Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Foley.
Hi Jordan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
So I started playing guitar at age seven. A music shop opened up in the town I grew up in outside of Pittsburgh, PA, and I remember seeing a red Stratocaster in the window. I told my mom I wanted to learn how to play, and so she and my dad set me up with lessons at an early age. I really struggled with it for the first few years, mainly because I didn’t like practicing and would complain that I was missing out on doing “normal fun kid stuff.”
Then something happened in fifth-grade music class where our teacher asked the class who plays an instrument outside of school. I reluctantly raised my hand and said I play guitar, which got a more positive response than I thought it would. Once I realized it was cool, I was hooked and hardly put the thing down.
I always tell people I started writing songs in high school, but I started writing good songs in my 20’s. I never really thought of myself as a singer for a long time; I just wanted to play guitar. I remember at a high school talent show, I signed up with my buddy to perform “Taylor” by Jack Johnson; he would sing and I’d play guitar. The week of the show, he unfortunately got kicked out of school, so I had to step up and sing the song myself. That was the first time I ever sang in front of a crowd on my own.
As I went into college, I would sign up for open mic nights and play at charity events. It was mainly for fun; I never expected to get paid to play music. My first paid gig wasn’t until after college at a World of Beer on an NFL Sunday. Of course, everyone was loud and no one could hear me, but my family and friends were there and that check at the end of the gig made my day.
Since that first paid gig back in 2013, I’ve been playing all over town. I utilized the bar gigs for practice and exposure, and I’ve always made it a point to entertain the crowd rather than just be the background musician.
By 2017, I finally had a handful of songs I wrote and was ready to get into the studio. I had an opportunity to go up to Nashville for a week with some songwriter friends and play some shows, and I didn’t want to go empty-handed. So I hurried up in the studio and finished my debut EP Give to Get a Day. I started promoting the album all over town and got added to more bills where I could play my original songs, which has become the main focus for me since then. While I play the bar gigs all over town, my goal has been to develop a catalog of original music that people can relate to and enjoy.
Along the journey, I’ve been able to put a stellar band together called Jordan Foley & The Wheelhouse, with Tyler Hood (lead guitar), Cris Faustmann (bass), Mikey Guzman (keys), and Matt Wassum (drums). In 2019 alone, the band and I played 23 shows but were halted like everyone else during the pandemic. In the last year, we’ve been working on a new album with Thomas Wynn (Thomas Wynn & The Believers, Hannah Harber & The Lionhearts) as our producer. We hope to release the new music under our band name in the next year, so stay tuned!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is it a real journey if there are no bumps in the road? Of course, there have been struggles. Oftentimes, the struggle is more internal than anything. I find myself asking if I’m doing enough or where I should go from here, but I’m constantly reminded to enjoy the journey and take things as they come my way. Most of the success I’ve experienced has been unexpected, and so I try to focus on what I can control.
Throughout the years, I’ve had to really hone in on what my sound is and really try to focus on making good music that I enjoy. A common habit can be to listen back to previous tracks and be critical of the work knowing that I could do it way better now. So one of the struggles is accepting what I’ve put out there and being totally proud of it. What helps this is getting positive feedback and response from those who have followed and listened to my music. That means the absolute world!
We’ve had a couple of the original band members move on to focus on their own music endeavors, which really comes with the territory. Putting a band together was something I always wanted to do but never really knew how to go about it. But I’ve learned that not everyone can hang in there forever, and luckily, the current iteration of the band is strong as ever. Every band member in The Wheelhouse has played together before in previous bands, which has really helped us grow tighter musically and as friends. We all treat each other like family, and for that I am super grateful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a singer-songwriter, I really focus on serving the song to make it the best it can possibly be. It’s not about how the song will push my career further so much as it is about whether or not it’s a good song that I enjoy first. Most folks would say I tend to write about heartbreak, and they’re not wrong. I love sad songs because they have such a strong meaning and really pull heartstrings to keep the blood flow going. But really, it’s about connecting. I love seeing others and hearing how my songs have impacted and helped them get through their own traumatic experiences, which makes creating music so much more powerful and special.
I think I’m most known for working a lot. Most folks think I’m a full-time musician, but I also have a day job as well. I work Monday through Friday like most folks, and then I go out on the weekends and play at venues all around town. Playing live gives me the biggest high I could ever imagine. Performing in front of folks is my happy place, and it always has been since I was a kid.
I’m most proud of the work that the band and I are putting into this new record. I really believe in the songs we have as well as the direction that Thomas has helped us find. These new songs are the real deal, and I’m excited to see where they take me.
When it comes to what sets me apart from others, I believe we’re all unique in our own ways. That’s what makes being an artist so much fun is identifying your own signature sounds, actions, attitudes. What matters is not just how you’re perceived but how you perceive yourself.
What I’m most proud of when it comes to this is that I’m supportive of every artist I meet. I’m a firm believer in connecting and networking, and I try to help other artists as best I can because of how I’ve been helped along the way. Artists like Beth McKee, Mike Dunn, Terri Binion, Kaleigh Baker, Eugene Snowden and Thomas Wynn have all taken me under their wing and have showed me support by welcoming me into the local Orlando music scene. It’s only fair that I make sure I do the same for other artists who are trying to find their place in the whole thing. That’s why I’ve made it a point to host songwriter shows and round shows when opportunity strikes because there are other artists I’ve met along the way who deserve to get listened to as I have been listened to over the years. We’re all in it together!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I think it’s important to directly support your favorite artists by not only listening to their music but also by following all of their social media profiles/handles and buying their merchandise. For most of us, it’s not just about making money with our music (although that’s nice and we’re all trying to make some sort of living from it). It’s about feeling validated in the work we’re doing; I hold this as the most valued possession beyond anything else. It’s the fans/friends who are showing up to support, even when it’s not a highly promoted show and there is so much else to do in town. I think making music is about giving back and putting a stamp on who you are, not who you want to be. So for those who take the time to support and listen to the music, that beyond anything is the most wonderful gift you could ever give an artist.
The last thing I’d like to say is to keep on the lookout for the new music from me and the band, and be sure to follow my journey on social media! You can also listen to my tunes on Spotify. Thank you so much!
Contact Info:
- Email: jfoleysongs@gmail.com
- Website: www.jordanfoleymusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jfoleymusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfoleyandthewheelhouse/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOGFJvjd0voj7JsHeHJdYRw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YISmnhagPVbmPKgHrcP7k?si=EdkRHN7UQfmrfnbUh3MohQ
Image Credits
Featured Photo of Jordan by Mike Dunn Photo of the band laughing (l-r Mikey Guzman, Cris Faustmann, Jordan Foley, Tyler Hood, Matt Wassum) by Mike Dunn Photo of Thomas Wynn and Jordan Foley by Mike Dunn B/W Photo of the band performing by Alycia Pollock B/W Photo of Jordan playing guitar by Alycia Pollock
