Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Jor’Dan Armstrong

Jor’Dan Armstrong is putting all of his God-given talents on display. He’s bringing a fresh take to gospel music that has listeners hooked, but don’t take our word for it—just ask the thousands of listeners that Jor’Dan has connected with around the world.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Jor’Dan recently to chat about his career, his new single “MY GOD“, and the year ahead.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Jor’Dan: It started with my mom. My mom is a singer and songwriter. I grew up with her singing background for some of the top gospel artists. I’m an only child, and I remember being at her late-night rehearsals at midnight and being the only kid around all these singers. I knew at that moment that I wanted to do music. My mom really instilled that passion into me.

PC: When you look at your career as a whole, who or what has had the biggest influence on your career, either personally or professionally?
Jor’Dan: Personally, definitely my mom. Professionally, it’s been a plethora of artists. I grew up listening to everyone, producers as well. I could name a few: Daryl Coley, some gospel folks, Kirk Franklin, Boyz II Men, Teddy Riley, Quincy Jones, the list goes on and on.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Jor’Dan: One of the biggest moments was during the Stellar Awards, which is what we call the gospel Grammys or Christian Grammys. I had a chance to perform on stage. Eight or nine years ago, that was my one of my dreams. At the time, I had no idea how I was going to make it happen. Who knew that nine years later, I would be able to sing and perform my music on that stage? I saw people singing the music back to me. It was one of the biggest highlights, for sure.

PC: You’ve been releasing music throughout the years. If you had to pick one song that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Jor’Dan: It would be “Favor”, which is probably one of my most top charting records that I ever produced. Definitely because of the sound of it, but also the lyrical content. It really spoke volumes of who I am as a person and also who I want to inspire: that’s the listeners. If you listen to that song, I created it to inspire others, but the song really inspires me all the time. I guess I was writing the song to myself.

PC: You’ve got a new single out now. Tell us about “MY GOD” and the inspiration behind it.
Jor’Dan: “MY GOD” is probably one of my favorite songs right now. Of course, I love all my songs, but I really love the response that I’ve gotten from “MY GOD” and the way that people are really loving the record. The song is pretty self-explanatory; it let me brag on God and how good he’s been to me, and how I’m able to live the life that I live. I’m letting people know that he’s the source of all that they seek. He’s the person that I put all my faith into. I definitely wanted to talk and make a song bragging on how good he is to me.

PC: What is your creative process like when you’re working on a new song? Has that changed throughout the years?
Jor’Dan: It’s definitely changed. I learn new techniques every time that I create something new. I always learn something from the project before that I could do better. It’s really a growing process. It’s been really fun because every project I feel like I’m getting better and better. Sometimes it’s not so noticeable to the regular listeners. I’ve gotten better at how I want a vocal to sound or I’ve gotten better at how I wrote a song that can reach everyone and not just a specific audience. It’s really fun to learn new things and be able to apply them to whatever I’m working on in that moment.

PC: Your music has connected with listeners around the world. Is there a moment when you’re either in the studio or writing a song that you know that it’s something special?
Jor’Dan: For sure. Having good people around me, because honestly, I think a lot of the songs are good. I’m making the song, so I enjoy it, but to have real people around you to give you the critiques that you need to hear is always helpful. I let my wife hear stuff first. She usually gets to hear it because I make it at our home most of the time. Once I get the okay from her, I send it to my manager. He gives me the okay or he has critiques. Then, we go from there. But having people around you to keep it real because everything isn’t a hit is important. Every song is not a hit record.

You’re feeling good in the studio. You’re jumping around. You’re playing it loud and everything, but it’s just not it. The second thing that I would say is to listen to the song the next day. Sometimes the next day really tells you if something special or not, because you can live in the moment when you’re creating it, and you feel so great about it, but the next day really tells the truth.

PC: What can fans expect from you for the rest of 2021?
Jor’Dan: Fans can definitely expect more music, more visuals. In my career, I haven’t really shown my face. People know the records, but they don’t know me; they don’t know who I am or what I look like a lot of times. For a long time, I actually enjoyed that because I was able to do things and go places. I was able to walk to Walmart and chill.

Now, it’s different because people want to see. During the pandemic, everyone got on camera. Now, it’s become the thing to people want to see the artists. They don’t want to hear you; they want to see you. They want to see you perform the record. They want to see your lifestyle. So, I have to tap into that more because that’s what the fans want. My wife and I are pretty cool. People want to see us. We should show them.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jor’Dan: Maybe Prince? I love Prince. I’m a huge Prince fan. Prince is probably one of my biggest influences, musically, especially with his production. I love “Raspberry Beret”.

PC: First album you bought?
Jor’Dan: The first album that my mom allowed me to buy was the Gospel Gangstaz. I bought this project because I was going through a phase as a young teenager, wanting to her hip hop music. My mom said, “You know there’s Christian hip hop music, too.” I was like, “I don’t want to hear that. That’s whack.” She took me to a Christian bookstore, and there was a CD there by Gospel Gangstaz. I said, “This has to be it. Everything else seems lame.” I saw the word “gangster” in it, and I thought it would be dope. Shout out to them!

PC: First concert you attended?
Jor’Dan: Now, this is crazy! My first concert was MC Hammer. He had Jodeci on tour with him. That was the first concert I ever went to, and it was sold out. It was in my hometown in Baton Rouge. I got to see MC Hammer on stage with eighty backup dancers. This is the time where he was on fire. I got a chance to hear him and see Jodeci, which was one of most sought-after groups.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Jor’Dan: I would say Kirk Franklin’s Watcha Lookin’ 4. That album changed my whole perspective on Christian music. I was a big R&B and hip hop fan. He was one of the first people that I got a chance to listen to that mixed the R&B sound with a Christian message. That changed my perspective on Christian music, and it made me feel like I had a shot at creating my own sound with a Christian message.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Jor’Dan: Staples Center.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Jor’Dan: My wife.

To keep up with Jor’Dan, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream “MY GOD” today.