How Jordyn Found Sync-cess Ahead of Debut Album Innersections

Jordyn‘s belief in himself led to licensing success with the NFL, Disney, Netflix, Xbox and other major companies using his music. That resilience continues with the release of new album Innersections that shows off a love for nature, pop songwriting, R&B grooves and organic instrumentation. We caught up with Jordyn to dive into how sync impacted his career and how it relates to the new album.

How did you get started in sync, the placing of music in commercials, trailers and TV/film?

I actually kind of sort of got started in sync unofficially about 7 years back. I had this really serendipitous moment where I had just walked away from a record deal that I sensed was wrong for me, and the advance was $25,000. I wasn’t in a position to turn down money at the time, but I knew in the grand scheme it was the right decision.

Fast forward a few weeks later, I saw that Folgers was doing a jingle contest & the cash prize was…$25,000! It felt like fate, so I entered, did my flip on the famous jingle & won the contest. The following year, a friend of mine sent me another jingle contest, this one was for The Barnes Firm. The cash prize was $10,000, and I wound up winning that one as well. All of that was prep for what would eventually become a huge portal for me creatively.

In 2020, Procter & Gamble licensed a song I wrote & featured on for a big TikTok campaign with Charli D’Amelio, & that was a game changer in what could’ve been a tragic year for me career wise. Fast forward several months, another song I did got licensed by the NFL, & that’s when the ball really got rolling. I signed with Secret Road Publishing in 2021, and the rest was history.

What role does sync play in your artist career?

It plays an integral role in my career. Prior to doing sync, it seemed like the only compensation in music was vanity metrics & the occasional producer fee I might be able to work myself into as a vocal producer. Someone actually licensing your song for tv/film/ads is a very tangible thing you can sink your teeth into. It’s allowed me to make consistent money doing what I love. Also, it’s given me permission, & even incentive, to expand my artistic expression. I used to feel bound by genre & my very limited idea of who I was as an artist. Now, in an effort to diversify my catalog, I’ve actually released music I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, because I see by the Shazam count that people, somewhere in the world, really enjoy it.

I signed with Red Bull Publishing in 2019. Secret Road repped Red Bull’s catalog for sync, & while I was with Red Bull, I did a sync writing camp with some of Secret Road’s writers & producers. Once Red Bull dissolved their Publishing division & I was a free agent, I had a session with a couple Secret Roadies that would go on to be the big NFL sync I mentioned earlier. I signed the deal shortly after.

Since then, it’s made me think bigger in sessions. More often than not, my approach is, “How can I deliver a universal truth & create a feeling that people around the world can connect with.” It’s taken me out of the more regional mindset of just making music that I know my peers would enjoy & made me think big picture. If the music can connect with more people, that generally equals more opportunity for impact.

What advice do you have for artists looking to add sync to their creative work?

I’d say collaboration is key. Start collaborating with people that you know work well in the sync space. If you’re newer, I’d say be malleable, yield to direction & be open to doing something you’re not used to. “If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” – Thomas Jefferson

What visuals and images does Innersections bring to mind?

Nature comes to mind. Family & home come to mind. Barbecue & live music in a park come to mind. Innersections is a very grounded & organic body of work, it’s meant to be comforting & “feel good” so the imagery associated with it for me are all the things that bring me peace & solace.

How did Nashville’s creatives, spaces and culture play into your latest project?

Being in Nashville really helped me glue everything together. The records I chose were ones that felt right to me while driving around Nashville, taking in the vibes & observing the landscape. It’s important to me that the music I’m putting out reflects the season of life that I’m in, so people can feel that essence when they hear the music. People will definitely hear some strong Nashville influence on this project.