Unplugged Lounge Conversations with Jordan Whitlock

There’s something magnetic about an artist who can turn distance into intimacy and vulnerability into sound. Rising songwriter, vocalist, composer, and producer Jordan Whitlock has emerged as a captivating force, enchanting audiences with her soulful voice and deeply personal storytelling. Blending the rich textures of folk, choral music, and pop, she crafts an ethereal yet grounded sonic world that resonates far beyond the stage. From features on OVO Sound and KCRW to collaborations supporting global icons and contributions to acclaimed film and television scores, Whitlock’s artistry is as versatile as it is evocative. Her latest project, This Is What It Feels Like, a dreamlike collaboration with Memory Spells’ Matt Bauer, transforms remote creation into an emotional odyssey, capturing the fragile beauty of love, loss, and human connection. 

Continue reading to learn more about Jordan Whitlock. . .

Thanks for chatting with us at Sonic Sisters Magazine! Can you share a bit about how your journey into music began?

Thanks for having me! I was lucky to grow up in a musical family - my dad was a college choral director for many years, and my mom was also a singer, so they joke that I was singing before I could talk. I remember going to choral concerts as a toddler, so there’s an element of that style of music that seeps into my music these days. 

Who have been some of the most significant influences on your musical style?

I grew up listening to whatever pop was on the radio, and was a little sheltered as a kid, so it wasn’t until junior high when I started finding indie artists and really discovering my influences. Bon Iver was probably the first band that absolutely rocked my world with all the lush vocal layering and hypnotic melodies. Also, the choral music I heard in childhood is now finding a place in a lot of my vocal layering and compositions - I’m happy to get back in touch with that. 

And which female musicians or women in the music industry have inspired your journey?

In the more folk realm, Sharon Van Etten and Adrienne Lenker are some of the best songwriters we have, in my opinion. I also love Caroline Polacheck’s vocal freedom and operatic inspiration and how she really plays with her voice like an instrument. And I love FKA Twiggs production style and her light ethereal vocals. I think there are so many women stepping into producing for themselves right now which I absolutely love - it’s almost creating a new genre of pop and it's perfect.

How do your personal experiences shape your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners take away from those connections?

I write from personal experience quite a bit. I also write for TV and film a lot, so I’m equally in my head imagining situations half the time, but when it comes to my music that’s really for me, I let myself kind of marinate on certain themes I’ve been thinking about lately or things I’ve been through. Lately it’s a lot of self-discovery and self-evolution.

Congratulations on your brand-new collaborative album 'This Is What It Feels Like' with Memory Spells - what inspired this particular project?

Thank you! We’re really excited! The two of us met online a couple of years ago to co-write a song and we just really hit it off and never stopped writing. At a certain point, we both realized we had written basically half of an album and decided to try to make a record together with what he had been working on over the last couple of years. 

What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?

Recently, it's been the song Raat Ki Rani by Arroj Aftab. That whole record, really. Her smooth, jazzy vocals paired with acoustic instruments feels so simple but so heavenly. I got so inspired after listening that I started writing a record with that style in mind. We’ll see if it ever sees the light of day, but hopefully.

Is there a song in your catalog that holds a special personal meaning for you? We'd love to hear the story or inspiration behind it.

I keep thinking about “You Tell Me.” It’s the last song on my record with Memory Spells, and it's almost its own thing, way more folk/acoustic than any other track on the album. I can’t remember specifically what had happened the day I wrote it, but I was feeling very overwhelmed by the state of the world haha. I don’t often just pick up my guitar and write these days, usually the computer and all this production is involved, but with that song I was feeling kind of down and was pondering the idea of people changing for the better. Is it possible? Or is it our nature? All that sort of stuff and it felt very cathartic, so having Matt help turn that sort of depressing song into what it is now was really nice. 

What are some of the aspirations you have for your music moving forward?

Well, Matt and I are hoping to tour a little in France, so maybe we’ll start playing some more shows in general as well?? I’d love to score a film, so that’s pretty high on my list as well. I’ve been working on several different albums for score and that’s been a really fun world to dive into. 

What advice would you give to emerging female artists who are just starting out in the music world?

I would say trust your instincts in your music. Trust your ear. You know the sound you are going for so don’t be afraid to voice that. Learn to produce for yourself if that sounds fun - it really opens a lot of doors and freedom as well! Also don’t put up with working with people that aren’t making you feel good. There are some really incredible, kind people in this industry, so hold out for those guys. 

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Thanks for reading! My record with Memory Spells, “This Is What It Feels Like” just released and you can stream it wherever you get your music!

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