Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordy Shulman.
Jordy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been in love with music. Ever since I was young it’s played such a large part in my development and creative drive; it just took a while for me to discover what kind of music I wanted to create and how I wanted to do it. I had always been a singer ever since I could talk, but I knew that If I wanted to become a successful artist, I needed to have good songs too. Not just a pretty voice.
I graduated from Boston University with a degree in literature two years ago. I was in a serious relationship at the time, so after I graduated I decided to stay in Boston for the foreseeable future and try to do music out there. After a couple of months, I realized that the only place I could pursue the music I wanted to create was LA. I had writer and producer friends out there, and I knew that I would find the most opportunities out there as well. It was my one shot; if I didn’t do it then, I’m not sure I would have ever made the move. Me and my ex broke up, I said bye to all of my friends, and I left.
It was a week after arriving in LA that I had my first session with my roommate and co-writer Will Jay and our friend Jonny Shorr who is also a writer and producer. That day we wrote a song called “Be With Me” which ended up being the first release off of my artist project. I remember they told me to wait until making any decisions to release the song; I was going to write a lot of songs, and maybe I would like another one better to release first… But I knew there was something special about it. The song came from a really personal place and touches upon how sometimes you forget to take care of yourself in a relationship. It’s a reminder to love yourself, to champion yourself, to simply be with yourself. The song ended up getting signed by Armada Music and was distributed by them in April of 2018.
After getting on some Apple Music and Spotify playlists, I started working with a manager who flew me out to Sweden for a writing camp and helped me plan and release my first EP. The debut single off of the EP is called “Just Friends” which was premiered by Billboard back in October of 2018. Following that song were a couple of other singles called “Irrational” and “Stay Together”, and the EP, “WELCOME TO THE FRIEND ZONE”, came out this past April. I’m now getting ready to release the first single off of my next project – and I am so so excited. I feel really proud of myself for the progress I have made in the past year. It validates the decision to leave the East Coast, and regardless of what happens next, I’ve discovered my love for writing pop music and that isn’t ending any time soon. I’m working with new management in LA who really believes in me, and I feel extremely lucky that I am able to do what I love and share my art with the world.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think the road for any artist is smooth. The highs are incredibly high and the lows are very very low. There are days where I feel confident and productive and motivated, and there are other days where I feel doubt and loneliness and insecurity. The secret though is consistency; I write as much as I can, I create as much as I can, I work as much as I can. I can’t let the doubt get in the way of my passion.
It took a while, but I’ve learned to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I am good at what I do. I am a professional. I will do this. It’s okay to have days that suck, and it’s okay to feel the stress and fear that comes with being an artist, but it’s important to acknowledge what you’re good at. That you’re worthy of success.
In the industry there will be a lot of “no’s”, and a lot of “you should be like this, and sing like that, and write like this instead”. It’s important to be able to take constructive criticism, but it’s also important to find that small circle of people who support you, who believe in you, who will work with you. I stay close to those people. Without them, I don’t know where I’d be.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I started my artist project under my first name, “JORDY”. I am an artist, songwriter, vocalist, and performer. For the people who have stuck around with me thus far in my journey, I would say people know me for my honest writing, vocals, and catchy hooks. I like to write sad songs that sound happy. I like to lay everything out on the table. I am proud of how I have been able to stay authentic to myself without needing to sell myself to be something I’m not. I am openly gay, so I write about the guys who I have loved and the guys who have hurt me. But I’m also proud of how I can write music about those specific relationships and still reach a larger community of people who have felt the same thing; doesn’t matter who you are, who you love, or what you look like, I think my music can transport people to a feeling they have once had.
As a kid, it was always really hard for me to find male identifying artist who wore their heart on their sleeve; but I want to do that with my music. Everyone has shit, everyone is going through something, everyone is FEELING something. So I want to talk about it.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
There is a quote that says “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” and I stand by that completely. I think that with the right work ethic, and the ability to put yourself out there, good luck will come. It’s about being fearless and being confident in your product. Someone or something will latch on.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordymusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialJORDYmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordymusic_?lang=en
Image Credit:
Main Horizontal Photo – Dante Velasquez Jr; Photos with Purple Background of Jordy and Band and just Jordy as well a performance photos – Deonte Lee; Orange Background Photo – Dante Velasquez Jr
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