We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jordan Asher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jordan below.
Alright, Jordan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
My first dollar earned as a creative was in 2018 when I had just moved to Nashville. I recorded a demo in a studio on Music Row. Looking back on it, I don’t really think I had any other intention behind it other than to just delve into the writing and recording process as an artist and performer. I had already formed a working relationship with Alan Parsons at this point as I was his touring stage manager for his international dates. I sent Alan the final mix to get his opinion on the production aspects, along with the overall song and my performance. A few weeks went by, and I received a phone call from Alan, and he shared that he had listened to the song and that he really enjoyed it. He then asked if I would be opposed to having it be released on his upcoming album, “The Secret”. I was excited by the request, but then Alan asked if I would be the lead vocalist for the track. Of course, I said yes!! That is how I got my first cut, my first album performance, and my first dollar earned as a creative.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a Nashville based Singer, Songwriter and Recording Artist. I am probably best known for my work with the Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer and performance artist Alan Parsons. In 2019, I appeared as a featured vocalist on tour with Alan both internationally and domestically, performing one of the charting hits from Parsons’ new album, “The Secret”, which I am also a co-writer and featured performing vocalist on. Amongst my solo material, I also wrote and performed the title track “The NeverEnding Show” for the live in concert DVD, Bluray and vinyl global release of “Alan Parsons Live In The Netherlands: The NeverEnding Show”. Alan and Joe Bonnamassa introduced me as an emerging artist to pay attention to during the live stream that aired from the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville as we unveiled to the world The NeverEnding Show’s music video.
BACKGROUND: I graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences with studies focused on sound engineering and record production. After graduation and time spent in the production environment, my inherent passion and love for singing became the forefront of my focus. After a year of working at East Iris Studio in Nashville, TN, and cutting my teeth in the music community, I decided to move back to California where my best friend and renowned drummer Danny Thompson and I briefly endeavored on multiple projects. That is when I was introduced to Alan Parsons. I am currently working closely with Alan at his studio ParSonics in Southern California on my solo material. I have recorded and released four songs as a solo artist and am in the recording process right now. Actually, while in the studio, I took a short break to do this interview. I plan on releasing an EP in the coming months and I am really excited about it. I am working with some fantastic and extraordinary people.
The songs I have been focused on as of late and have always focused on creating, are songs that make you feel, songs that make you want to sing and dance, songs that are of substance and musicality. I want to write and record the song that was made just for you! Now, really what that means is I need to write and record songs that are made for “US” because that is what I am really after. My latest release “Everest” (available everywhere I might add) I think is really a strong representation of what I am talking about here. Go check it out, and if you do I hope you dig it. After all, I did write that one with you in mind.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I have reshaped several things that “I thought I knew” over the years and am still doing so. One of those lessons I needed to unlearn was that singing loudly in the higher registers was the only factor that qualified me as a “great vocalist”. I taught myself how to sing based off of records, and I would sing along to songs that sounded like they were being “belted” out. Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart, John Farnham and Steve Perry are great examples of control, tone and texture where volume is not the ingredient to get those “tones” we know and love, even though that is what the album sounds like they are doing. What I didn’t realize yet was that in recording a record, from a singer’s point of view, dynamics and control are what makes vocalists stand out. Tonality and texture are far more important and useful to a vocalist than just the register and volume. Another way to say that is – it is not the notes you can hit that make you a great singer, but rather how well you hit them. With shows like American Idol, The Voice and so on, they’re selling the wrong idea of what vocalists should look like, singing high and loud, and full of frills, as well as promoting the idea that to be “good” you should also be extremely competitive with everyone else.
I grew up thinking – just like everyone else – that loud and acrobatic was the key to being good when in reality, that is completely self-absorbed and wrong! Thankfully, I did have and still do have wonderful mentors who helped get me on the appropriate road for my journey as a professional. I went back and listened to some recordings that truly do stand the test of time and every single singer in that category, is singing a SONG first and foremost, and sings with intention, control, dynamics, with selective and designed moments to shine. Most of the time the shine is not in a high note or in a fancy vocal cartwheel, but in a tone and delivery. Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, Teddy Swims and Adele are just a few artists who are stand-out examples of this tactic. The greatest singer is really just the greatest listener.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Well, first and foremost, try to remember that it is the artist creating and delivering the art. For the last decade or so, the music industry has been suffering with Spotify and Amazon taking the majority of earnings rather than making sure artists are fairly compensated. The whole model of Spotify is dependent on content created by artists. I pose a thought to consider, if our culture is okay spending so much money on athletes and sports entertainment – people who did indeed spend their entire lives developing their craft – why then would we not feel the same about musicians, actors, writers, painters, and all other artists who also spend their lives developing their craft and delivering entertainment?
Each and every one of us needs art whether we know it or not. Hear me out. When your heart gets broken, where do you turn to? Is it magic that a song somehow feels like it was only written for you and manifests itself into your space when you need it the most? Do you turn to a movie perhaps to distract yourself from the current moment you’re in or merely just a fantastical escape? When you fall in love, is it not a song, or poem that you find? The point I’m trying to make here is that art is everywhere and applied to every aspect of life and the experience of it. Please don’t take for granted that art is being made for you and remember that the next time you are considering buying an album, concert ticket or any piece of art. I and so many others are working tirelessly to create something to contribute to the world and the people in it. Support your local artists, because those artists are the future creators of the soundtracks and movies narrating your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jordanashermusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanasherofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JordanAsherMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCdpVM1x5xUfAqbQZ1IGfDQ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/42aTOUJQPoSxpitpURAacW?si=ij3UVvhoQ929zXd0Dp4TiA https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jordan-asher-huffman/1533758717