Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Pearson.
Hi Jordan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I would like to think I was a performer since I came out of the womb. I got the nickname mover and shaker as a baby because I was always up to something. I was born on the east coast in Richmond, Virginia. As a kid, I wanted to be a pastor, a singer, a lawyer.. anything that involved performance I wanted to do. In grade school, I was considered the “troubled child.”. While in middle school, I was recommended to channel all of my negative energy into something positive. Well, I couldn’t shoot a basketball or throw a football and had no athletic abilities. Sports were definitely out of the question. So, I was forced to do theater.
I didn’t want to do theater, but I thought, why not? It would be an easy A, right? Surprisingly I fell in love with it. Something shifted in me once I stepped on stage. I realized I was such a “troubled child” because I was surrounding myself with people that didn’t understand me. It might sound cliché, but I felt I finally had a purpose when I walked onto that stage. My parents saw that shift and, from there, supported me one hundred percent.
When I was fourteen, I vividly remember attending a bodybuilding competition with my dad. Though young me was somewhat uncomfortable watching sweaty grown men flex on stage, being in a theater still felt like home. I told my dad, “One day, I will put on a show at this theater.” He turned to me and said he would do everything possible to make that happen. I was very optimistic about this because when my father says he will do something, he always sticks by his word. Eventually, we secured the theater because it was a nonprofit event. We decided to use the proceeds from the show’s ticket sales to donate to the organization Friends Helping Friends to feed families in need on Thanksgiving that year.
I finished writing the play within two months. We went into rehearsals, and none of us knew what we were doing. This was our first time doing something of this magnitude. I must shout out everyone who helped make that show happen; because it couldn’t have happened without them. By the grace of God, the show ended up being a huge success. We sold out that night, and I was able to see my dream fulfilled.
Since that moment, I knew being an artist was what I was meant to do. I proceeded to do plays and musicals in high school. Then, I had the privilege of studying Contemporary Theater in college at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. I worked professionally in theater and became an Actor’s Equity Union member. Last year (2022), I graduated and immediately after, moved to California. Currently, I am living my younger self’s wildest dreams in LA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could tell you my journey has been all butterflies and rainbows, but that isn’t the case. Life is not meant to be without challenges, and I believe God puts setbacks in our way so we can grow and improve. Moving out to LA was one of the most challenging decisions I have ever made.
I moved to LA on a wing and a prayer. It was terrifying and, at the same time, exciting. As a younger person, I feel people expect us to succeed immediately; if we don’t, we are deemed failures. My time in the City of Stars has been full of ups and downs. I am open to saying I have struggled with depression and anxiety. My mental health affected my physical health. I have felt insecure about my financial situation because LA is so expensive. These obstacles make it easy for someone to feel like they don’t belong here.
Recently, I started going back to therapy, and it has assisted me in becoming a better version of myself. I am a big advocate for treatment because having someone to talk to, listen to, and validate your experiences is so helpful. The right therapist can change your life. I am on the path to getting one step closer to where I’m destined to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love pushing the envelope and making people think about another perspective. I lead with vulnerability, honesty, and transparency throughout my art. There is a quote that Denzel Washington once said that always comes up for me when I’m creating. He says, “If your art is specific, then it will become universal.” I’m interested in exploring what it means to be black in America, specifically young and queer.
College has motivated me to create more art. I am most proud of a video called “I’m Straight.” The piece explores sexuality, gender, and toxic masculinity. I collaborated with multiple artists so that they could share their voices through dance and music. I wanted the video to be an outlet for someone who might be going through similar adversities. It was challenging for me to share some of the things I shared. But I was overjoyed and relieved because I was finally living my truth. In my opinion, the best art comes from honesty within life experiences. I am constantly inspired by artists who navigate this world unapologetically and aren’t afraid of doing so.
At the moment, I am writing several solo projects, as well as an original series. Also, I have been auditioning for TV shows, Films, and Theater. On top of that, I want to create a studio/ community center to give resources and a platform for other artists.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I am very grateful for my upbringing because it has taught me many beneficial things for success. My mother is the most caring and loving person I know, and she has instilled in me the importance of treating people how I want to be treated. On top of that, she constantly reminds me never to forget where I come from.
It is so easy to get lost in LA, and I do mean physically (because Cali is large) and mentally (because the egos in Cali are even larger). I am privileged to have a community of people to save me if I ever fall. I trust in my success because of my faith and the village of people around me. The best piece of advice my brother gave me was to get a whiteboard and write down all of my goals. As I began writing down these goals, I started seeing these affirmations come to fruition. Before I started doing this, I was accomplishing goals and didn’t even recognize I was doing so. Every day I wake up and look at that board. It motivates me and subconsciously gives me a reminder that I am on the right path. I believe if something is for you, it will come to you.
I want to remind the artist reading this that you are not considered an artist solely based on your success. Working a survival job to pay the bills is okay. That doesn’t make you less of an artist. But try to find time to create art; it is what you were destined to do. Take that leap of faith, and don’t be afraid to follow your heart. Be your biggest supporter and your number one advocate. The last thing I want to say is to keep on going because your time is coming.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialjordanp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialjordanp/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialjordanp
Image Credits
Matt Marcheski
