Meet Jordan Tariff

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jordan Tariff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jordan below.

Hi Jordan, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
The biggest thing I’ve done for self care is practicing gratitude, patience, eliminating expectations, loving the process and showing myself grace (especially on the “bad” days). We live in a world of constant comparison and the idea of instant gratification thanks to social media. It can be really hard to remember your worth and why you’re doing what you’re doing. ESPECIALLY when you see others doing the same thing but “better” or more “effortlessly”. The more that I’m kind to myself and remove any sort of comparison or expectations, the happier I am and the more willing I am to continue. There’s only ever been one me so, even if some people’s journey looks similar, it doesn’t mean that they’re any further ahead or behind. We’re all just different! I’m also a much more effective singer, songwriter, friend, partner and collaborator whenever I’m being patient and reminding myself how far I’ve come. The gratitude and patience aspects were particularly hard for me and took A LOT of practice. I would make tremendous progress in one area of my life but wouldn’t celebrate that win because I was so consumed with the next thing that I wanted to accomplish. It really bummed me out! So, by practicing gratitude for all of the small, medium and large wins, I’ve become happier and far more effective.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a singer songwriter that is currently in a transitional period where I’m focussing more on; my career, my physical and mental health and the stories I want to be telling.

For a number of years I was helping others tell their stories and shying away from the ones I wanted to tell myself. It felt easier at the time but I got to meet a lot of amazing people in the process! Diving deep in to my own experiences and finding my own voice has been a much more cathartic process. It’s been drastically more difficult and wildly different but rewarding nonetheless. I get to focus solely on the music I WANT to make and experiment with stories, structure, exploration and so much more. I even left Los Angeles (the place I’ve called home for six years) for the east coast to gain a new perspective and appreciate the changing of the seasons. I’m really looking to celebrate change in all areas of my life and make the best art possible. The type of art that truly resonates with me and that can give any listener a piece of my heart and some insight to my story. It’s been a tough couple of years for me dealing with some health issues but, the space from LA continues to be incredibly restorative. I’m hoping to release some new music in the first few months of 2024 but for now, I’m taking good care of myself!

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?
One of the most important qualities one can possess in any situation or industry is the ability to admit when you’re wrong and the desire for new knowledge. When I first moved to LA I thought I was this incredible songwriter that didn’t need to learn from any one else (silly, I know). I spent the first 2 years in LA naive and ignorant to the valuable lessons from the people around me. Once I dropped that act, I began to learn at breakneck speed. I grew as a writer, singer, and even as a person. The more I learned the more I WANTED to learn. I discovered interests I never knew I had, songwriting techniques I wouldn’t have discovered on my own and so much more.

Another thing that I’ve found to be incredibly important is: do not compromise. As a songwriter, sometimes a lyric or a line feels “close enough” and the battle stops there. A song doesn’t need to be finished in a session, in a day, or even in a month. If your instinct is telling you that you can do better, listen to it. There’s no rush!! Regardless of what anyone says, there’s genuinely no time constraint on the creative process. If you have a good story to tell, that story will find its home. No matter when and no matter where.

Of course don’t be OVERLY precious though. Like with most things in life, it’s all about balance. Perfectionism can be a detriment so it’s really about finding that balance for yourself. I’ve been fortunate enough to surround myself with some really great writers and producers that can help me find that line incase I’m compromising or being overly precious.

Lastly: don’t take yourself or anything too seriously. That’s it. I don’t have much more to say about this one

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, I tend to lean in to that feeling. I ask why? What’s making me feel this way? Then I do my best to sit with it and face it head on. Sometimes that looks like me going over the ABSOLUTE WORST case scenarios in my head and realizing, oh! It’s really not that bad. If something’s not ending in death or creating an unsafe environment for me, is it really something to be THIS overwhelmed about? I’ve also noticed that I tend to be overwhelmed whenever I’m trying to do too many things at once. Whenever the feeling kicks in, it’s a good reminder to look at what I’ve got on my plate and see if I can break it up a bit. I’ve also noticed that whenever I’m on the verge of big change or a big breakthrough, I start feeling overwhelmed or generally uneasy. I remind myself that it’s a normal part of the cycle and to keep going. It usually means I’m close to something amazing and I shouldn’t stop now.

If all else fails, it’s really nice to talk to someone, journal or meditate. Our heads aren’t designed to keep so much information locked up in there at all times. Without a proper outlet it can be like a racquet ball court with words and ideas just endlessly bouncing around. Talking to friends, family or a partner has been an amazing go to as well as daily journaling. I generally feel a lot lighter whenever I can empty some of those thoughts and ideas.

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