Christmas Lover & Country Artist Jordana Bryant Interview & Performance
She just graduated from high school in June and has garnered over 15 million combined views online and over 1 million streams on Spotify alone with just a handful of releases. She just released First Christmas In Love” and landed a record deal with Riser House Entertainment (Mitchell Tenpenny, Ronnie Milsap, Dillon Carmichael)
Sue Bonzell
She is working on over 15 million views online and she just signed a record deal. Jordana Bryant is here today. Hey Jordana Hi, how are you? I’m doing great. Thank you so much for having me good. Yeah. Well, you know what? The first time I heard you, I was like, loving them loving the sound of your voice. And then I found out you’re like, 17 Yes. Just turned 17 just
Jordana Bryant
turned 17 over the summer.
Sue Bonzell
Okay. And did you graduate early?
Jordana Bryant
Yes, I did. I graduated high school year early back in June. So this has been like a huge year for you. So far. I mean, it’s been pretty exciting. We’re definitely keeping busy. Okay. And you just moved to Nashville? Yes, I did. I moved with my parents over the summer. And how is Nashville treating you so far? Oh, my gosh, I love it. I love how much music there is. And it’s just so cool to be in the same place. Like where other people share the passion for music that you have. Absolutely. So I love it. i It feels like home already.
Sue Bonzell
Yes. Well, yes. I kind of felt the same way too, as a you know, a passionate person about country music. You come here and it’s like Mecca.
Jordana Bryant
I know. Right? It’s we’re so happy to be here. It’s amazing. Well, let’s
Sue Bonzell
talk about some of your music. What I was hearing some of your music. I was like, wow, these are like some like, bad breakup relationships. And then I’m like, she’s 17. I’m like, dang, girl. Let’s talk about, you know, kind of your inspiration and writing those songs. Yeah, for
Jordana Bryant
sure. Well, some of them definitely are from personal experience. But I think you can also get a lot of really good inspiration for songs from like, movies, or books or things that your friends have gone through. So I definitely get inspiration from other things, not just my life.
Sue Bonzell
Yes. Yeah, I think I think you’re right, too. That’s it’s kind of like it’s not necessarily everything that’s happened to you. Yeah, it
Jordana Bryant
can be not your story, but one that you want to tell that’s, you know, someone else’s experience. Yes.
Sue Bonzell
Yes. So now I like that your song new friends. Thank you. Okay, so tell us about that song. Because I think that really, that hits home no matter what age you are, because I’ve gone through something like that as well. So tell us about that song.
Jordana Bryant
Yeah, for sure. I feel like losing a friend is something that all of us go through. And there aren’t as many songs about it as like romantic breakups, even though sometimes, you know, drifting apart from a friend is worse than a breakup. And, and so I wanted to write a song about that, because at all it also was something that I was going through at the moment. And so I wrote that song with three other girls. And I kind of went into the right and just explained what was happening. And we all kind of shared our own stories about you know, losing a friend and going through like a best friend breakup. And it was really cool, because we all you know, had that experience that we could think of when we were writing. And so like, the day after we wrote it, I just posted a clip on Tik Tok, because I was like, I feel like this is something that people could relate to. And so I wanted to post it to hopefully, you know, be able to make an impact if they were going through the same thing to hopefully make it a little bit better. And it was so cool to see how people were really relating to the song and how it was really resonating for them. And so
Sue Bonzell
you was very popular, you kind of went viral with a lot of your stuff. You got a lot of views, like I’m like, Dang girl. So then you’re like, Okay, we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do it. Love it. I love it. So do you test out songs on Tiktok?
Jordana Bryant
Yes, definitely. I think it’s so cool how you really have like a connection to your audience where you can post the songs that you’re thinking about releasing and getting, and get like a real, you know, a real ad like advice and input in it. And because I think all artists want to put out music that their audience really wants and that their fans want to hear. And so I think it’s so cool how you can really test your music on Tik Tok or Instagram and just get a real opinion on you know, whether they’re liking it, because ultimately, you just want to put out the songs and I just want to put out the songs that people want me to put out. So it’s really cool that you got to, you know, share your music with people before releasing it. Yeah, that they’d love
Sue Bonzell
that. Because like you said, you’re kind of resonating with them. And if you’re getting that feedback, and they’re really feeling it, it’s like well, yeah, definitely. Why exactly. Okay, so now okay, we got to talk about Christmas. Yes. Okay. You’re a big fan of Christmas.
Jordana Bryant
I am.
Sue Bonzell
Okay. Tell me tell me why like, do you have like a like a favorite memory from Christmas? Oh
Jordana Bryant
my gosh, I have so many but I would say my favorite memory is probably decorating every year every year when we decorate our tree we get out this old like speaker that only works with this like tiny like mp3 phone like you know that like iPods that like didn’t even have a touchscreen Yeah. The circle buttons that like never works and you try to well, so that’s the speaker that has our Christmas playlist on it and so every year we get out the speaker we don’t use it anytime but like this one day or and so we get out the speaker and we have this playlist and we put it on and we decorate the tree and I just love like it just gets you so in the spirit and I love getting to have that moment my family and decorate the tree and it just feels you know, so you know so nice to be able to be with them and to have that moment so that’s probably my favorite Christmas tradition.
Sue Bonzell
You’re all lit up when you talk about Christmas and that there’s a good reason you got a new song right?
Jordana Bryant
I do.
Sue Bonzell
Like Perfect, What great timing we have here. Tell us about the Christmas song.
Jordana Bryant
Yes. So last year, it was around Christmas time and I was sitting around with my team, we were talking about putting out some Christmas music. And I really wanted to try to write my own Christmas song. And so I thought back to those old harm Hallmark movies that I used to watch with my grandma, I still want and, and so this is kind of what I came up with. And I’m really excited because it’s a song I wrote all by myself. And I’m super excited that it’s coming out this year. And we’re taking it to radio too. So it’s gonna be my first song at radio. So I’m really excited for that. And what is the name of the song? It’s called first Christmas in love.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, that’s perfect. I love it. Well, I’m very, very excited for you for that. And I like hearing new Christmas music too, because I’m gonna like the classics too. Just like we like our classic country. For sure. We like some new stuff.
Jordana Bryant
Totally. Totally. Yes.
Sue Bonzell
So now you just signed a record deal with riser, right?
Jordana Bryant
Yes, I did.
Sue Bonzell
Tell us about that. That’s really exciting.
Jordana Bryant
Thank you. Yeah, it’s been awesome. I signed with them back in February. And it’s just been awesome. It’s so great to have a team that really, you know, supports you and believes in you. And so I love working with them. And we’ve been keeping busy. We’ve been releasing a ton of music doing a lot of shows. So it’s been really fun.
Sue Bonzell
So speaking of your team, I understand you, you punked them recently. I love that I love it. I love punk. Man, these are fun. Go I gotta hear this
Jordana Bryant
multiple times. Um, let’s see. Okay, the most recent one, I think was when I punk the head of my label, which is a dangerous move, like, don’t have your label. But I was on like a zoom call with her and the head of marketing. And I was like, so I need to tell you guys something. Well, you see, I failed my bio final, which means I can’t graduate high school this year. So I’m gonna have to stay in Pennsylvania for another year. Oh, and repeat this year high school. And oh my gosh, Jen, the head of the label. She’s so sweet. And she was like, It’s okay, Jordan, you’re gonna get so much good drama to write about, like, it’s gonna be fine. You’re like, you’re gonna get so much good high school drama. We’re here for it. We love it. And she was so sweet. Oh, so I felt bad. after that. I was a little bit apologetic after that, but she was so sweet. And I mean, it just shows her personality. She’s such a great person. I
Sue Bonzell
was just gonna say it’s kind of like a good little test. Let’s just see how they might react if something bad happened.
Jordana Bryant
Exactly.
Sue Bonzell
And they reacted beautifully.
Jordana Bryant
Yes, they did. They were very sweet. That’s awesome.
Sue Bonzell
So now you got to do a music video. Tell us about the music video for the song and shooting that?
Jordana Bryant
Yeah, for sure. So we did a music video for guilty and for new friends. And it was so fun to film them for a guilty we filmed the video Roman white directed it and he directed videos for like Taylor Swift you belong with me, for Carrie Underwood before he cheats like all of these artists who I really look up to. And so it was a super cool experience to film with him and he’s so funny. So it was definitely a blast filming that video with him. And then for new friends we actually snuck into high school
Sue Bonzell
to to film the video to bad girl. No, she’s not she’s really not.
Jordana Bryant
It’s all my managers fault. But um, we were trying to film at this high school and they weren’t sure whether they really wanted to like let us go in we were like we’re gonna be so quick like two hours max and and then they were just like, well, let me call the like, let me call the principal let me like and it was during summer there was no one there. But so we went really quick and just filmed some stuff and you can’t tell what high school it is. So I think
Sue Bonzell
so with with that video, shoot. Tell me how hard it really is to climb a goalpost.
Jordana Bryant
Oh, well. A lot harder than you would think. My dad was there and he was like Jordan, it would be so cool. If we got a shot of you up on the goalpost swinging video. I was like Okay, dad. Oh, yeah. And so I started climbing. I couldn’t make it up on his own. He started supporting my mom joined in trying to push me up. We got up to the top and I was like this is not gonna work like I’m holding on I look like like a monkey trying to grab onto the pole.
Sue Bonzell
So we but there is video that
Jordana Bryant
made a funny text. I will post it if it’s good content.
Sue Bonzell
There you go. There you go. Now you mentioned Taylor Swift Yes. I I think that’s a big love of yours. You
Jordana Bryant
definitely choose Taylor Swift. She’s definitely an inspiration of mine. I love her music and I love how authentic and relatable it is. I think it’s so cool when you know as a songwriter, you can create a song that people feel like is written about their own life and their own experience. And that’s definitely something I want to do with my music and I think it’s something she does so well. So I love it
Sue Bonzell
and she inspired another song that you Yes, right?
Jordana Bryant
Yeah. So, um, growing up, I always would listen to her song Love Story. And I thought it was really inspiring how in the story, she kind of fought for the love that she really wanted. And so it, you know, kind of inspired me to, you know, to do the same and to write about that, because I feel like, you know, watching those Disney fairy tales growing up, I love them. But I also knew that I wanted something a little bit different, you know, I wanted someone who could love and support me and who didn’t need me to be a damsel in distress to love me. And, you know, I wanted to kind of be partners with someone and be equals but not need to be saved. And so I wrote a song Romeo, about that and about, you know, fighting for the type of love that I know I want. And so I’m really excited that just came out. Back in September. You are
Sue Bonzell
wise beyond your years, my friend, honestly. I mean, seriously. So you did bring your guitar? Yes, I did. Okay, so she’s gonna play a song for us what song you’re gonna play?
Jordana Bryant
I am going to play new friends, new friends. Okay,
Sue Bonzell
so when we come back Jordanna Bryant is going to play her song new friends. Okay, so don’t go anywhere.
Jordana Bryant
Hi, I’m Jordana Bryant. And this is a song I wrote called New friends about losing a best friend and I just released it again, it was 70 See, and it’s not kidding. I can’t compete with the party or like I’m not trying to get your view or tell you what you should do. That’s not what I want. Now and I’m not sure make it feel Pakis right now on this interview bad and sad days for us. There used to be enough but now you’ve got new clothes and new kicks inside jokes with the cool kids Jason knew that and knew this which and all posts from new pics he got new bands on your T shirts new plans stop calling me first pm say people don’t change what they do is Oh friends get new friends Oh friends get new friends there’s two versions and there’s only one invite not good friends forever doesn’t always mean for life Dawn hold you back I just want the old you back see the real you still there underneath those new clothes and new kicks inside jokes with the cool kids just knew that and knew this was an old posts for new pics guy new bands on your T shirts. No plans stop commonly first. People say people don’t change what they do is Oh friends get new friends Oh friends can new friends 79 can’t compete with the party or those new clothes and new kicks inside jokes with the cool kids Jason knew that and knew this which an old posts for new pixie guy new bands on your T shirts. New Plan start calling the first people say people don’t change but they do. Oh friends can new friends all friends get new friends all friends can new Oh friends can new friends.
Sue Bonzell
Alright, Jordana Bryant. That’s new friends. I love this song.
Jordana Bryant
Oh, thank you so much. Okay, so
Sue Bonzell
now I understand it’s pretty popular in a foreign country. Tell us about
Jordana Bryant
that. Yeah, so it’s actually kind of blowing up in India, which is pretty crazy. It got to like number two on the viral 50 India chart on Spotify. And it’s like charting on Shazam in 24 Indian cities. And it’s pretty crazy. But I think it’s from some posts on social media. I have a bunch of Instagram reels that have kind of, you know, blown up and I think I’m so maybe that’s part of it. That is how it’s gotten to India. But it’s amazing. And it’s so cool. Like when I go live to see people tuning in from India and it’s amazing. I think that’s one of the craziest things about social media is that you can share your music with people all over the world. And it’s something I’m very grateful for. Well, it’s
Sue Bonzell
a testament to you know, your songwriting and your singing abilities. Obviously, it’s you know, it’s very popular around the world. So now you know who she is, if you didn’t know who she is already. Go follow her. Well, before we go, we have to play a little game that I play here at upand country. Okay, you’re ready to play live ready?
Jordana Bryant
I love games.
Sue Bonzell
So this is my I call it well, now we’re world famous because we’re talking about India, world famous game called Truth or truth and you get to pick your own questions. Okay. All right, good. Okay. You get to pick your own question. Okay.
Jordana Bryant
Let’s see. What is your favorite subjects in school? What is your least favorite subject in school? That’s a really good question. I would say my favorite subject was probably either English or math because English I love because it’s writing and I love songwriting. And then math I really love because I think it’s like, it’s cool that there’s like, a definitive answer, which is kind of like nice words like, there is this answer? Here’s how you get there. Like, there’s something nice about how like, yes, strategic and how, like, step by step it is. So those are probably my two favorite subjects. And then my least favorite subject. Probably, I would say biology, okay, just because there’s parts that I really find interesting about it. But this year, I mean, last year, when I was taking it, I was just like, I was out of school, like every other week. And it was just very hard to understand, like when I missed a week, and then I had to go back and I was like, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Like that was of all the subjects that I was taking last year, I would say that was the most difficult to miss school on. But I don’t know, I don’t know if I had like a least favorite subject.
Sue Bonzell
So did you do any of the dissecting in biology?
Jordana Bryant
You know what, we didn’t actually do any dissecting? But in like elementary school, I did all of that. Like, oh, just weird.
Sue Bonzell
I know. Right? Like, it’s like, strange. I know. Like, yeah, I could never I could never go into the medical field. Oh, me neither. I know. We’re in the creative arts. We excel at. We’re not gonna dissect anything here. Yeah, well, maybe I don’t know. We’ll dissect the truth. We’re getting to it. We’re gonna do a couple more. Are you ready? Yeah. You can read that one down there. Yes. Go ahead.
Jordana Bryant
Where’s your dream vacation? Oh, I love that. Right now. I would really love to go to Greece. I think it’s so like pretty like all of the photos with like, the houses on those like hills with like the white like colorful houses. I just think it’s so gorgeous. So somewhere in Greece, I think would probably be
Sue Bonzell
was it the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants today? Yes. So Right. See, I watched it too.
Jordana Bryant
I do love that movie. But no, I feel like I’ve been seeing so many like videos on social media of people going to Greece recently. I’m like, it looks so pretty. Yeah,
Sue Bonzell
I that’s on my bucket list as well. So I’m with you on that one. And the blue water. You know, the blue water? Oh
Jordana Bryant
my gosh. Yeah. And of course the food. Oh, yeah. Right. Greek food. Okay, we’ll do one more. Yes. Let’s do it. Okay. Let’s see. What is your all time favorite snack food? That’s a really good question. Um, there are so many. Well, I would say I feel very little kiddish saying this, but I love goldfish. or pretzels. But I would say yeah, like those are probably my two favorites. No kids
Sue Bonzell
so when it comes to the goldfish, do you go for like the flavor blasts? No. Are there just a regular sick class K class regular. She’s a classic girl regular goldfish. We know what to put in the greenroom now? Yes. Right. So yeah, if you if you were going to have you know, in your writer, anything specific that you would want to have backstage?
Jordana Bryant
I would definitely say like seltzer water like club soda. I am very much like a sparkling water person. Like I literally like I mean, it’s my mom’s fault. She drank all of it when she was pregnant with me. And so I just like was born addicted to it. But that is the one thing I can’t go without. Okay, perfect.
Sue Bonzell
So now we know exactly what to bring you next time you come back. I’m gonna have some seltzer water and some goldfish just for you. Thank you. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today. Today, and we’re gonna we’re gonna follow you and see what happens next.
Jordana Bryant
Thank you. So fun talking to you today. Some Thank you.
Sue Bonzell
Thanks for watching up in country be sure to like and subscribe and leave us a comment. We do new episodes every Tuesday. And be sure to follow up and country on Instagram tick tock and Facebook and you can follow me to add Sue Bonzell on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok.
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