We were lucky to catch up with Jordan Levy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jordan, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
As a musician, I understand that progress and success will never just fall in my lap. This industry is not only competitive, but also saturated and there will always be people willing to take someone’s place if given the chance. I know that there is nothing I would rather be doing in my life therefore if I want to stay doing this, I must work extremely hard and stay consistent. If I let myself fall behind or slack off, not only will I be giving up great opportunities, but I will also not be doing what makes me happy. Holding myself accountable even when it’s hard in the moment means that the long-term results will be better, and I try to keep that in mind.
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 singer-songwriter currently working on my first full-length album which is on track to release next year. The first single off of the album “Turn My Car Around” was released on July 14th, and the feedback has been amazing. Right now I am focused on expanding my audience and playing as many shows as I can. I am excited to bring the new single to the stage and play it live for the first time as well as a bunch of unreleased music.
I also just graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in music business that I use every day as an artist. It provided me the opportunity to intern with a sync agency and learn all about music for tv and film. Now I actually write songs for sync and just landed my first contract with a music library.
A part of my career that I want to get back on track with this year is posting consistently on YouTube. I miss sharing other parts of my life with my audience aside from just my original music. Revamping my channel is definitely happening, and I would love to post music reviews, covers, and even lifestyle type videos. If anyone reading likes that kind of content, check out my channel and keep a look out for those videos!
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?
My advice for those just starting their journey is to put time and effort into just making good music. There is so much focus today on marketing which is great, however many forget that behind everything there still needs to be a good product. Work on stage presence, vocal ability, songwriting skills, etc. instead of that being the afterthought. There were plenty of times that I lost sight of this, and I was set back because of it. Sometimes we get caught up in wanting all the success and how we can get that the fastest, but it is better to take time and be patient so that when an opportunity does come your way, you are prepared.
Along with that, I urge everyone to learn about music as a business. Learning about networking, contracts/licenses, and how the flow of money works in the industry were the biggest assets to me on my journey. I feel more confident negotiating my own deals and exploring new sources of income now because of the studying I did early on.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking for people to work with! I love collaborating, however I would say that I do appreciate when people have a clear idea of what they want when reaching out. I sometimes check my email and see just mp3s with no message attached which leaves me wondering if they want feedback on the song, a feature, or just someone to take a listen. Either is fine, but it’s always nice to see that someone has a purpose for wanting to work together rather than just needing something without building a relationship.
As of now I would love to collaborate on shows. Performing with other artists is an amazing way to introduce your fans to new music and grow your own audience as well. If there are any Los Angeles/SoCal based musicians reading, send me a dm on Instagram or an inquiry on the contact page of my website!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jordanlevymusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanlevyy/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JordanLevyMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jordanlevymusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BES5MxQLNiu3StIvg1YY7?si=9JtZt4dhQNmUGjPFWWowqg
Image Credits
Emily Entz Alyssa Valenzuela Matthew Pierce Salomon
