Exclusive Interview with OLIVER JORDAN

Oliver Jordan is a mysterious singer-songwriter who has struggled with mental illness for almost his entire life. Ten Suicidal Tunes, his low-fi album, reveals his descent into darkness and depression. He cut all songs in a manic 24 hours using his then-modified girlfriend’s answering machine as a recording device, writing and recording on the spot. He started complaining about a troll living behind the soundhole of his acoustic guitar ruining his performance by droning on about his songwriting skills because he was delusional.
Oliver Jordan was committed to a mental hospital after attempting suicide in a recording studio and reportedly passed away there in a freak accident after choking on false teeth that a fellow patient had stowed away in his banana pudding. Many think he may have faked his death because of the peculiar circumstances surrounding it in order to leave the mental institution, leave the United States, and begin busking around Europe, which was something he always wanted to do. This claim, however, has not been supported by any evidence. Check out his new single Pedestal and the exclusive interview below:

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

OLIVER JORDAN: I came from my mother’s womb right here on planet Earth, I was told. But since then, I’ve felt like an alien around here all my life. So I have my doubts…As far as music is concerned, I found out at a very young age that the Earth emanates a mysterious hum, so that got me started to do kind of the same.

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

OLIVER JORDAN: I had some guitar lessons in my teens but that didn’t work out because I’m left-handed. So the teacher kicked me out after a few weeks. Then his acoustic guitar melted away shortly after that and I attributed that to my superpowers. Actually, it was just a hot radiator.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘OLIVER JORDAN’?

OLIVER JORDAN: Yeah, that’s my real name. As a kid I really was into KISS.

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

OLIVER JORDAN: It’s dark, raw, and real.

5. 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 INDIE?

OLIVER JORDAN:

Emulating others never really appealed to me. I believe your music should be an extension of your personality. So, naturally, I’d listen to all kinds of music but then do my own thing.

6. 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?

OLIVER JORDAN:

I’m not interested in the technical aspect of music, only in the emotional aspect. To me, music is therapy, it’s not entertainment. Apart from that, question anything and everything people want you to believe.

7. 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?

OLIVER JORDAN:

I’m doing this for myself as a sort of therapy. But if people connect with what I’m doing, that’s great. Music is the universal language. And it’s not work – it’s all play.

8. 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?

OLIVER JORDAN:

It’s like putting the pieces of a puzzle together in your head. Most of the time I don’t know what I’m doing, anyway. You have an idea but you don’t know where it takes you.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

OLIVER JORDAN: I have this thing called MDD. So, from early childhood on, it’s always been a struggle and continues to be.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

OLIVER JORDAN: We filmed four videos for the PRISONER OF MIND album and they turned out the way I wanted. They were pretty costly, though. Actually, the independent label I was on had to file for bankruptcy after that. Which pretty much sucks.