Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Swanson.
Jordan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I think back on all the hobbies I had as a child, I most fondly remember that I was constantly writing song lyrics and poems. Both my parents were musicians and always had music playing. I would hear lyrics that really moved me and search for them online. I’d use websites like Genius.com (when it first came out) and SongFacts.com. It fascinated me that words could have so much impact on an audience. Those song lyrics inspired me so much, and so I would re-write the lyrics to fit my own narrative. That propelled me into writing my own poetry with its own rhythm. I started a collection of poems in a notebook that I still have today, and I haven’t stopped. I am now on my 8th journal full of prose & poetry!
Growing up, I witnessed my mother suffering from bipolar disorder, so writing was a very appropriate outlet for me to express how I felt. I’ve dealt with many misfortunes in my life, but the one thing that still greatly and negatively impacts me to this day is my mother going in and out of psychiatric hospitals. I’m originally from Chicago, and I moved to Los Angeles to follow my career in film and music, so recently I have not been able to be there for her as much as I used to be, and I’ve once again looked to poetry for a healthy expression of emotions.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road toward creative pursuits is never smooth, but that’s what makes it so appealing. Poetry is not my only passion. I am very much a creative and dabble in most artistic elements. In college, I studied film and voice acting. I wanted to double major in creative writing, but after already being over $100,000 in debt, I couldn’t spend any more money on my education. I never doubt my ability to succeed in the creative world, but my student debt is definitely a huge burden that I struggle with. It really leaves a dark cloud over my head. I feel trapped and as if I will never be good enough or that my art will never be worth enough to relieve me of that burden. I’ve always invested a lot into myself and my art, and I just hope that one day all my hard work will pay off!
Jordie Rose Poetry – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
A few years ago, I decided that I was going to take a rather large leap of faith and rebrand my Instagram, making it a poetry page! At first, I was super nervous, thinking people would make fun of me or be uninterested, but I decided that my love for poetry was strong enough to withstand any negativity that came with being vulnerable. Instagram is all about self-expression and sharing the things that you are the most proud of, and for me that just happens to be my poetry.
I pair my poetry with my photography, layering them onto beautifully edited photos. That is my chosen aesthetic. As much as I love words, I am also a very visual person because I am a filmmaker as well as a poet. It brings me great joy being able to combine two things I love as a means to tell a story. Being able to shift my focus between two creative outlets keeps me away from writer’s block or artistic burnout. If I don’t feel very poetically creative one day, I might feel visually inspired instead, and vice versa.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment has been packing up my car and driving across the country to pursue my career in Hollywood. Being surrounded by like-minded people has been so inspiring for me. All I want to do is create or help others create. Since I’ve been in LA, I’ve worked on so many incredible projects and met some of the most interesting people that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I am proud of my bravery and vulnerability. If it wasn’t for those two things, I would have no more stories to tell.
Currently, I am in the process of self-publishing a book of poetry, working as a camera operator on the set of a short film, interning at a music management company, writing a script for a short horror film, and I just signed with a voiceover agent. If I could go back in time and tell my Chicago self about all the things I’m doing, I don’t think she would believe me.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 708-541-5114
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: jordie.rose.swan
Image Credit:
Jordan Swanson, Emma Nykaza
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