with filmmaking and social media at age 10, creating short sketches and vlogs on his first YouTube channel, TalkerBw, in 2014. After moving to Lloydminster, Alberta, and later to Prince George, British Columbia, he began studying film and digital media. His early projects blended narrative filmmaking with internet comedy and gaming content.
Entertainment career
2014–2018: YouTube beginnings and web series
By 2014, Buchanan had gained over 1,000 followers across social platforms including Twitter and Facebook.[2] In 2017, he created the web series Psycho Brother, which gained more than 10,000 views before its removal from YouTube. He later produced short films and vlogs under his company Kayden James Media, combining filmmaking with digital content creation.
He also briefly partnered with the ad-revenue network AdRev in 2013, monetizing his early YouTube videos and establishing the foundation for his later business, **Kayden James Media**, which offered video production and social media management services.
2019–2022: Transition to filmmaking and music
After expanding into music production, Buchanan released several independent singles including Clash My Clan and Drop Bass. His work evolved into cinematic lo-fi instrumentals, leading to releases such as Rainy Days Vol. 1 and Coffee Days Vol. 1 (2020), followed by the EP Captivity. In 2021, he directed multiple short films—Callback, Another Day, and Pretzels & Fries—and served as camera production assistant on A Great North Christmas (2021). His Caffeinated (Remix) music video (2021) showcased his filmmaking and music crossover.
During this period, Buchanan founded **ICEYGEN Records**, an independent label designed to merge film and music production. The label became the umbrella for his future artist project, *Journxl*.
2023–present: Journxl and ICEYGEN Records
Under the alias Journxl, Buchanan began releasing music characterized by lo-fi, jazz, and ambient influences. His works include *Forgotten Song* (with VYNX, 2023), *Frost on the Keys* (with TRVLLR, 2024), *Overthink*, *Seasons*, and *Turning Leaves* (2025). Through ICEYGEN, he collaborates with artists like **VYNX**, **TRVLLR**, **Jaylin Lee (JayMarley)**, and **Adam Lake**. As label founder, he handles production, alongside mixing, design, and video direction, building a unified cinematic aesthetic across ICEYGEN releases.
Musical style
Journxl’s music integrates lo-fi hip hop, jazz, and ambient textures music. He often cites Nujabes, J Dilla, Tom Misch, and Kaytranada as major influences. His self-described “cinematic lo-fi” sound pairs piano progressions, analog crackle, and emotional storytelling with filmic visuals.
Personal life
Buchanan splits his time between filmmaking and music production. He has spoken publicly about creative independence, entrepreneurship, and balancing his multiple disciplines. He is based primarily in Ontario but works remotely with collaborators worldwide.
Filmography
Film and short projects
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Turning Leaves (Music Video) | Director / Producer | Released 2025 |
| 2024 | Frost on the Keys (Music Video) | Director / Producer | Released 2024 |
| 2021 | Caffeinated Remix | Artist / Director | Released 2021 |
| 2021 | Pretzels & Fries | Producer | Released 2021 |
| 2021 | Callback | Director | Released 2021 |
| 2021 | Another Day | Director / Actor (“Jason”) | Released 2021 |
| 2021 | A Great North Christmas | Camera PA | Released 2021 |
| 2020 | Captivity – Visual Project | Director / Editor | Music-visual short |
Discography
As Journxl
- Arcade – EP (2024)
- Forgotten Song (2023)
- Overthink (2024)
- Seasons (2024)
- Frost on the Keys (2024)
- Ocean Sun (2024)
- Candy Colored Clouds (2025)
- Elevator-Fi (2025)
- Turning Leaves (2025)
As Kayden James Buchanan
- Rainy Days Vol. 1 (2020)
- Coffee Days Vol. 1 (2020)
- Captivity (2020)
- Fanatic (2021)
- Caffeinated (Remix) (2021)
- Canadian (2022)
- Hey! Hey! (with VYNX & Adam Lake, 2023)
See also
References
- ↑ Buchanan, Kayden James. ""yo, its kinda lit having my birthday 1 day before christmas"". Twitter. Kayden James Buchanan. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
- ↑ "Kayden James Buchanan (@KaydenJBuchanan)". Twitter.
