Jordan Wilson, one half of Aussie folk band Georgia Fair, is delighting fans with his debut solo offering, a moody indie track named “Totem“.
Wilson’s debut single, “Totem”, is vulnerable and moving. The track explores the demise of a long-term relationship. And within it, Wilson reveals a noticeably darker, more down-tempo songwriting style. The track’s restrained beats and light touch of keys allow for Wilson’s understated vocal to take centre stage, drawing listeners into the lyrics of this moody indie track.
Set in a quintessentially Australian backyard, the clip for Totem is aesthetically wonderful and refreshingly colourful. Cleverly choreographed, Jordan expresses the pursuit of self-discovery via his masterful tone and lyrical experimentation.
Jordan Wilsonis currently juggling his new solo project alongside album sessions with Georgia Fairand the upcoming release of his first book, Some Short, Some Long, due for release later in 2021.
Today, we chat with Singer/Songwriter Jordan Wilson about his debut single, “Totem”.
How did this solo project come together?
Well, we [Georgia Fair] have just started back in the studio. Ben’s doing some art direction work in the film industry. We’ve been doing bits and pieces on our own as well and I wanted to do some more stuff on my own. I had a couple of recordings and I’m putting out a book so I wanted to get my own profile going. The book is a collection from my last four to six years, it’s called Some Short, Some Long.
Things I’ve been doing on the road and stuff. It’s like, short stories mostly and anecdotes. And there’s a few poems in there. It’s all finished and edited and there’s a few illustrations in it. I had a goal to write a book, like everyone does – laughs. I feel that I’m a musician rather than a writer so it’s kind of like, I’m selling my book as a musician rather than a keep cup. I think it’s good for me, it’s a good thing to do. It’s more humorous than my music, I think I’ve found a different type of outlet. It’s a lot of fun.
I really like your new track, Totem. Tell me a bit about it…
It’s my attempt to communicate in some sort of poetic way.
It’s talking about heartache obviously and a relationship that’s ending. It’s when you can’t actually talk or communicate basically, it’s my attempt to speak and communicate with that person via art.
Did you write the track yourself?
Yeah, I wrote it myself and then I recorded it with Dan (Kendell), I toured with him with Georgia Fair. He came back into my life last year in a big way.
Where are you recording? Do you have a home set up?
I’ve got a home set up but I recorded at his studio. He was a big part of it, he’s taken off during Covid down to the Snowy Mountains. He was pretty instrumental in getting this project going because I wasn’t really recording at the time. I knew I was going to do more stuff with Georgia Fair but I have heaps of songs and wanted to do some on my own as well. We have a pretty strong bond so I think that’s something I’ll probably do more of. I probably will cut an album with him, this is the first track.
Is this your first solo project?
Yeah. It’s been an unusual process. I didn’t think it was going to be that different but it actually has been very different. Doing it all on your own back, I’m usually in a duo so obviously, it’s so close. The camaraderie is probably more than even being in a band of four. I’ve always been in duos. Speaking to solo artists, they always want to be in a band. They have a hard time getting bands together, whereas I have always been the opposite.
I’ve always been in bands, always had people around, bands can be really frustrating as well. I understand what they mean because there’s a loneliness to working solo. But by the same token, it’s something that I need to build up. It’s like any project, I need to build it slowly to get rid of that feeling of loneliness. I’ll still be playing in Georgia Fair too.
So how did the clip for Totem come together?
It was directed by Odin Umeofia, he’s from Nigeria. I came up with the concept, I work on it with my brother and fleshed it out with Odin. I worked at a dance school with him, my sister was head of dance at Brent Street. I was working on the desk, just for cash and he was working as a videographer there. We kind of hit it off and talked about doing a project together. I think he’ll do things, he’s pretty new. He’s pretty young in the industry but he’s got a sick eye and good taste. I just wanted it to be eye candy in a way, I’ve obviously made a lot of clips and I’m always thinking of different ways to do them. I wanted this one to be good on the eye.
What’s on your playlist at the moment?
Aldous Harding is a big influence visually and poetically, not necessarily sonically. I think that’s had a big impact on me. Most of the songwriters I’m listening to seem to be female, like Lucy Dacus. She’s another one, she just put out an album. One thing I’m noticing is like, oh my god, these artists that I’m listening to are all female artists.
Do you think you’ll ever collaborate with a female?
I think so, I’m not sure. I think Sony just got into a lot of trouble for that – laughs.
Do you enjoy the freedom of producing your music independently?
The challenges are more about exposure, you don’t have the challenge of not being able to do what you want to do. I think I generally prefer that challenge.
What’s your favourite part of what you do?
I was actually thinking about this today in the car. I was, seriously.
Obviously, you’re always thinking about why, why do you do it? There’s obviously something which draws you back to it constantly and that would be the writing.
It’s not like sitting down and writing, it’s more about constantly going back to the guitar or the piano to tap in basically. I hope that I never stop regardless of whether I keep being a musician that releases music or not. I don’t have many other practices like that, I do a bit of yoga and meditation but it’s not the same.
Are you playing any shows at the moment?
I did a Georgia Fair did show earlier in the year, I’ll probably be doing solo shows towards the end of the year. I want to release a few more things first. I’ve finished one single, I’ve got another single coming and also the book. That’s all finished, so then I’ll be working on Georgia Fair stuff for our album which is being released next year. The Georgia Fair stuff I’m always working on is more established so that’s how it looking.
Check out the brand new clip for Jordan Wilson’s Totem below:
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