Words by: Julia Poholek

If you’re in the mood for a fresh sound that you’re guaranteed to have never experienced before, JordyPurp is the artist for you. This artist from the DMV has honed in on a sound all his own — one that is a genre-blending spectrum of alt-rock, hip hop, pop, and punk. At just 23 years old, he’s already generated a breadth of work, and he’s been involved in a number of collaborations that always highlight his unique and authentic musicality. In linking up with 7ru7h for their latest single, “Decay,” the two have put forth a biting track where their energies work perfectly in dialogue with each other. The song provides a vulnerable glimpse into Jordy’s journey with sobriety, making us privy to the haunting shadows of his past. What’s special is that while tackling such subject matter, he also gives us a rock edge that beautifully counterbalances the heavy topic at hand. We were eager to find out more about his process, and he joins us here to discuss.

@jordypurp writing session today 🙂 do i finish this? #SyncYourMiO #foryou #fypシ #acousticcovers #songwriter ♬ original sound – jordypurp

Play Too Much: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today! In your music, we can hear a wide range of musical influences. Your work clearly belongs to a multitude of genres, and you don’t conform to any preconceived notions of what you should sound like. How have you managed to carve out this path for yourself that allows you to resist conforming to one defining identity?

JordyPurp: I think it’s been so easy to do this because growing up, I literally listened to every genre possible and nothing I could truly deem my favorite. So now that music is my career, that kinda shines through, what I make is literally never the same.

PTM: You’ve spoken about how the month of October is a challenging time for you. It’s a subtle theme that is mentioned once in the beginning of “Decay,” and once more in the final lyric, “Can’t chase a ghost if I become one/ So just wake me up when October’s done.” We know you’ve experienced the loss of loved ones through addiction battles during this month. While you were writing “Decay,” how did you feel your relationship with October start to shift in a different direction?

JP: All the loss and everything is so fresh, I really didn’t feel a shift at all until very recently. Kinda looking back on all I’ve accomplished since getting sober and looking at the positives around me instead of the negatives really helped me change my point of view.

PTM: “Decay” clearly carries a message that is very personal to you, and it’s a team effort between you and 7tru7h. What was it about him that allowed you to trust him in helping you convey this message?

JP: After talking with him a few times over the internet and learning more about his hometown I knew when he got the song and heard the topics he was gonna absolutely go off. And go off he did.

PTM: Tell us about the process of recording and producing this track — how long did you work on it until you arrived at the final cut that we’re hearing now? When you listen back, is there a particular element of the production that you take the most pride in or are the most excited about?

JP: It took us about 1 and half hours to get the demo and Zach Jones the man who mixed it got it mixed and mastered in probably an hour extra after that, I’ve never seen someone work so fast in my life. I think the whole way the hook came out with the giant melodies/powerful riffs and bass all coming together, it’s a chef’s kiss.

PTM: You’ve said, “I will make music until the people that have been helped by my sound can no longer relate to it.” If there are any listeners struggling with addiction and feeling alone in that fight, what do you hope they can gain from this song?

JP: That if I can break my addictions and the cycles I was on, literally anyone can. I pushed myself dangerously close to death several times just to escape my feelings or to be cool, and looking back it feels like that was a different person. I also wanna emphasize that it does get better even when you least expect it to.

PTM: At 23 years old, you’ve proven yourself to be a prolific artist with a wide collection of work already released. As you continue to gain traction, what are some personal milestones you’re striving for as a musician?

JP: I want to play music festivals this year, hit a million monthly listeners and get to that real next level with my sound. I’m not gonna stop until JordyPurp is a household name.

PTM: “Decay” hits hard with a heavy edge that’ll explode onstage during a show. This is a song that carries so much energy just in the recorded version alone — what can fans expect when they come to a show and see this song performed live?

JP: In person when talking I’m pretty quiet and reserved, but when I’m on stage I literally have no idea who that person is. I put all the emotion you feel in the song into the performance and I’m excited to give every last person in the crowd the best show I can give.

 PTM: We were taken by the lyric, “I wake up to the same drugs/ Then tell myself I’m okay/ I get stuck in my own ruts/ And hide behind the smoking” It captures the cyclical nature of self-destruction, and it’s something I’m sure so many can relate to. You’ve mentioned that the song helps you cope, and it sounds like songwriting is an instinctual process that comes to you during challenging times. Can you describe the solace that you find in your creative process?

JP: I don’t really like talking about what I go through to friends and even family ’cause I feel like my life is almost like indescribably dark, but when it comes to putting that pain into music it feels so good to finally get it off my chest and be able to not hold back and seeing how my pain transforms into art that helps other people who can attach to the topics I hit on is so rewarding it’s unbelievable!

PTM: Thank you again for taking the time to chat with us. Before we go, do you have any new projects on the horizon that you can tell us about?

JP: No thank you! I have a few new singles coming up that are just only getting better and better as I grow as an artist, a music video I’m literally so eager to show the world and a couple pretty cool performances all in the mix. You just have to stick around 🙂

 

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