Jourdan

Jourdan, you’re only 15, yet you’ve already performed in theatres, music festivals, and even in front of more than 17,000 people. Looking back, what has been the most surreal moment of your journey so far?

To be honest, I don’t think there’s been just one surreal moment. It’s more that I keep having these moments where I stop and think, “Is this actually real?”Sometimes  I’ll say to Mum, “Can you believe that in a couple of weeks I’m actually going to be performing there or with this person ?” It still feels a bit crazy and I so grateful for every moment.

You recently reimagined Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds in a cinematic music film. What inspired you to choose this iconic song, and what did you want to bring to it that feels uniquely yours?

I’ve always admired the way Elvis connected with people through emotion and storytelling. That’s one of the reasons his music has stood the test of time , it still connects with people, no matter what generation they’re from.

When I first started creating the story I wanted to tell, I knew Suspicious Minds was the perfect fit. The song gave me the chance to tell a story that people my age could relate to, while still keeping the emotion and heart that has made the song so timeless.

I wasn’t trying to recreate Elvis because no one can do that. My goal was to respect the original while bringing my own interpretation to it through a story about friendship, trust and growing up. If someone discovers this song for the first time through my work then that’s also pretty special.

This project goes far beyond a traditional music video, exploring themes like friendship, trust, and misunderstanding. Why were these messages so important for you to tell?

I think when you’re growing up, it’s really easy to feel like you’re the only one going through certain things. Friendships can change, people can misunderstand each other, and sometimes you don’t really know where you stand with someone.

That was one of the messages I really wanted to get across. Even if it feels like you’re the only person dealing with those emotions, you’re not. A lot of people your age are probably feeling the same things, they just might not be saying it out loud.

I wanted the film to show that those feelings are normal, and that trust, friendship and communication can be really complicated. If someone watches it and thinks, “Okay, maybe it’s not just me,” then that means a lot.

You’ve described yourself not only as a performer but also as a creator, producer and editor. What have you discovered about yourself by taking control of every stage of the creative process?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given by some really highly respected people in the industry is to learn as much as I can about every part of the creative process, not just what happens on stage. I’ve really taken that on because the more I learn, the more I understand how much work goes into bringing an idea to life.

It’s also made me appreciate everyone involved in a project. Whether it’s someone behind the camera, in the editing room or organising everything behind the scenes, every person plays an important role. I think understanding what everyone does not only helps me become a better performer, but it also makes me more adaptable as a creative person. Hopefully that’s something that will help me keep growing and give me longevity in the industry.

I’ve also realised I’m probably a bit of a perfectionist! Once I have an idea in my head, it’s hard for me to move on until it feels right. People will say, “No one’s going to notice that,” and they’re probably right… but I know it’s there! So I’ll keep working on it until I’m happy. I think that’s because I really care about telling the best story I can.

Your work combines music, film, and storytelling. Do you see yourself equally passionate about all three, or is there one that feels most like home?

I honestly love all three because they all give me the chance to do the thing I enjoy most, tell stories and connect with people.

Some parts definitely come more naturally to me than others, and there are areas where I have to work a bit harder to keep improving. But I actually enjoy that because every challenge helps me grow as a performer and as a creative person.

For me, music, acting and film all work together. Every project teaches me something different, and what I learn in one area usually helps me in another. At the end of the day, they’re all different ways of telling a story and making people feel something, and that’s what I’m most passionate about.

You’ve shared the stage with major artists and performed at huge events from a very young age. How do you stay grounded while experiencing opportunities that many artists only dream of?

I have to completely agree with you. Some of the things I’ve been lucky enough to do have been incredible, and I never take any of it for granted.

I think what keeps me grounded is my family, but also sticking to my normal routine. I still have school, I spend a lot of time training, and I’m always trying to learn as much as I can. That keeps me focused on what’s important and reminds me that there’s still a lot of work to be done.

I think when you keep learning and working on yourself, you don’t really have time to get too carried away! I just want to keep growing, improving and becoming the best performer and creative I can be.

As a triple threat performer, you’ve worked in musical theatre, live concerts, and now cinematic storytelling. How does each discipline influence the others in your performances?

I think they all teach you something different. Musical theatre has really taught me the importance of research. Before I take on a character, I like to research every little detail I can because it helps me understand who they are, why they’re saying something and what they’re feeling. I think the more you understand the character and the story, the more honest your performance can be.

Live performance has definitely taught me how to be flexible and ready for anything because things don’t always go exactly to plan! I was performing at a music festival recently when the main power source went out and suddenly I was performing in the dark. There wasn’t really much I could do, so I just kept going while the lighting team worked out what had happened. I’m pleased to say the lights eventually did come back on for the rest of the show! I think you need to learn not to react, stay focused and just keep performing no matter what happens around you.

Film has taught me almost the complete opposite of musical theatre in some ways. The camera can be so close that it picks up every tiny expression and movement. I’ve learnt that often less is more because even the smallest look can tell part of the story.

I think everything I learn in one area somehow finds its way into the others, and that’s what I really enjoy.

A lot of your recent work focuses on creating stories that young people can genuinely relate to. What do you hope someone your age feels after watching Suspicious Minds?

I hope they see a little bit of themselves in the story and can connect it to whatever they might be going through. Hopefully, they realise that the feelings they’re having aren’t unique to just them.

What I’ve probably realised the most so far about storytelling is that you can create something with one idea in your head, but once you share it, people can connect with it for completely different reasons. They might see something in the story that I hadn’t even thought about, and I actually really like that.

You’ve also dedicated a lot of your time to supporting charities like Sydney Children’s Hospital and Gotcha4Life. How important is it for you to use your platform to make a positive impact?

It’s really important to me. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be involved with some amazing charities and events, and you very quickly realise that the reason you’re standing on that stage is far bigger than you.

I’ve been involved with Sydney Children’s Hospital for four years now, and I feel immensely proud that each year I’ve been asked back. To be able to do something I love and use my performance to help raise money and awareness for something as important as saving sick kids is really special to me. The same with Gotcha4Life and the work they do supporting mental fitness.

Giving back to the community is really important in my family and to me. If we can help in any way to make things better for others by contributing what we can, then I think we should. For me, what I can contribute is my performance, and I’m really proud to do that. I hope I can continue doing a lot more of it in the future.

Finally, with such an incredible start to your career, what excites you the most about the next chapter, and what kind of artist do you hope to become in the years ahead?

I think what excites me most is how much I still want to do. I have a lot of original music I’ve been working on that I’m really excited to share , and I definitely want to keep exploring film and storytelling. I’d actually love to take one of my original songs and develop it into a short film one day.

In the years ahead, I hope I can become an artist who can move between musical theatre, live music and screen. That’s why continuing to train and build my knowledge across all those areas is so important to me. I want to develop each of them at a strong level so I have the ability to adapt, move between different projects and keep challenging myself.

More than anything, I just want to keep growing and creating and hopefully find pathways that allows me to keep doing what I love. I’ve still got so much to learn but I think that’s probably the most exciting part.