Amanda Jordan is a Canadian singer/songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.

She released her new single “Driving In The Dark” on August 20th. Co-written with Phil Barton (Meghan Patrick, The Washboard Union) and Jason Matthews (Billy Currington, Luke Bryan) and produced by Jason Barry (Dean Body, Jason Blaine), the new single is about looking back on memories from a past relationship where you didn’t know where it was going but you were just having fun.

Directed by Jesus Fuentes, the music video was revealed on August 27th. Shot in Ontario, Canada, the visuals showcase the excitement of a new relationship.

“Driving in the Dark” has just been released to Canadian radio this week.

The storyteller will be performing at the Wild West Songwriters Festival in South Dakota, starting October 10th.

For more shows, visit her socials.

“Driving In The Dark” is now available worldwide.

Introduce yourself - where are you from?

I’m Amanda Jordan from Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada . I’m a singer-songwriter and I recently graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Music Honors with a major in the songwriting stream. I’m now living in Nashville!

What's your story?

I moved to Nashville in January and took my last semester online from Berklee and Carleton. I couldn’t wait to get there. I live in a little tiny micro 400 square foot apartment with a Murphy bed and that's where I host my songwriter friends to write. I have a write most days and then I also perform on the renowned SongBird Tour Bus as a songwriter. We play our original songs on the back of the bus while the tour guide talks about the history of all the record labels and publishing companies on Music Row.

Could you describe us your childhood a little bit?

My childhood was fun. With a twin brother and an older brother, I was a bit of a tomboy. I never had many dolls. I had a toy baby carriage instead, where I pushed my baby rabbits up and down the gravel road. My twin brother and I are very close and we played music together and had a band in Grades 6, 7, and 8. We had this great music teacher, Mike McPherson who allowed five of us – all friends – to attend music class in his basement as a band. My mom would drive us to the lessons and the whole van would be rocking. We were having so much fun and I think everyone of us had ADHD, so it was one wild ride every music night. I don’t know how my mom survived. We called ourselves “Plan B” and thought it was just the coolest name for the longest time, until someone told us what that meant.. Now, I’m building my career as “Plan A”!

How would you describe yourself today?

I would say that Nashville has changed me and my music in positive ways. There is just this “Nashville way “…..that sort of seeps into your being and into your music. The city itself sleeps and breathes music. From your Uber driver to the cashier at Publix, you can talk music to everyone and everyone wants to talk music back with you. That makes it a lot of fun.

Do you remember your early musical memories?

My mom played guitar since she was a teen and she even played when she was expecting so I was surrounded by music from the very beginning. She tells the story that she came home from work one day when my twin brother and I were about 18 months old and the caregiver told her I was singing “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” by Patsy Cline. She didn’t believe the care giver but later that night I started singing the song and sure enough she found it on a nursery rhyme tape that she played for us each night.

I couldn’t really talk yet, so my mom took that as a sign that she should encourage me in a musical direction and she did. When I get complaining about something, she says I’m still singing the blues.

What got you into country music?

Growing up, country music was always playing on the radio at home and at nans house. Both my grandparents were farmers and country music is in our family’s roots, so I gravitated towards it. I love the storytelling in country music.

When did you start writing songs? What made you want to write songs in the first place?

Music has always been like therapy to me. I started writing when I was really young. At age five, I wrote a song called “Don’t Turn Me Away” about a boy I liked. It was terrible. I started to take writing more seriously in high school. When I had a bad day, the first thing I did when I got home was try to put my emotions into words and then put them into a song. I really started to study songs in high school. Not just listen to them but study them. Lyrics, Melody, what makes a great hook etc.

When did you know you could sing?

I was always really shy growing up. When I was 15, I auditioned for a singing competition called “Ottawa Idol” and didn’t expect to make it at all but I placed in the top 10. I think that gave me confidence along with the rehearsals and training that came with it for the final show.

How did your voice evolve over the years?

I took vocal lessons from Trina Langthorne in Ottawa and learned about the diaphragm, vocal control, performance techniques etc. She really helped me a lot and was a great mentor and friend.

Could you tell us about your first experience in the music industry? What did this first experience teach you as an artist?

My first experience in the music industry was releasing a single without a real plan. I was young and released it without a team in place. I learned from that about how important it is to have others who believe in me and can support my music.

"Driving In The Dark" is your new single - what's the story behind this song?

Yes! “Driving in the Dark” just went to Canadian radio on September 30th! The song is about looking back on memories from a past relationship where you didn’t know where it was going but were just having fun. It’s a cute summer song you can sing along to in your car.

You worked with Phil Barton, Jason Matthews and Jason Barry on that song. Could you describe us the songwriting/production process?

Writing with Phil and Jason was literally one of my most favorite writes. They have a really unique way of songwriting and I have never written with anyone else yet that does it the same way. I went in with a rough lyric and very rough melody and we talked about the concept and then Phil started some beats on his laptop and we were on a roll. From there, I went to Phil’s studio that afternoon and recorded a rough working tape. I sent it to Jason Barry of Barrytone Studios and shortly after, I was in his studio. When you hear what flows out of a producer’s mind like Jason, it’s like opening the best Christmas present.

What do you like the most about this song?

I like the hook, Driving in the Dark. I think it’s kind of different and cool.

What made you want to release "Driving In The Dark" as a single?

I wanted this release to be fun and upbeat. Something people can sing along to. I write a lot of sad songs and this one just felt different and I loved writing with Phil and Jason.

What can you tell us about the music video? What was the inspiration behind it?

I put a lot of thought into the video and together with the producer Jesus Fuentes, we decided that we had everything we needed close to my house in Ontario. We have the beautiful shoreline with the most incredible sunsets, the nearby Yacht Club beach, and the Rideau Ferry Bridge. We decided that it was just going to be a fun music video that celebrated the excitement of a new relationship.

The original inspiration for the song was a conversation that took place with my twin brother Thomas. He started talking about how much he loves driving on the open road at night. He prefers driving all night and into the sunrise. That’s where the hook of the song came from.

How would you define country music?

Three chords and the truth.

What can you tell us about your upcoming shows?

I’ll be performing at the Wild West Songwriters Festival in South Dakota starting October 10th which I’m really excited about. Then I fly back to Canada for single release shows shows in Ottawa on October 19th and Toronto on October 25th.

I’ll be posting more info on my website at AmandaJordanMusic.com and socials - @AmandaJordanMusic on Instagram and Facebook and @Amanda_T_Jordan on Twitter.

While you’re at it, you can also follow me on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5UzX8YYER6nwjEoJjt6QCv

As an artist, what do you want to accomplish?

As an artist I want to continue writing and performing and developing my sound. I want to tell stories and touch people’s hearts if I can.

I really believe in the power of music to heal and reach people. Last summer, I taught music at a summer camp for autistic children and performed music in group homes for special needs students and I can say firsthand that music changes lives and if I can be a part of that in some small way, then I’ll feel like I’ve accomplished something.

In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?

Songs with meaning and a message. The world always needs more love somewhere and if my music can be heard by people around the world, make them think, encourage them to love more, or make them forget their problems for just a little while, that’s making the world a better place one song at a time.

What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?

It costs $0.00 to be a kind human being.

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