In 2016, Jordan Rager made his entrance onto the country music scene with his EP Southern Boy and title track single featuring Jason Aldean. However, Rager has been under the radar since his debut, doing some soul searching and figuring out who he is as an artist. Now he’s back with a new single “One of the Good Ones.”
We caught up with the now 24-year old Georgia native to talk about his musical journey, his writing process and upcoming new music.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
JR: I’m from Loganville, GA, I’ve been playing music since I was 15. I moved to Nashville just before I turned 20 to pursue my dreams.
CN: At what age did you discover music? When did you realize that music was what you wanted to pursue as a career?
JR: I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember but I didn’t sing in front of anyone until I was 11. My dad pastors a church back home and he asked me to sing a song with him one Sunday. That’s kinda where it all started. I got really serious about pursuing music as a career when I was 17. Ever since then, it’s all I’ve focused on.
CN: Who are some of your biggest influences in country music as well as other genres? In what ways have they influenced you, both personally and as an artist?
JR: My influences are all over the place. My favorite thing about country music is the storytelling. Alan Jackson is one of the best at storytelling, which is one of the many reasons why he’s probably my biggest influence. On the other hand, I love the groove and flow of different styles of rock music, everything from The Eagles to Sum 41. I’ve always been a huge fan Eminem for his creative phrasing and melodies. I draw inspiration from any kind of music I enjoy and it all blends together to make my songs.
CN: When you were a teenager you self-recorded videos of yourself performing covers and posted them to YouTube, which ended up catching the eye of none other than Justin Moore. Can you share with us the moment when Justin reached out to you? What was going through your mind?
JR: I was in Loganville, running errands for my mom when my phone rings and it’s someone claiming to be Justin Moore. I thought one of my buddies was messing with me, but it turned out to be the real thing. It was pretty surreal.
CN: What was it like, especially for a nineteen year old, to be invited by Justin Moore to open for his arena tour?
JR: It was one of the best experiences of my career. I learned so much from Justin and his crew both on and off stage. They really made me feel like part of the family the whole time I was with them and I can’t thank them enough for showing me the ropes at such a young age.
CN: In 2016 you released your debut single, “Southern Boy,” which featured another country megastar, Jason Aldean. How did that pairing come about?
JR: I had known Jason for a couple of years. His dad and I had been working together for a while at that point. We talked about how much fun it would be to do a song together one day but I honestly never thought it would happen. Sure enough, the opportunity presented itself and we jumped on it. It was a lot of fun to be a part of.
CN: You’ve continued to write during your recent discovery time, and earlier this year you released your new single “One of the Good Ones.” What was the inspiration behind recording this song?
JR: Well, I knew from the first time I heard the song I had to have it. Love at first listen, if you will. I related to every word as if I would have written it myself. And it name drops my favorite baseball player of all time. All three writers on the song are friends of mine so I called one of them, Ross Ellis, and asked what his plans were for it. They gave me the green light to record it, so we did. It’s my favorite song I’ve released so far.
CN: You have penned songs titled “Little Reminders” and “Little Bit of Gravel.” You have been quoted as saying ‘Songwriting is a very sincere form of expression’ and both of these songs are very personal.’ Can you talk about your songwriting process?
JR: It’s different every time. Sometimes I start with an idea, whether it be a concept or a lyric, sometimes I have a melody I can’t get out of my head, and sometimes the music comes first. But every time I write I tell another part of my story. Songwriting is very personal to me because I pull from my life and my personal experiences.
CN: There are more than just these songs, as you have a new record in the works. Can you give us a glimpse of what fans expect on the album?
JR: The songs I’ve been writing over the past year or so are absolutely my favorite I’ve ever written. One thing I always want people to expect from me and my music is honesty. I want people to feel like they’re getting to know me as they’re listening. Also, I want people to be able to connect with my music the way I connected with my favorite songs growing up.
CN: Is there a release date yet?
JR: Not yet but I hope to have one very soon.
CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?
JR: Ed Sheeran. Huge fan of his music and would love the opportunity to write with him one day.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
JR: Driven. I always want to better myself, both professionally and personally.
CN: New songs, new album – what is next on the horizon for you in 2018?
JR: Just getting out there and playing the new music for everyone. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what I’ve been working on because I truly think it’s my best stuff yet.
For more information on Jordan Rager, visit his website: www.jordanrager.com