“Fusion of vibrancy with vulnerability”
If you’ve ever wondered what having your own personal soundtrack is like, then Jordan Phillips is the artist to ask. The Edinburgh singer-songwriter’s debut EP includes varied discussions of everything from emotional evaluation to destruction. Jordan Phillips worked with producers Conal Mooney and Finlay Mowat which has resulted in a foundation of friendship for this EP. The topic of relationships is frequent throughout each of the songs, and with such a close friendship forming as a result of this production, it makes each track more exciting to listen to.
This project includes an experimental exploration into a range of feelings and experiences. Through wonderful writing and her crystal clear vocals, Phillips brings each track to life. In each tune, including her 2023 single ‘Losing‘, there is an obvious technique when it comes to the lyrics. Picturesque words creatively illustrate situations and scenarios, allowing listeners to envision whatever Jordan is singing. This is a talent few can master in the way she has. Each song tells a story and the Edinburgh singer has been able to fully captivate anyone who wishes to hear them. Such lively lyricism can be found through lines like “guided by the streetlights” in ‘Once In a Blue Moon‘ and “I feel the burn on my skin” in the track ‘Homebody‘.
Along with words that paint various pictures to accompany each story, Jordan has also demonstrated an innate knowledge of mindsets we’ve all shared at some point in our lives. This is where the concept of a personal soundtrack is most evident. She has encapsulated an eclectic array of different experiences that most of us will have been through at least once.
In ‘Graduation Song‘, she uses lines like “this quiet confidence has got me far” and “my patience is growing thin in the weeks before it started showing on my skin“. This explores graduation in a sense that we’ve accomplished the ability to acknowledge how we’ve previously felt and reflect on this. This divulgence into emotions continues in ‘Losing‘ which discusses the end of a relationship and the feeling of loss as a result with lyrics including “we’ve reached the end of the line” and “constant reminder of when you were mine“.
Building on the foundation of friendship, track 5 ‘Less Than a Week‘ was co-written with Erin Ferguson. This fifth and final track of the EP is by far the catchiest and my personal favourite. This tune is an upbeat, uplifting and unique take on break ups. A lot of songs are written and created surrounding the topic of relationships but very few are done like this. The memorable melody and catchy chorus includes the line “let this be a lesson on how to make someone fall out of love in less than a week“.
This handbook into handling the destruction or breakdown in a relationship involves the acceptance that sometimes we can be partially to blame. The song describes how easy it is to place the fault on the other person with phrases like “you may be right to a certain degree” and “you can’t help it, I can’t stand it“.
A common theme throughout the EP is Jordan’s fusion of vibrancy with vulnerability. While her vocals are vivacious and lovely to listen to, each word she sings lets listeners into her mind on an intimate and intense level. This is such a gorgeous collection of tracks that I will definitely continue to return to. It proves how talented Jordan Phillips is as a writer and a musician as a whole. It also goes to show just how important it is to have a supportive and motivated group of people surrounding you.