Rochelle Jordan: ‘More Than Anything, House is Joy’

Marrying Architechs’ playful 2-step productions with Aaliyah’s moody and suave chords, Rochelle Jordan’s new sound is a testament to what happens if you just play with the changes. Her latest release – dubbed exactly that – Play With the Changes, pushes the by-the-book constructs of R&B and electronic music, resulting in a new, unorthodox reflection of the artist. In an era completely absent of change, Jordan taps into the bravery of playing things by ear in a 12-track LP where her new sound is compounded in a kaleidoscope of emotions.

What’s remarkable about Jordan is her ability to drift between genres so effortlessly. “Love You Good” is a heartfelt introspection of a love interest, with atmospheric synths and kicks similar to the “Modern Ambient Jungle” mixes three hours into YouTube rabbit holes. On the audacious “Already”, Jordan switches things up and opts for a rap verse with a speed that can match that of the Hot Girl™ Coach herself. So be it rapping or singing, Jordan shows us that she has the lyrical breadth to hop on any beat and, well, leave no crumbs.

But ‘Play With the Changes’ is more than just mere experimentation. It’s an intentional hydra-headed story where label fuckups meet fuckboys and where late-night hook-ups on Bloor Street meet the push-and-pull from outside naysayers. Either way, Jordan chucks up the deuces, forging her own, unique path as a Black woman in electronic music. And she does it flawlessly. 


KALTBLUT: Sitting here with you is such a full-circle moment. I remember bedroom-listening to ROJO and 1021 late nights back in high school – I feel like all that listening has been leading up to this moment. Now we’re on Zoom, you’re on tour, and so I naturally want to know about the album. Talk to me about how Play With the Changes came to fruition. 

Rochelle Jordan: [Play With the Changes] came at a time when I was deep in a serious depression. It was just the universal way of things – I didn’t know it would morph into an album. There was a lot of fear that came off the back of my previous label, and a lot of changes I grappled with. My management at the time was very much in love with my music, but in true music industry terminology, didn’t know where I fit on the “market” or what the story was going to be.

KALTBLUT: Explain to me what that was like.

Rochelle Jordan: Defeating. That angst and uncertainty snowballed into a depression that was hard to navigate. But at that time, I was creating nonetheless. I was still in my natural habitat of composing as an artist, striding my path as an R&B artist while also exploring the boundaries of electronic music. It was time to find different means to be inspired by, different ways to bend genres and bridge the gap from where I was, to where I wanted to head. And so KLSH, my producer, sparked my imaginative side by sending me new beats and new soundscapes to play with. Play With the Changes simply came to be by playing with the changes – ironic, no?

Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna
Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna
Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna

 

KALTBLUT: You’re UK born, Toronto-raised, of Jamaican descent and now you live in LA? How have all these lived experiences and cultures informed your sound? I hear a dash of breakbeats, a sprinkle of 90s rave mixes and some UK garage. 

Rochelle Jordan: Just by being a literal melting pot of all these different cultures and sounds. I’m just a vessel that’s able to take it all in and put it out in a way that is understandable. It’s not an easy task. I haven’t really dabbled in reggae music although I was brought up on Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs and Bob Marley. Sometimes when I listen to the songwriting or certain elements in music, I hear these influences streaming through my own output in very subtle and discreet ways. So yeah, I’m just a melting pot of all these things. It’s just really that simple.

KALTBLUT: You’ve had these longstanding relationships with KLSH, Jimmy Edgar and Machinedrum. Talk to me about your musical kinship with them.

Rochelle Jordan: These people constantly blow my mind. Firstly, they’re incredibly talented individuals. Secondly, with this industry constantly changing and people stealing sounds left to right, they never sway. There are a lot of artists copying and pasting things, propelling to stardom in a split-second. They also grapple with the art vs. music, but even within that they’re cold, so dope and sharp with what they do.

KLSH actually messaged me on Youtube in 2009, sending me beats he wanted me to hop on. Listening to it, I got this crazy, indescribable feeling. It felt so right. That sound, nearly 13 years ago is still reverberating to this day. It’s how I sound. [KLSH] then introduced me to Machinedrum, which introduced me to Jimmy Edgar. All their sounds are different, but they’re so synchronized in the process. It was just never the same after that. 

Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna
Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna
Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna
Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna

 

KALTBLUT: Kelela had a similar experience when Total Freedom, now Bobby Beethoven, sent her a demo and she burst into tears thinking “This is it, this is my sound”. I guess it’s like that when you know. It just hits different.

Rochelle Jordan: Totally – it’s a gift that you develop this sort of connection with. And just like any relationship, sometimes it becomes tumultuous, sometimes it becomes strained, sometimes it’s beautiful and perfect. And then there are times when I can’t stand the music and I’m mad at it for whatever reason. It’s that constant realisation and spiritual alignment that me and music are just connected in this sort of way. It doesn’t matter where I go – music is just never-ending.  

KALTBLUT: When I listen to Pressure, ROJO or 1021, I get this very explicit R&B approach to both the writing and the production. But now, with Play With the Changes, there’s a clear-cut dance-heavy approach. Was it difficult convincing your collaborators of this new unorthodox approach?

Rochelle Jordan: Not at all. Everyone trusts that I’m going to get the message across. When things are organic, when they’re done with authenticity, not pressured by outside noise you’ll deliver something that’s pure of heart. People feel that. That’s something that was the anchor point for Play With the Changes. It was very organic and seamlessly flowed in and out of house, R&B, garage and breakbeats. I’ve always known with house that there’s this deep sense of joy. But more than anything, house is joy.

Follow
@rochelle_jordan

Interview by Agri Ibrahim
www.agriibrahim.com

Photoshoot credits
Styled by @bellyyfurtado
Glam by @roxannec.makeup
Shot by @savwendt
Story by @_ramadonna

Play With The Changes is out now: https://ingroov.es/play-with-the-change