We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Levy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued an artistic career because music has always spoken to me in a way nothing else could. Having the ability to create something out of nothing and share it with the world is such a unique process that I never get tired of. I am incredibly grateful that my dream was always supported by my family and peers. As soon as I expressed interest in the arts, I was in piano lessons, the school band, dance and then eventually acting classes. Anything that allowed me to be creative was right up my alley. Years later and being creative is still my favorite thing. Experiences in my life inspire different stories and narratives that I incorporate in my songs, whether that be something that happens to me specifically or just something I overhear on the street. It makes writing music a fun and different experience each time I do it. This field also has no bounds in the sense of collaboration. I have met some of my best friends for life out of the pure joy of just wanting to jam or write together. Those friends introduce you to their friends, and before you know it you have a whole circle of awesome musicians to make music with.

The actual moment I knew I wanted to be a performer was about 15 years ago when I saw my very first concert. My parents took me and my sisters to see Natasha Bedingfield and during one of the songs she waved at me from the stage. I remember telling my parents that day that I wanted to be the one up on the stage and after that it was all I could ever think about. Making the music is great, but sharing it is even better. Putting faces to the streams and connecting with your listeners is what makes it all worth it. They are the ones that make my dream a reality, and performing for them is all I ever want to do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is everything to me, and I am happy to share it with you. I make pop music that incorporates rock elements, pulling from styles I enjoyed growing up. Currently, I am working on a full-length album that integrates both rock and pop and tells stories of things I have been through in my life. It picks up right where my EP left off; my 4 song EP “City of Eyes” navigates the challenges of moving to a new city and finding your place in life, relationships, etc and this album expands on those ideas with even more real-life influences.

Getting to where I am today was definitely filled with challenges but equally rewarding opportunities as well. When I moved to Los Angeles I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone, but soon realized that everybody who makes it has started from ground zero as well. I have learned that networking truly is the backbone of the music industry and if you want to succeed, you must put yourself out there. If you like someone’s work, just ask them to talk or collaborate; the worst they can say is no. That’s exactly what I did. I reached out to people I was a fan of and I did get a yes. My EP was born out of putting nerves aside and just asking for what I wanted.

Another big lesson I had to learn was to never try and be someone I’m not. You don’t have to change your brand or musical style to fit what you think people want. If your music is good enough and tells the stories you want to tell, it will speak for itself. If you just try and model things that other artists are already doing, it will no longer sound original. There were moments I felt that my music didn’t have a place because it was different then what I saw getting attention, but that never mattered because I liked what I was doing. If my heart and love is in it, listeners will see that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have only lived in Los Angeles for about 4 years, but in that time I have been able to experience so much that this city has to offer. Our first stop would definitely be the beaches. They can get a little busy, but we would rent some surfboards and get right in the ocean. What’s nice about LA is that you can do the beach and the mountains in one day, so our next stop would be a hike. I like Eaton Canyon in Pasadena and you can also never go wrong with Griffith Park.

A lifetime would not be enough to exhaust all the food and drink places here, but a few I love are Blue Plate Taco in Santa Monica, Dave’s Hot Chicken (cliche but truly the best) and for a fancier meal head to The Lobster. For drinks, there’s an awesome Whiskey Bar called Seven Grand and an arcade bar called EightyTwo in downtown which are always a good time. In central LA, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a super fun club and right down the street you can catch a concert at the Wiltern.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The biggest supporters in my life have always been my parents. They were the ones driving me back and forth to all my lessons and shows as a kid and making sure I had all of the tools at my disposal to make my dreams come true. They never complained when I would stay up all night working on my music or filming a Youtube video because they knew that it was what made me happy. When I told them I wanted to move from New Jersey to California to study music in college, there was never even a moment of doubt but an overwhelming sense of support. If I could make it happen then they would never stop me.

I also want to shout out all the amazing teachers I have had throughout my musical journey. I have been taking vocal lessons from my teacher Laura Cantwell for almost 7 years, and she has helped me immensely in strengthening my voice, expanding my range, and overall becoming a better performer. In college as well, my piano teacher J. Michael O’Neil challenged me to feel more comfortable accompanying myself and to push the bounds of my theory knowledge to enhance my writing.

Lastly, I wouldn’t be half the musician I am now without my musical inspirations: the artists I grew up listening to and wanting to emulate. Taylor Swift is the biggest of them and my songwriting inspiration. I always say that she has a song for every emotion I have ever felt. Her ability to span genres and still create songs that are equally beautiful and powerful is something that I admire and hope to model in my career.

Website: https://jordanlevymusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanlevyy/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jordanlevymusic

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BES5MxQLNiu3StIvg1YY7?si=Yz1R8f6TTf2GW_YMyqRzgA

Image Credits
Emily Entz Kaitlyn Ford Alyssa Valenzuela Matthew Pierce Salomon

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