JORDY: Everything He Was Looking For
Cover look Clothes & Shoes: Vintage. Jewelry: AROCK @arock_official | Right: Shirt & Pant Set: Nil+Mon @nilandmon. Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell @jeffreycampbell. Jewelry: AROCK @arock_official & Astrid & Agnes @astridoagnes
Some artists arrive at self-possession loudly. JORDY arrives at it in retrospect. The Chicago-born pop songwriter built a following on the ache of wanting, the crushes, the almosts, the someone who might finally make him feel loved, and turned that longing into songs a whole generation mouthed back to him. His new album In Retrospect marks the turn: the twenties spent searching handed off to a thirties spent arriving. What changed is not the honesty, which was always there, but where he points it. The missing pieces he once looked for in other people, he has learned to find in himself. The result is his most assured work yet, dance-floor bright and quietly radical, the sound of a queer artist deciding that wholeness was never something to wait for. It was his to give.
Talent: JORDY @jordymusic
Creative Director: Aleksandar Tomovic @alekandsteph
Photography: Steve Limones @stevelimonesphotography
Assistant Photography: Nick Ahmet @nick_ahmet
Styling: Irina van Verseveld @wonderzuzu
Makeup: Brittany Truong at Kelly Zhang Agency @brittanytruongartistry @kellyzhangagency
Hair: Jennifer Lee at Kelly Zhang Agency @jennlee_styles @kellyzhangagency
PR: Nathalie Rubin at Image PR @imagepublicrelations
Production Team: Alberto Gonzalez Oseguera @alberto_filmdirector
Production + Location: @BelloMediaGroup x @MaisonPrivéePR_la
Your upcoming album In Retrospect feels like a new chapter in your career. What inspired this era, and what do you want fans to take away from it?
This record really captures my journey from my twenties into my thirties, a period of realizing that the only person who can truly make me feel whole is myself. That’s been an incredibly empowering lesson, both personally and creatively. As an artist, it felt important to reflect that growth throughout the album. At its core, In Retrospect is about recognizing when relationships no longer serve you, choosing yourself, and finding those missing pieces within rather than searching for them in someone else. Of course there are bumps in the road, but all we can do is our best. I hope fans feel heard and seen and less alone after listening to the record. Regardless of whether we’re in similar places or not, I think this is a message everyone can take from it.
Blazer: Samuel Gärtner @samuelgaertner. Necklace: Frou York @frouyork
You’ve always been known for turning personal experiences into music. How has your approach to songwriting changed since your early breakout with “Just Friends”?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I don’t need a boyfriend to be happy. When I wrote “Just Friends,” I was longing for someone who could validate me and make me feel loved. Looking back, I can see how much of my self-worth I was placing in the hands of other people. The songs I write now are different simply because I am older and have grown since then. My songs evolve with me, which I think is really cool.
Your music blends emotional storytelling with big pop moments. How do you balance vulnerability with creating songs that feel fun and energetic?
I love the dichotomy. I’ve always had that mindset: songs that have deep lyrics but songs you can dance to. I think it’s important to have both. I want to create an escape for people while simultaneously providing songs with lyrics that actually mean something.
Sweater: Vintage. Jorts: Levi’s @levis. Undergarment: Calvin Klein @calvinklein. Shoes: Archive. Bag: Swissdigital Design @swissdigital_design_usa
Your previous album SEX WITH MYSELF explored confidence and self-expression. How did that project help shape where you are creatively today?
I needed the sexual liberation the album provided me. At that time I felt compelled to assert myself as a sexual being, because I think there’s a stigma when it comes to queer people singing about sex. I’m always trying to break barriers, but I also needed to express that for me too. I needed to step outside of my comfort zone.
Blouse: Theo @theo.official. Jorts: IOEDLE @ioedle. Boots: Jean-Baptiste Rautureau @jb_rautureau. Beret: Atelier 7474 @atelier7474. Rings: AROCK @arock_official
Your fans have connected so strongly with your honesty. What is something you’ve learned about yourself through sharing your story with the world?
That a lot of people feel the way I do. That we all have a story, we all struggle, we can all relate to the same feelings. People think my music allows them to feel less alone, but it’s also me that feels less alone when I see how many people resonate with the lyrics I’ve written.
You’ve performed at huge festivals like Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Pride celebrations across the country. What is a live performance moment you’ll never forget?
Lolla was a moment I will never forget. As a Chicago native, it was always my dream to be on a stage there. It felt completely surreal. I am patiently waiting to return. Prides are always special too, because it’s a way for me to get to know the queer community in other cities. It’s a time for us to come together and celebrate the beauty in being queer.
Jacket: H&M @hm Hat: Toukitsou @toukitsou Rings: AROCK @arock_official
Your visuals and aesthetics have become such an important part of your artistry. How involved are you in creating the world around your music?
Super involved! For this new record I worked with a really talented creative director in LA named Thomas Jay. He really helped me craft the world and universe we wanted this era to look like. It was super collaborative, and we definitely honored each other’s visions.
“Good Not Great” connected with fans worldwide and inspired thousands of creations online. What does it feel like seeing your music become part of someone else’s story?
It’s the reason I do this! That song means so much to me, and the way it’s resonated with others just speaks to the honesty of the song. A lot of the time, we feel good but not great. Especially in this day and age, it’s beautiful to connect with others through music. It helps us feel less isolated in our feelings.
You’ve built a strong LGBTQIA+ fan community throughout your career. What does that connection mean to you as an artist?
As a queer person, it’s always special to share my stories with other queer people. That connection is truly my why. My younger self would have loved an openly gay artist to look up to. I feel very grateful to provide that for others.
Looking back at everything you’ve accomplished so far, from your first releases to In Retrospect, what moment makes you the proudest?
I think I’ve learned to really trust myself and my instincts. From being a writer in the room to business decisions. When I was younger I was less confident. I am very proud of how much I’ve grown since then, and how comfortable I am with setting boundaries. It’s so important as an artist.
