Meet Zachary Jordan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zachary Jordan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zachary, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

When I was a kid, creativity came easy. Whether I was filming movies, snapping photos, or making music, I always found the time. But as I’ve gotten older, life’s gotten a lot busier—and keeping that creative spark alive has become more of a challenge.

For me, making music has always been about one thing: self-expression. The goal was never money. If it comes, that’s a bonus, but if it doesn’t, nothing changes. I’m still going to make the art that feels most like me. That mindset has allowed me to stay true to what I create, but let’s be real, rent isn’t free.

Keeping my creativity alive comes down to one thing: an unwavering resolve to pursue what I love, even when I’m not always able to do it in the moment. As a society, we’ve gotten used to letting the things that inspire us be the first to go when life gets chaotic. I’ve had to learn to be intentional with my time—to protect that creative space and keep the passion alive.

Life gets messy. Energy is finite. And that’s okay—but I still have to carve out time to pursue my passion, even if it’s just in the little things. Creativity isn’t always productive; sometimes it’s just sitting with an idea while you make dinner, humming a melody under your breath on your daily commute, or feeling something deeply and tucking it away for later.

One thing I’ve had to remind myself over and over is this: you don’t have to write a song every day to be a musician. Just because you haven’t created in a while doesn’t mean you’re no longer an artist. In a world that constantly bombards us with new information, it’s easy to feel like we need to be making noise all the time. But art isn’t about constant output. It’s about staying connected to your wonder, even when it’s quiet. Showing up when you can, with what you have—that’s what matters.

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’m an indie musician through and through. I write, produce, mix, and master all of my music from my bedroom studio in Greenville, SC. What started as a fun, creative outlet to help me process emotions has slowly but surely become the core of who I am—and the lens through which I see the world.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with different creative mediums, but nothing compares to music. There’s a unique kind of magic in turning the quiet worlds inside my mind into sound—into something real that others can feel and experience. Music, to me, is freedom, experimentation, and emotion all rolled into one.

If you’re curious to hear my work, you can find my music on just about any streaming platform under my name. I’ve released two EPs and a handful of singles so far. If you’re wondering where to begin, I’d suggest starting with either EP and listening from start to finish. Each project is designed to be cohesive—while every track can stand on its own, they connect sonically and conceptually to tell a bigger, more nuanced story. So when you listen, I hope you listen with that in mind.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back on my growth, one quality that I’ve had to learn to manage is perfectionism.

Perfectionism is a double-edged sword. It’s allowed me to really push myself and not settle, but it has also stopped me from sharing my art many times. With every project I’ve released, I’ve grown. But growth also makes me aware of my past imperfections. Every song I’ve ever put out reflects who I was and the musical skill I had in that moment. They’re time capsules of emotion, inspiration… and yes, even mistakes. Sometimes I catch myself wishing I could go back and tweak things—fix a mix, rewrite a lyric, polish a vocal take. But if I had waited until everything was perfect, none of those songs would exist.

Perfectionism feels safe, but art demands risk, and I’ve learned that some of the most beautiful things in life are honest and flawed. If something’s perfect, you don’t know it well enough.

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?

Absolutely- I love seeing what other creatives are doing, and I’d be so happy to help however I can. Growth comes quickly with diversity and varying perspectives.

If you’re reading this and want to connect, feel free to reach out! You can find me on Instagram @itszachjordan.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itszachjordan/
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Meq71nTUtfF80SIAxMUZg?si=VqZZQfuvSiCkOEBb_8gvkA

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/zach-jordan/1553557402