rockyourlyricsThe LA based, San Diego native, Somme, known outside her moniker as Jordan Cantor, got her start in music at the young age of 6 when she taught herself guitar, and soon-after graduated to songwriting and mastering other instruments.
Following a stint at The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.
Drawing inspiration from idols like Robyn, Fleetwood Mac and Lorde, Jordan entered the studio in 2017 to record her debut, self-titled EP.
After a year and a half of writing and recording, she emerged, fully embracing her new identity Somme, with a stunningly beautiful record that melds mesmerizing pop hooks, soul-gripping vocals and moody electronics.
Your new self titled- album has just been released, can you share with us the most difficult moment of its preparation? Any crazy/funny behind the scene?
I think the most difficult part about making the EP and music in general is not to overthink things. I sometimes get caught up in what other people may think about a certain lyric or a certain melody and the most beneficial thing for my music has been learning to let those things go.
I produced most of the EP with Caleb Shreve and Jon Siebels who I was interning for at the time. Once I got comfortable with them I asked if they’d be down to help produce some of my tracks and they said yeah. For a few months, whenever they had down time at the studio they’d record me.
I learned so much from them and they really helped me polish off the songs.
As for funny moments…probably a lot of vocals takes of me messing up and swearing
How do you usually write the lyrics of your songs? What is the best verse you ever wrote?
It really depends on the song. Sometimes I’ll being having a really emotional day and go into writing knowing exactly what’s going to come out and other days I’ll have nothing to say and that’s when I’ll look elsewhere for inspiration, maybe a situation a friend or family member is going through that I’m witnessing as an outsider.
One of my favorite verses I’ve ever written is in the song Tell Me. That song is very personal to me and I feel like it really paints a picture.
What was the soundtrack to your childhood?
I thought my brother was the coolest when I was younger and he listened to quite a bit of classic rock so I followed. Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin…When I got old enough to explore what I was into more I started listening to No Doubt, Paramore, any band with a girl in it pretty much.
What was the first record you ever bought?
OK Computer by Radiohead….still one of my favorites!
What has your journey in the music industry been like up to now?
The music industry can be really intense.
There can be a lot of obstacles but once you get your bearings those obstacles push you to work harder. I also try to surround myself with people that have my best interest in mind and I’m very grateful to have friends on my team looking out for me.
What inspired “Ordinary Fools” ?
I wrote Ordinary Fools when I was in a short lived relationship that was in the process of deteriorating.
I was away in New York and it kind of clicked that although I was totally enamored with this girl, she wasn’t able to totally commit to me the way I wanted her to.
The verses of the song are me desperately pleading with her to commit me and the chorus is me fed up with her playing games with me.
Do you remember the day you wrote “Tell Me”?
Yeah, I was in Brooklyn after finishing my first tour ever.
I was exhausted from tour but I guess I was also probably nervous to go back home to California and have to deal with all the real life stuff that I had been avoiding on tour.
I did a session with my friend and amazing producer Blake Harnage and all of that stuff started kind of bumbling up in me when I was on my way to his studio.
A few people close to me have struggled with addiction and that’s what the song is about. It’s a subject that has a lot of stigma surrounding it and needs to be talked about publicly more.
Are you ever scared of revealing, aspects of your personal experience, to strangers through your music?
Absolutely. It was and still is a huge fear of mine to let people into my headspace and open up to total strangers but I’ve learned it is essential in creating something that other people can relate to. If you have a wall up other people can sense that and it turns them away.
What inspired “Long Time”?
Long Time is kind of a love song but also kind of not. There’s a lot of hesitation which is what most of the relationship it’s about was.
What is the best show you ever played?
I was on tour with PVRIS last fall playing bass for Party Nails and the first show of tour was in LA.
It was really cool to have so many people that are close to me there. It was also the day after my birthday so it was kind of my birthday party.
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