In Conversation With: Jords

Over the last few years, Jords has created a phenomenal discography comprised of captivatingly self-reflective poetics, smooth melodic grooves and ambient backdrops. After treating us to the project’s vibrant and very personal, seven-minute short film. The Croydon artist, has finally unveiled his self-produced LP: Almost An Adult to the world.  So we had a chat with Jords, throughout he breaks down the thought process behind the LP and we found out a bit more about what makes him... well him. 

For those who aren’t familiar with you already, tell us a little bit about who you are and where your from? I’m Jords, I don’t necessarily like to call my self one thing. So I just call myself an artist. I’m from Croydon, Manchester and Jamaica and I’m a product of my environment. Musical influences? I used to have an answer for that, but now I’m just influenced by life. However, recently I’ve been listening to a lot more salsa, Cuban type music. But historically I’d say Kanye, J Cole, Wretch 32 and I’ll throw Stevie Wonder in there.

Congrats on the the short film! Talk to us a bit more about how it came about. I’ve always had the idea to make a short film about a body of work, because I feel like my skills stretch far beyond music, I think it’s quite limitless. I was talking to the label about the best way to to show case all the sides of me an artist. Then Benzo from my label came up with the idea of having a short film and I jumped at it straight away. Then a company called 33BOUND pitched the treatment and when I saw that it included going back to Jamaica, I thought that, yeah make sense. How involved were you in the short films creation and direction?  Where I had the most input, was on the scene for Patterned. I wanted it to be more like a homecoming, to show that as much as I’m Jamaican, I’m still South London. I’m a second generation Jamaican so I wanted to show all of my roots, including where I grew up and the ends in me. In a recent interview you made a bold statement, you said the Almost An Adult LP is the most you - How does that translate through your writing? What was the recording process like? I made the project in 2018, I made it all a week after my Grandma‘s funeral. When I came home I had so much energy, that I didn’t know what to do with it. So I just ended channelling it into music. I can’t really say that I new what I was doing when I was making it, I was just expressing all my feelings about what it means to be depressed. To lose something, what it means to be triumphant. When your “successful” everybody assumes life’s all good, when there’s really stuff going on underneath. So, as well as the success I ended up showing my insecurities and flaws, which I didn’t aim to do initially. I was kind of on auto-pilot. It’s really cool that you can make music that’s so emotive and timeless... So the album opener is My City. There’s a strong sense of British pride on that song and throughout the album, how has the UK influenced you and your sound? Like I said, I’m a product of my environment. So I think everything that I’ve grown up on and taken in goes into my music. I was born in South London, but I’ve also got a lot of family in Manchester. So the fact that I’m a black British man will alway prominent in my music, I won’t ever stray away from it.  So when I was listening to the album, it felt like I was being taken on a journey. Was that intentional?  100% everything I do is very intentional. I like every song to have it’s own moment but at the same time it has tell a story.  So placement-wise talk us through that journey? Well that’s kind of how my year went, if I’m  honest. I remember when I made My City, for me that’s an anthem and it was about me, rolling with my friends, driving around London but not even knowing where we’re going. Just taking in the scenery, from Chelsea, which has the nicest houses and everything’s great. To Battersea which is full of blocks and sirens. Then it goes into Swing, which is like your still on that journey but it’s getting late and your thinking about your girl and you wanna text her. Pattern was also a very triumphant track. After that I wanted to delve a bit deeper into what makes me who I am, which meant addressing my insecurities. Loss has been a big part in my life over the last couple of years so I wanted to show that, especially with Mrs. Chambers Kitchen and Halos. The main things that I did want was a strong Intro and a statement Outro. 

Speaking of strong Outro’s, you definitely achieved that with Your Welcome. What message were you trying to get across?  So, I wanted to communicate that despite losing so many people and going through things with your mental health. That you can still come out the other side. You can still be a great man whilst embracing everything you see as a flaw, if that makes sense.  One thing that stood out to me was the unity that‘s felt in Brothers and Patterned. I’ve had the same friends for over ten years, if you see me, you see them. They’re in the London shots of Patterned, they’re in the Glide video. I see my closest friends as my family as well and I’m proud of them because they are all doing big things. For example, one of my boys wanted this car since he was 15. He wrote a ten year letter to himself and now he’s 25 and he read it, the car was on it and he’d brought it this year.  That’s amazing!  It is, when your that close to people you can’t help but be proud of the people they’ve become. I don’t really have to reach outside of my circle for inspiration.  If you’d like to keep up-to-date with Jords, you can find him here. Stream Almost An Adult below and on Apple Music!