Jordan Paul is a singer songwriter born and raised on the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i. With his incredibly versatile vocal abilities, Jordan Paul has made his presence known since his debut single “Elsewhere” released in April, 2021, followed by “Cloud Nine” and the “Live from the Treehouse” EP. Inspired by many different artists, such as Bruno Mars, Mac Ayres, Samm Henshaw, Smokey Robinson and more, he has a unique blend of sounds that are pleasing to the ears and soul. Jordan Paul is a full time working/gigging musician, doing weekly gigs all over Kaua’i. In July he was featured on “School Night at home – Los Angeles” hosted by Chris Douridas on a Twitch live stream. He regularly shares the stage and produces music with Polydor recording artist Eli Smart.
“New Thang” is a vibrant anthem about that exciting rush you get when you meet someone new; your palms sweat, you get nervous, you even check your phone multiple times a day to see if they’ve messaged you. When this happens, nothing else seems to matter, and you crave that New Thang— the unintended consequences? Catching feelings.
Produced by Tim Rose, the song effortly blends pop, R&B, funk and soul for the ultimate end of summer banger.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
It took years of hard work and patience. My evolution in music and personal growth has been quite the ride. Riddled with imposter syndrome and insecurities, it took me years to finally be confident in who I am and to be comfortable in my own skin. From being the drummer in a band in my first year of college, to playing for tips at the restaurant I was working at, to quitting that restaurant job and playing music around the island full time, and finally releasing my own music for the whole world to hear has been such a rollercoaster. I’ve had tons of amazing moments and frustrating ones too, but Im so grateful to be able to share my music and passion with anyone who wants to listen!
What is the favorite song you wrote and why?
My favorite song definitely has to be my debut single Elsewhere. That song is really special to me. I wrote It in the midst of the the madness of 2020. It was a drastic change from being out everyday to being stuck in my house on lockdown with no end in sight. I found myself in a funk and writing that song really brought me out of it. The lyrics in the song reflect exactly how I was feeling in the moment, it’s kind of like a three minute exhale lol. It was beautiful the way it happened, and I couldn’t have done it without my good friend and fellow artist, Eli Smart.
Who are your all time musical icons?
Like a lot of boys my age, I grew up idolizing Bruno Mars. Me, also being from Hawai’i and Filipino (and short lol), definitely made me realize that achieving my dreams was possible. Listening to his songs really made me feel something, and I immediately made it a goal of mine for my music. Once I got to an older age I went back in time and listened to more of the greats. Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, and many others, I’m always blown away with how much soul they put into their projects.
What are some things to do to keep your inspiration alive?
Drive. There’s nothing I love more than going for a nice drive. Driving is my inspiration and writing process. I think with every song I have written so far, at least some of it was written while I was driving. There’s something about me and the road that brings everything out of me.
Who are you binge listening to these days?
I listen to a wide variety of music, but I’m gonna have to listen to Samm Henshaw and Mac Ayres. Those two artists have made a huge impact on my musical career. They have such a refreshing sound and style that really captures the audience. I binge listen to them both on a regular basis.
Favorite movie or TV show?
This is a really tough question, but for a movie I’m gonna say Interstellar, because I love movies that make you think. As far as a TV show goes, Spongebob will forever take the cake!
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
I am really excited for everyone to hear this song! New Thang was the first song I ever wrote and completed. I originally wrote it with my best friend & musician Cory Mira. He composed it and I wrote the lyrics. Two years later our friend Tim Rose reached out to see if I had any songs that he could help me produce and I had just the one. We recorded my vocals late one night in Bandwagon Music Center after one of my gigs, and then Tim took it back to LA and made the song come to life. New Thang is a song about that fire and excitement you get when meeting someone for the first time. Whether it’s a serious thing or not, making new connections, friends, or relations is a very vulnerable feeling, and this is a lighthearted take on that.
Do you have any peculiar pre or post show rituals?
Nothing out of the ordinary, I do like to take a second before every set or show to remind myself the main reason why I do this whole thing. It’s the MUSIC. It’s the love. No matter if its three people or three thousand, I feel like being on stage is where I let everything go and I feel absolutely free.
What’s the future looking like for you?
Its hard to think about it without freaking out! lol. I’m hoping it involves a lot of music, shows, great memories, good food, and amazing people. I’ve spent too many years with my head above the clouds so I’ve been trying to keep my mind more present to what’s going on around me, and appreciating and learning from every experience.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
I do! And I admire when someone is just really genuine and authentic. Especially on social media. Wear what you wanna wear, be who you want to be and don’t ever apologize for it.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
The week that Elsewhere came out was one of the best times of my life. I was so proud of myself for finally letting go of all of my self doubt and putting out my own original music. Opening up Spotify and Apple Music and seeing my name in those apps was unbelievable. I had a release party for it, and hearing all my friends and family screaming the words to my song was insane! People reach out to me, telling me that Elsewhere was there for them when they needed it as it was for me, and that really made me proud that I was able to brighten up someone’s day with my music.
What do you think is the best way to make it as an artist nowadays?
Be yourself! Everyone has their inspirations and artists that they idolize, but you shouldn’t have to become that person. Take that inspiration and do it your own way. Trust your gut, and if you love it that much, never stop. People love authenticity, because it shows that you’re still human, and it makes your audience connect with you on a deeper level. If you have fans that stick by your side your entire career, you already “made it”.
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
– I’m still very new to the music industry, but I have noticed a small change already, with so many new music and new artists releasing songs in the past two years, me being one of them. I think a lot of people who have been tentative about becoming a recording artist has taken that leap of faith into the industry. I’m very excited to see how this affects the music industry as a whole.
