Kat Harlton
Photos: Rob Wayman
Canadian country recording artist and current Nashville starlet Amanda Jordan recently released her new music video for her Music City-inspired single, “Driving in the Dark”.
The framework of “Driving of the Dark” was crafted by Jordan and esteemed Nashville writers Phil Barton (Meghan Patrick, The Washboard Union) and Jason Matthews (Billy Currington, Luke Bryan). After heading back to the illustrious Canadian confines of Barrytone Studios, award-winning producer Jason Barry (Dean Brody, Jason Blaine) molded the song into what it is today.
The release of “Driving in the Dark” follows a wave of highlights for the radiant young talent.
After making the final ten in both the 2016 and 2017 ole Red Dot on the Spot Songwriting Competitions, she later made the finals of the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition for her song “Silverado Run”. That same year, she opened for Canadian superstar Brett Kissel as part of his Kick it with Kissel contest and was one of eight wild cards to compete for the last spot in the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase.
The culmination of these events prompted Jordan to move to Nashville in 2018. Besides writing with the likes of Daniel Ross (Florida Georgia Line) and Abram Dean (Madeline Merlo), she has further embraced Music City by performing as a featured songwriter on the acclaimed Nashville Songbird Tour Bus alongside notables like Trey Bruce (Carrie Underwood) and Paul Jefferson (Keith Urban).
With her status as a bright light on the country music horizon all but certain, “Driving in the Dark” is the first step towards international recognition for Jordan and it’s sure to draw equal applause in Canada, Nashville, and beyond.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Jordan and talk songwriting, her new single, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your latest single “Driving In The Dark”?
Amanda: The idea for “Driving In The Dark” came when I was making the long trek from Ontario to Nashville with my twin brother, Thomas. We were driving in the dark – headed down for my first co-write – and I was suggesting we should pull over and find somewhere to spend the night. He said he loved driving in the dark and into the sunrise, so that sparked the hook. I took that idea and turned it into a love song about how the early stages of a relationship can be exciting but you don’t always see where it’s going.
Kat: The track was co-written in Nashville with Phil Barton (Meghan Patrick, The Washboard Union) and Jason Matthews (Billy Currington, Luke Bryan), and was produced by Jason Barry (Dean Body, Jason Blaine). Can you talk about what the songwriting process was like?
Amanda: The very next day I was in Jason Matthews’ studio on Music Row with Phil Barton. I was meeting them for the first time and they were so sweet and welcoming. Phil was a children’s story writer in Australia, so he has this huge amount of energy and it just spills over into his songs. We had a lot of fun that afternoon and it was a great session – one of my favorites. After that, I went to Phil’s studio to make a working tape and then I sent the tape to Jason Barry at Barrytone Studios, who lived near Kitchener at that time. Jason is a great friend and did an amazing job with the production.
Kat: You were a finalist in the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition, as well as a finalist of the 2016 and 2017 ole Red Dot on the Spot Songwriting Competition. You’ve also opened for Brett Kissel, does anything stood out as a career highlight so far?
Amanda: All of those events were really special to me. I loved performing for ole – now Anthem Entertainment, the record label and publishing company. Giles Goddard, the Vice President is so friendly and supportive. He was one of the first people to take me to lunch in Nashville. At the competition, he said “Be sure to knock on my door the next time you are in Nashville” and I did. I find people in the country music industry very friendly and supportive.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to perform as a songwriter at the Wild West Songwriters Festival in South Dakota and that was such an honor. I couldn’t believe they invited me to share my new songs in the same writers’ rounds with hit writers. At the final jam session, each artist performed a cover with a full live band in front of at least five hundred people. By the end, everyone was on stage singing and it was a party. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that trip.
Kat: Is there an artist you’d like to perform with, that you haven’t had the chance to yet. Or a song you’d love to do a cover of?
Amanda: It’s hard to choose just one artist! I’d love to perform with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Willie Nelson, Ed Sheeran, or Shania Twain. All of the above!
Kat: What’s next?
Amanda: I’m on my first radio tour and I’m so excited. I’ll be visiting radio stations in Ontario along with doing a Toronto release show.
I also love acting and am continuing to audition for movies and TV series. In November, I’ll be heading back to Nashville to continue my writing. I have plans for another single release next spring and am currently working on my EP!
In the meantime, please follow me @amandajordanmusic on Instagram, @amandajordanmusic on Facebook, @amanda_t_jordan on Twitter, and on Spotify! You can also visit my website at AmandaJordanMusic.com