We recently connected with Jordan Smith Reynolds and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan Smith, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects of my life was creating my EP “The Deepest of Blues.” I mostly wrote this EP during the pandemic, having released my first EP “Anywhere in the World” in February of 2020.

On paper, early 2020 is probably one of the worst times to have relocated to Los Angeles and release an EP as an independent musician. However, I know “The Deepest of Blues” record is what it is today because of that experience.

This EP was a collaboration with several producer friends of mine that I really admire. Jordan Clark, Cody Francis, Jordan Turner, and mastering engineer Sarah Register brought these songs to a level I couldn’t dream up on my own. I’m extremely grateful for them!

Over the course of two years, I wrote and recorded the songs, crowdfunded several thousand dollars towards the project, and released my most successful record yet. The EP has over 250k streams, has had songs featured in independent films, and was featured on a Spotify editorial playlist. I’m very proud of what my team and I made with this work, and it’s a joy whenever I get to perform it live.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I think every songwriter’s life is full of twists and turns, and mine is no exception. I studied classically for years, culminating in a Master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy at the new England Conservatory. During that time, I wrote music but it was less of a main focus.

It wasn’t until after my daughter Alice was born and I had graduated that I really dove into songwriting and making it a career. Since that time, I’ve released 2 EPs and at least 5 singles on top of that.

I am inspired by singer-songwriters like Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, Sufjan Stevens, Bruno Major, Madison Cunningham, and Lizzy McAlpine. I also draw a lot from nature, and I use music as a means to try to make sense of our rollercoaster of a life as a human being.

My mission is to provide a space for folks to find peace, at least for just a moment. We’re in a loud world, and don’t get me wrong I love music that gets people moving, but I’ve always been drawn to the quiet spaces that have the power to transform you into a better version of yourself.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think the most important thing society and artists/creatives themselves can do to support artists and creatives is to value art. There are huge consequences when we collectively dismiss or undervalue art. Art is at the core of community and human connection. When we disregard art, artists/creatives obviously suffer but so does society as a whole.

When we truly value art, we make space for it. We support it not only financially but by sharing it with others. Art is a conversation, an experience that can change us for the better when we choose to actively engage with it.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As a musician, I have had to get extremely familiar with rejection! I’ve been rejected from tons of playlists, blogs, songwriting contests, choirs, musical productions, you name it. However, I have come to accept that writing is a part of me, and sharing what I write is a part of me too.

Most recently, I changed my artist name to Jordan Smith Reynolds and released a song called “Whatever You Plant Will Grow” in March. The song was pretty much universally snubbed by independent playlists and blogs I had reached out to, and most of my promotional efforts didn’t really pan out. However, it was also released around the same time as an ASCAP songwriting contest called the Green Theme contest. The winning song would be used for ASCAP Studio Green, an effort to support musicians with the tools to create and perform music with environmental friendly resources.

And…I won! The contest had hundreds of applicants and a panel of GRAMMY award winning songwriters and producers that worked on songs by artists like Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. It was an incredible experience I’m extremely grateful for, and it was amazing to have this song gain some recognition when I felt like it hadn’t been received as well at least in the digital space.

Of course, it’s always great to receive validation but I’m trying my best not to rely on it too much!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jordansmithreynolds.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jordansmithreynolds
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jordansmithreynolds
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-reynolds-5b990b92/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jordansmithreynolds
• Other: The Song Saloon: My podcast where I feature a singer-songwriter with a live performance of one of their songs and a short interview! https://www.thesongsaloon.com https://instagram.com/thesongsaloon

Image Credits
Breanne Genuino, Guy Gibbons, Danielle Reynolds