One of the most picturesque places in the whole United States is the Pacific Northwest. It’s something anyone who has spent even a minute of their lives knows all too well, especially Jasmine Jordan. Being that it was where she grew up, the R&B songstress paid homage to the locale with the visual concept album, ‘Innermission.’ We talked about the album, what came before it, and what’s to come in this back and forth exchange.

Kendra: You’ve always been enamored with music, and even found yourself in part of a group at one time. Were you able to take something from your days in Sugar Water Purple and apply it to your solo career that’s helped push you in a direction you may not have otherwise traveled? 

Jasmine Jordan: Absolutely, I learned so much from that experience that helped prepare me for the journey I would be on as a solo artist. One thing that stands out the most is that I learned to trust myself and musical decisions more and just grew to be an overall more confident artist and performer. And a lot of that was learned through cringe-worthy moments like watching back a performance and being brutally honest that I wasn’t yet being my authentic self on stage. It challenged me to show up as all of me. On stage, in the studio, songwriting, vocally!

Kendra: So it was December 2020 when you released ‘Innermission.’ A lot of musicians were pulling back on new material at that time because at that point it was like, well…when is this going to end? What made you want to go through with the release? 

Jasmine Jordan: I honestly thought about waiting but my spirit was ready to release the project into the world. I had been working on the album for years and I just felt it was time. Too much delay and it can end up never being released. I needed to honor what my spirit was telling me to do despite the chaos going on in the world! So that’s what I did. It definitely was a rough time to release anything because of the pandemic and the election cycle that turned into a whole ordeal but I just had to honor myself.

Kendra: Now you’re re-releasing of sorts but this time as a concept visual album that was shot back where you grew up in the Pacific Northwest. What made you want to return home for that?

Jasmine Jordan: I deeply believe that nothing is a coincidence. My project was titled ‘Innermission’ after first, freely creating all the music. It was a title given organically, that best represented the body of work after it was created. Then the pandemic hit unexpectedly and I decided to go home for a period of time to be with my family which was never in my original plans. I believe it was divine intervention. The documentary director, Andric Queen-Booker, had a vision to do it documentary style and recommended shooting it where my inner-mission really began. 

In the PNW. It was perfectly set up for us to take a very small team and record an intimate visual experience of me back in the place that helped shape me into the woman and artist I am today. It felt surreal in a lot of ways because of how perfectly it all came together.

Kendra: Because now you’re out east as far away from the greenery of the PNW in Brooklyn. Do you feel a varied creative vibe in Brooklyn vs. out west? 

Jasmine Jordan: Brooklyn has an unmatched energy. An energy I can’t even properly describe. It’s culture, history, diversity, inspiration everywhere in a very different way than the PNW. Both speak to my soul in different ways. I’m excited to see what new creations BK inspires in and out of me! 

Kendra: You’ve noted that the visual album was inspired by Beyonce’s iconic ‘Lemonade.’ Is there any part of that you found the most motivational?

Jasmine Jordan: Beyonce inspires everything! Her ability to see bigger, to trailblaze and to tell stories through the art- both with music and visuals- that provokes emotion and deeper dialogue inspires and pushes/challenges me in my artistry. ‘Lemonade’ challenged all artists to move away from just the traditional music video to telling a fuller story through the visual and musical pairing that really created an experience. This was the first time we did that. She inspired me to want to create an Innermission experience versus just a music video.   

Kendra: This time around ‘Innermission’ is getting brand new tracks. Were these entirely new songs, or songs that’d you’d been working on for a minute but weren’t quite ready for the 2020 release? 

Jasmine Jordan: Most of the new tracks are entirely new songs inspired and written after the release. Collection is a song I started writing before its release but it wasn’t ready. It was just in the initial creative stages. I’m so happy I get to add it to the project now. 

Kendra: Again, this visual album takes advantage of the Pacific Northwest utilizing a lot of natural landscapes. With that, how important would you say getting out into nature is for one’s own inner mission and mental health?

Jasmine Jordan: I would say it’s a necessity for one’s inner mission and mental health. I can’t even tell you how many days stepping outside for some fresh air during the pandemic saved me from going completely crazy. There’s something about fresh air, greenery, the natural sounds of the animals and earth, that is simply centering. Nature reminded me that there’s a much larger purpose at play and that surely if God created the ocean, the sky, the lakes, the birds, clouds, the sun etc., I was being taken care of. Stepping out in nature reminds me there’s so much possibility and hope available to me. 

Kendra: Also, with Coachella still fresh on my mind and all these artists from today bringing out the likes of Shania Twain and Hayley Williams, I’d love to know what artist you’ve drawn inspiration from would you love to connect with if you had the chance to at a festival like that? 

Jasmine Jordan: Such a fun question! I would have to say Pharrel, Missy Elliott, or Mariah Carey. Easy! 

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Innermission’ out in June – anything else you can share with us, perhaps tour plans? 

Jasmine Jordan: Nothing I can announce quite yet BUT I can say there are performances coming, new music and merch and you can stay tapped in with me via social media and my website.