We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jordan Mohr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jordan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Some say I’m taking a huge leap of faith and risk by not following the traditional college path. Instead, I’m investing in myself and my dreams of becoming an independent music artist. It’s definitely not easy because there are no guarantees that it will all pay off, but I’m willing to take risks to achieve something incredible. Some days, I feel like I’m at a crossroads, but traveling a different path in life comes with certain risks. I’ll admit, it’s scary sometimes but I would much rather ride the roller coaster instead of the merry-go-round, any day.

Jordan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In 2021, I was introduced to DME Artist Development in Orlando, kickstarting my artist journey. There, I gained the knowledge and skills to take my artistry up a notch: writing and recording with industry professionals have given me the opportunity to learn what my strengths are and the areas I need to work on. Performing is an undeniable passion of mine – one that I am determined to continue for years to come!

I’m proud to say my debut single, “Haunted House,” was released in October 2021. The story behind the song is based on a theme that we all can relate to: that of not knowing what happens behind closed doors due to the assumptions and judgments made through social media. All of my current songs were co-written with Mike and Caroline Walker. My favorite genre is country music; its stories and powerful guitar solos really capture my heart.

Since then, I have released four singles and two music videos: “Smokin’ Gun,” a sassy song about following one’s intuition; “Summer Vacation Auditions,” a fun summer jam with an equally entertaining music video directed by Dale Metz; and two other songs that explore various themes. I am in an exploratory stage right now as I play with different styles within my genre. I had the opportunity to participate in a writer’s round with a packed house in Nashville, Tennessee. My dedication to my craft has been rewarded with several nominations at the 2023 Josie Awards, including Best Performance in a Music Video, Music Video of the Year, and a Rising Star nomination. It’s incredible to think of how many talented artists are working hard on their dreams as well, so I am definitely humbled to be recognized.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

The journey of any creative person can seem a bit mysterious at times. In the not-so-distant past music artists were often seen as lacking direction or having unrealistic dreams. Even some of my closest friends question what I really do all day. As an aspiring music artist and singer/songwriter in the ever-evolving music industry, you are not sitting around waiting to be discovered. As an independent artist, you are your own label, manager, social media manager, creative director, booking agent, etc… It’s so much more than strumming on my guitar all day trying to come up with clever concepts. But is there something non-creatives will understand about the creative process? Absolutely!

The truth is that creativity isn’t just about making beautiful songs. Creativity requires a certain amount of discipline, dedication, and hard work to be successful. Even though it can often feel like creative people just come up with brilliant ideas out of thin air, this is rarely the case – great creators are able to take their ideas and turn them into realities with a lot of effort, focus, and guidance from others.

Creative people also need to be highly organized. This process often involves juggling multiple tasks at once, from brainstorming new ideas to building an audience using social media platforms, (yes, that requires posting A LOT…to my close friends that ask why I post so much.) In my case, I have a rigorous practice schedule, I have a daily singing and guitar regime. I have bi-weekly studio days where I am immersed in all things music. This requires careful planning and organization, something that non-creatives can understand as well – even if they don’t have the same kind of passion for music or storytelling that creatives do.

Creative people often have to take big risks in order to make progress. The creative process is all about trying new things and pushing the boundaries – something that non-creatives can relate to as well. Whether it’s launching a business or taking a new job, taking risks can be necessary in order for success. So while there may be some things that only aspiring music artists understand about their journey, there are also plenty of lessons to be learned from creatives that non-creatives can relate to.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Last year, as a new artist, I was offered an incredible opportunity to perform at The Florida Music Festival, in Orlando Florida. I was certain that the challenge of performing six very new, some unfinished, original songs in such a short time span would be daunting. After all, I had only been playing guitar for less than a year and had never before done a live performance of this scale. But I refused to give up and pushed myself to practice day and night with unwavering determination. Although mistakes were inevitable along the way, I was able to take constructive criticism and use it to improve my techniques. In the end, I was able to successfully perform at the music festival with my band, thanks to resilience, hard work, and an incredibly supportive team. It was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world!     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jordanmohrmusic.com
• Instagram: @jordanmohrmusic
• Facebook: @jordanmohrmusic
• Twitter: @jordanmohrmusic
• Youtube: @jordanmohrmusic

Image Credits
Southern Fellow Daniel Forero Jorge Barba