Earlier this month, Toronto up-and-comer Jordan Rivers dropped his highly anticipated free Finding My Way EP.
This EP serves as a marker in Jordan’s journey to finding himself. The eight-track project goes through a 25-minute journey that explores working towards goals, losing faith, grinding, seeking faith, and avoiding all the distractions along the way. I wouldn’t label him as a Christian rapper, but Jordan Rivers definitely has a constant underlying spiritual undertone to his music. He presents an ongoing dialogue about the importance of faith, and trusting in God.
Jordan has a distinct cloud rap sound that he’s fused with different elements of boom bap, trap, and even acoustic sounds. The sound of this project so perfectly aligns with the Finding My Way theme of the EP.
You’ll notice, too, that the EP track listing also makes a nod to Jordan’s journey. The opening track is titled “I Tried”, and it leads all the way through to the closing track which is titled “I Know.” Admittedly, this wasn’t even an intentional thing on Jordan’s end. But he started off by just trying… and wound up knowing in the end. Take in Finding My Way via SoundCloud, and scope our Q&A with Jordan below.
Q&A: Jordan Rivers
HipHopCanada: Start off by telling me what the significance of this project is to you on a personal level.
Jordan Rivers: On a personal level it’s just me trying to find my lane and sound. I love music as a whole so I jump around a lot. Whether it’s something to vibe to, or something more boom bap.
HipHopCanada: On a personal level, tell me about the major milestones that happened during this process of finding yourself.
Jordan Rivers: During this project I really decided to start taking music more serious. I’ve always just dabbled in it; never really committing. That’s the one major thing, I’d say. I’m actively creating all the time right now; trying to get better everyday and build my catalog.
HipHopCanada: Talk to me about what each song means, both as a single stand-alone track, as well as within the context of the entire EP.
Jordan Rivers: “I Tried” is a more boom bap type feel, little more grungy sound. It’s about just working towards my goals and ignoring anything that is trying to put a stop on them. “Pray” is about how broken and messed up this world can seem at times and praying that it gets better. “Feel Me Not” is just me trying to create possible art that hopefully has some thought-provoking content. “Not Over” has to do with the self doubt I think we all go through in life when chasing our dreams and goals; maybe our faith is feeling weak. As long as we keep pushing towards them it doesn’t have to be over. “Going In” is a ‘the time is now’ type vibe. Put me in! Put me in the game! It’s go time! Grind time! Get after it. Don’t slack. Hopefully it can motivate people. “Make It Now” is about grinding it out and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. “City On A Hill” is about running towards the light. If you’re stranded and you see a city on a hill that’s lit up, that’s the destination. That’s where we going; trying to leave the dark and embrace the light. For me that looks like focusing my efforts on something greater then myself [and] running towards God. “I Know” is about things that can distract us, but I know where my hope should be. [It’s about] trying not to get distracted by flashy stuff.
HipHopCanada: I feel like you took your signature cloud rap sound and got a little experimental with it. “Feel Me Not” has a subtle boom-bap edge to it, “Pray” had the acoustic guitar on the beat, and “I Know” had a trap-influenced drum line. Talk to me about that experimentation process… it feels like it was all a part of the journey of finding yourself.
Jordan Rivers: Yeah! For sure! I love all the aspects of hip-hop and rap so I’m gonna try to mess around with whatever mood I’m feeling. Also can’t turn away a dope beat.
HipHopCanada: Tell me the story behind your cover art picture.
Jordan Rivers: The cover art was made by a dope up-and-coming art student Guido Severino. I hit him up and told him the theme of my project and he bumped it while creating this. I’m super happy with how it turned out.
HipHopCanada: Which song on here means the most to you and why?
Jordan Rivers: Man, that’s a tough question. I’m not really sure, to be honest. They all have a place. If I had to pick I’d say “Feel Me Not.” Just love that boom bap. It’s what sparked me falling in love with music.
Interview conducted by Sarah Jay for HipHopCanada
