My name is Jordyn Tareaz, and I’m a pop artist born in Maryland. When I was 2, my family moved to New York City and that is when my love for performing and music began. I started taking piano lessons at 2 years old and performing and singing. Then at 8 years old I wrote my first song, and have dreamt of being an artist ever since.
During the pandemic, I started doing co-writing sessions for the first time and I taught myself how to produce. Then in 2022 I released my debut single “So Good (On My Own)”. Since the beginning of my artist career I have been working towards crafting my first project. Enter my debut EP It’s Not Like The Movies.
This project has taken years in the making and I’m so excited that it is finally out for the world to enjoy. I wanted the project to encapsulate my truth. How I was feeling during the time of creation. I grew up watching a lot of movies, and as a child, I assumed that’s how life would be once I got older. But towards the end of college, I came to the conclusion that was not the case. It’s Not Like The Movies portrays the not so picturesque moments of my life.
The very first song written for the project was “Love Me Right”. I made that back in my fall semester of my junior year of college in 2021. It was a virtual session with my collaborators Riese and Kristina Sarro. They were also the co-writers on my debut song “So Good (On My Own)”.
I still vividly remember the session. The concept for the song came after I was telling them about a guy who just wasn’t giving me what I deserved. And though I liked him, he was putting enough effort in compared to other guys. My favorite line in that song is “your homeboy’s hitting my line he’s trynna slide | so don’t waste my time if you wanna be mine”. That one just poured out of me. And it was based on true events.
The next song I wrote for the project was “Happy Ending”. It was one of the first songs I wrote in 2022. I wrote it alone on my piano at home in Maryland (we eventually moved back there when I was a teenager). The version that is on the project, is probably the 3rd version of the song to exist. That song has undergone so many different changes.
I just really wanted to make sure that the song had positive undertones while still touching on the hardships of growth. Those two things really go hand in hand. This song is definitely my favorite on the project because of how sentimental it is to me. At the end of the song it features a voicemail from my Auntie Val. She’s really important to me and has always been someone who I can lean on in my life.
One of the things that I was intentional about when I started working on this project, was the fact that I didn’t want to pigeon hole myself. I wanted to show off my vocal range, lyrical range, and sonic range, while still creating something cohesive. The creation of each song was so different but they were each coming from such an honest place.
I’m so proud of this project and I think it’s a great introduction of my work to the world. Though it took years, sweat, tears, and late nights, I created something that I’m proud of. And I had a great team of ALL FEMALE CREATIVES to make it all possible.
To the listeners, I hope this EP is one that you can turn on when you are going through changes in your life and want to feel understood and empowered.
Listen to It’s Not Like The Movies below and stream it everywhere else here.
Words by Jordyn Tareaz // Follow her on Instagram
