We recently connected with Jordan Dampf and have shared our conversation below.
Jordan, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I used to be terrified to take risks, especially when it came to pursuing music. But I don’t think anything good has ever came from staying inside your comfort zones. I think the first few risks I took starting out were the hardest, but it becomes easier as time goes on. You need to allow yourself to be uncomfortable if you want to see progress. It’s all part of the journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a 23 year old independent musician from Long Island, NY. My genre is best described as alt-pop/hip-hop and I’ve been making music for about 5 years now. My distinctive sound is characterized by synthetic vocals over acoustic guitar beats, drawing inspiration from pop-infused hip-hop artists like Post Malone, Arizona Zervas, and The Kid LAROl.
In additions, I also currently work within the professional side of music industry, doing digital marketing for A-list musicians and entertainers.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Consistency: I’ve never held onto something for as long as I’ve held on to my music. It took years for me to truly build a fanbase and see success from all the hours I’ve put in. Just like an athlete or a doctor, it takes years of practice to become good at something – and I’m still not even where I want to be yet. But if you dedicate yourself to something long enough, you’re guaranteed to see success.
2. Fear of Judgement: This has been a huge obstacle of mine. I’ve lost many friends and relationships while pursuing this. You’ll always be judged for being different from the crowd, and music is an extremely vulnerable practice. You need to have extremely thick skin and that’s something that develops over time. But I think it’s important to stay focused on the positive people in your life as opposed to the negative. Surround yourself with people who motivate and inspire you each day. I don’t think I’d still be there without them.
3. Time: Everyone doesn’t have the same path, and everyone progresses at their own pace. There have been so many times where I’ve seen my peers reach their goals before me and asked myself “What am I doing wrong?” But the truth is everybody moves differently. The timing has to be right and you need to put faith in the universe. You will succeed at some point, you just gotta hang in there.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Trying to balance a professional career and a music career is extremely tough. I’m not making enough money to live off my music yet, but honestly that isn’t really the goal for me either. I just like making music for my fans, and sometimes I wish I had more time to focus on it. As you get older you have less time for the things you love. However, I still find the time. If you’re passionate about something you will always find time, and I always do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dampszn?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dampszn
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/oqaXKRedfq7GVK4n6
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23dh47jHXCCR5fGH9UTrzr?si=VO7n-eqGQyuQeciUix8q2Q
