Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your musical journey and background?
My name is Joe Jordan. I grew up in a small east coast town in Rhode island called Woonsocket My passion for music starts with my Dad for sure. He was a carpenter during the day and a rockstar at night. He was (and still is) the coolest person on the planet, especially through my perspective as a kid. I’d see my Dad come home from long hard days at work tired, drained, sunburned, soaked in sweat, and ready to pass out. But, when he practiced keys for his band he was always jamming with a smile on his face and I couldn’t help but smile, laugh and sing a long with him. From a young age I new which part of my Dad I wanted to be and it was always the rockstar musician having a grand ol’ time.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound and style?
I’ve been writing music for almost 18 years. My passion for writing started when I was 12 years old going through a Beatles phase. I was really captivated by their lyrics and story telling and how they’ve stood the test of time. Lately Tyler Childres and Noah Kahan have really resonated with me. Very folk down to earth and I love how Noah seemlessly adds pop elements to his songs while keeping a « down to earth » folky story telling vibe intact.
What’s your creative process like when you’re composing or writing a new song?
-I like to embody two main spirits of thought in my writing. The 1st person being a harsh critique that only wants the greatest of melodies, lyrics, and titles and won’t settle for anything less and the second being a « no pressure just write a shit song and get onto the next one » uncaring type persona. With the flip of a switch I swap between these two people through any song and I find it gives me the ability to craft high quality songs at a fast pace. Keeping that in mind, my process can begin in a multitude of ways. Maybe it starts with a chord, a lyric, or a melody of some sort or a combination of the three. Then I gradually build upon it with the two mindsets I mentioned prior. If I don’t already have what I consider to be a strong melody, lyric, or chord progression I write, doodle, and dig my way until something strikes me as worthy to be written about and then… I write it.
Among all the songs you’ve created, do you have a personal favorite? If so, what makes it special to you?
« Big Enough Mountain » is a song I wrote for my wife Alley. It’s a simple song with a lot of love poured into it. She struggles with Anxiety and has occasionally worried she’s not deserving of my love so I wrote her a song to remind her I’ll love her through anything.
Let’s talk about your latest song. What’s the title, and what’s the story or message behind it?
« Don’t Tell Alley » is my most recent song and probably my saddest one. Alley and I were high school sweethearts and got married shortly after high school. We have 4 children together now and are still very much so in love. If you’ve been with someone most of your life you probably have had conversations wondering what life might be like without them or worse, if something terrible happened to them and they were to die. Alley and I had one of those conversations and it really brought tears to my eyes to reflect on her dying so I wrote a song describing what that might be like. This song is a prayer to God asking him to lie to Alley up in heaven and tell her that I’m doing well so she doesn’t see how I’m spiraling without her. For me, this song reminds me to cherish my wife because everyday with her is a blessing.
Beyond music, do you have any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about? How do they influence your music?
My hobbies and interests outside of music are being a husband and a Father really. Exploring state parks, hiking, camping with the family take up a lot of our summers. Alley and I have a 5 year old daughter Grace, a 3 year old son Abel, a 2 year old daughter named Mia, and a newborn son named River. They are our pride and joy and we love living for them and each other.
Is there a dream collaboration you’d like to pursue in the future?
I honestly never really thought about that. John Mayer or Keith Urban would be pretty dope though.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their journey in the music industry?
Consistency. Work at your craft everyday. If you can find someone who has had success in the industry, see if they can help guide you (even in small ways) on how to produce great music and get it out there.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or new music you have in the works? What can your fans and listeners look forward to from you in the near future?
Within the next year I’ll be touring the US for the first time while releasing another 30-40 songs. I’m excited to get out the mre and meet some of the fans I’ve made through social media and maybe make some new ones. I’m most excited about pushing the boundaries of folk/country and writing songs that can help/heal people in some way.