Jordan Brooke Hamlin: Musical Magician
I sat down with Jordan far too long ago, and failed to post the interview until now. That's okay - she's still crazy awesome and you will get a chance to see her musical magic show on tour with Katie Herzig this spring!Â
Natalie and I first saw Jordan play a few years back and were completely blown away by her depth of talent, sense of humor, and all around radness. She's adorable, head to toe, and will often leave you slack-jawed at her performances. After meeting her, I can safely say that she was just as cool to talk to - I mean, who doesn't love a person who gives "Beaches" as an answer?Â
1. How many instruments do you actually play?
It's impossible to know. "Play" is a relative term because I make noise on a helluva lot but in terms of ones I'm proficient on, I don't have a count. Violin? Negative. It doesn't do anything for me. Most other instruments, I've always thought "how does that work?" - I love the challenge of figuring out the logistics of it and what I already know is applicable to that instrument- but in terms of violin, we don't speak the same language. There's something about it that is a disconnect for me. Cello is a different story.Â
2. Which can you play the best?
Guitar and french horn are my top two. I have a degree in french horn. That was going to be my life for a while- I made the symphony but saw the rest of my life and thought "I don't want to do that. Instead, I'm going to make a third of the money and have fun." I'm happier.Â
I have a degree in English Lit, Fine Art Photography with an emphasis in Large and Medium format, and French Horn. So...I take something useless and make it even more useless.Â
3. What instrument do you wish you could play?
There are a lot of things that I wish I could bring the talent fader up on but if I could be a really great Motown drummer, I would love that! And pedal steel.. and clarinet.Â
4. You sing amazing harmonies. Have you ever considered singing lead?
I started out as a solo artist and only after college did I start playing with other people- and for my personality, I loved it! It frees me up to do other stuff like play other instruments and be really creative with that and not feel other pressures. I write and record my own stuff every time I'm home- I have about 3 or 4 records worth of stuff sitting there. I got really burned out right after college and I just had the feeling of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Does the world really need this record?" and I didn't know the answer. I think there will be a time for that. I'm getting closer to the time to do some of my own stuff, but I don't think I really want to be a solo artist by myself. I could be in a band or a duo but just for me, no. I want to put something out at some point, but I want to wait for the right time.
5. How did you begin producing?
In college a few people asked me to produce their stuff and I did, but I don't think I really knew what I was doing. I just did Lucy Wainwright Roche's new album and that was the first record where I thought that it was the perfect synthesis of my gifts. I am hoping I get to do more production as time goes on.
6. How many different artists do you play with?
It depends on the year and how long I play with certain people. In 2013, I played with 10 people.
7. Who would you love to play with?
I have a list! A long list.. sometimes the people I would love to play with doesn't really make sense. But the artists I think I could really contribute with are Kathleen Edwards, Ane Brun, Anais Mitchell - she's so great and such a left of center artist, and Jonatha Brooke. But I do have moments where, like, if I'm with Andrew Belle, he lets me just wail during his set - and that's just fun to do sometimes. I like going back and forth between different artists because it brings out different parts of me and I don't ever get bored.Â
8. What about a Go-Back-In-Time gig?
My parents are old hippies so I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin - she would have been great to play with.Â
9. Favorite place you've travelled because of touring.
I just did a tour with Missy Higgins in Australia and did the main part of the tour in NZ - just the two of us. And we get along so well- I love her so much. The southern islands really made me wonder if I were visually piquing - like it may have been the most amazing thing I've ever seen.Â
10. Guilty pleasure?
What genre? I mean Beaches is probably up there. I love movies. I love Mannequin. The Judds-Â I grew up listening to them! 90s country.
11. What is something you're into that people would not suspect?
I love tea. Border collies? I love wiring up things. I'm really right brain but I have a pocket of left brain that loves stuff like that. I build a lot of things. I built my dining room table, a murphy bed, and remodeled my house. I just built my best friend's kids a castle. I'm pretty handy.Â
12. Best book you read in the last two years.
I'm a sucker for 20th century fiction. In college, I really developed an affinity for southern literature and poetry, but his past month I really got on a kick of various producer biographies. I read Daniel Lanois' "Soul Mining", Phil Ramone's "Making Records" among others. I also just finished Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Signature of All Things" and it was such a wonderfully surprising novel from her. Â She did a great job of blowing through people's expectations from her. My writing output level is so often tied to how much I'm reading, so I try to keep one or two going all the time.
13. Where do you want to retire?
I love Nashville. I bought a house there 10 years ago and I just love it there. It's really easy, low cost of living - I can drive 10 minutes and be in the woods or 10 minutes and be in downtown. I have a strong affection for Ireland and the Oregon coast. I have an inexplicable affection for it - when I'm there, my heart swells.Â
14. What would you bring back from the past?
The only thing that comes to mind - and it's a bit sentimental… My grandmother was the backbone of the family. She was super sassy and spunky, she was the best. I think it would be fun to have her around, now that I'm older, to come to shows and experience this part of life. I think she'd be hilarious.Â
15. TV show you marathon.
We marathon Downton Abbey. On the Missy Higgins / Butterfly Boucher / Katie Herzig tour, we were on the bus together and we would watch Homeland. It was not a relaxing way to prepare for bed. It would end at 3am and you'd go to bed wired and paranoid.Â
16. What charity would you back if you were loaded?
I have a few. My friend started one called Blood Water Mission. I have an affection for them, and I feel like I know the ins of exactly what happens, so I trust them. I would definitely give them a chunk. We did Cure International on the Andrew Belle tour. And probably something for arts in schools because I didn't have a lot of that in school.
17. If you could do something other than what you're doing now, career wise, what would it be?
Some sort of craftsmanship, woodworking, or something like that. The first two things that came to my mind were conservation or forestry. I would love to work in a forest or be outside and do manual labor. I would love to build crazy things like... an egg shaped tree-house. I love building large fun things. I built a life size paper mache buddha in high school and loved it. I love working with my hands.Â
18. How do you stay healthy on the road?
Wish Garden Herbs - Kick Ass Immune. They only sell it in certain places. That's my secret weapon. If I feel myself getting sick, I always take some of those drops for a couple of days and it totally works. I get it in bulk.Â
Find Jordan on:
Twitter: @jordanbrooke9
jordanbrookehamlin.com










