Exclusive Interview with JORDEN ALBRIGHT

ANATOMY is Jorden Albright’s second EP, released in the fall of 2022. ANATOMY’s track-list is dominated by bedroom pop with electronic, R&B, and hip hop influences. Its six anatomy-themed tunes have been called “clean,” “confident,” and “catchy.” While some tracks were made as early as 2018 and others as late as 2022, the entire EP conveys a story about learning to coexist with the love in one’s body in vivid color. Check out the EP and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT: Making music started when I was just a kid. I grew up in Memphis, surrounded by an abundance of soul and R&B. At the same time, I always gravitated towards pop. I first started writing lyrics when I was around 12 and then learned to play keys in high school. By the time I was headed to college, I had learned everything I needed to start producing my own tracks.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT: I’ve gotta give most of the credit to myself, but I definitely had help along the way. In high school, I did a year of piano lessons and was pretty active in musical theatre. I had a variety of music-centered experiences that taught me things that I’ve kind of put in my pocket and carried with me.

3. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT: I try to make my songs a spatial experience. Playing with panning audio and vocal layers to create a full sound. Even though I take inspiration from various genres in my tracks, it’s always my goal to create a dreamscape vibe.

4. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as R&B?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT: Looking back at my old music library, it’s really easy for me to see how my style became so pop-forward. As a teenager, I was always knee-deep in the Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry pop scene. The 2010s were probably the foundation for me. Over time, my taste became more experimental—alternative hip-hop, indie rock, bedroom trap. Those two elements just kind of merged in my mind over time and became my music style.

5. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT:

I don’t think I’ve tackled many external world issues in my music, but I would still love for it to serve a purpose bigger than me. My songs as they stand now are entirely personal—produced to be reflective of my experience. My habits, my stories, my emotions. All I can hope for is that people see a bit of themselves in the tracks and find comfort or resonance in that.

6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT:

I’m just here for the ride, I think. I love to see the evolution of my music journey so far, but I don’t plan on trying to control it too much. That could change as things change, but for now, I’m happy just making music at this level. We’ll see what comes next.

7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT:

I feel like the process is very rarely the same. It’s hard for me to pull a song out of thin air—it usually comes after I conjure up a melody on accident and it gets stuck in my head. Or I hear a sound that makes me want to experiment. I make songs almost as a way to empty my music brain when it begins to overflow. It’s usually a very solitary experience because of that, but lately I’m finding new ways to create with others.

8. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT:

I feel lucky in that I don’t get much hate online or in general. People in my circles have been so supportive of my projects, but I’ve still experienced criticism before and it’s always a wake-up call. If it’s constructive, it gives me a chance to step outside my own experience and maybe see something differently. If it’s not constructive, I try to use it as an opportunity to hold compassion for that person and for myself.

9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT: Honestly, I love them both for different reasons. I’d have to go with the home studio environment, though. I’m an introvert at heart and I feel most energized and creative when I’m vibing in my space. It’s always an amazing palate cleanser to go out and share my music with audiences, but I always gotta come back home to recharge.

10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

JORDEN ALBRIGHT: I do believe everybody has a right to their own interpretation. It’s definitely nice to feel like people are receiving my message the way I intend it, but I could never say that my interpretation is the only one. If anything, I hope my songs spark dialogue. I’d love to see them from a new angle.