Connect
To Top

Story & Lesson Highlights with Jordan Cordel of Central Austin/Downtown

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jordan Cordel. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jordan , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I try to have a routine about my mornings. First I start my day off with prayer, then I make my bed and immediately do some stretches and push-ups. Then I get dressed and take my dog on a 3 mile walk so we both can get our exercising for the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jordan Cordel. I am an R&B artist out of Austin, Texas originally from Port Arthur Texas. I launched my own label in 2024, BORNSTAR Productions and Entertainment. I am a singer, songwriter, producer, curator, dancer, and visionary. What makes me special or set me apart is my hard work, my passion for what I do, the authenticity behind it and being able to actually sing. I am currently prepping to release my debut album “You Made Me This Way” after some delays. I apologize to my supports who have been waiting but the perfectionist in me kept adding more songs and removing others. I just want to present my best body of work to date and I feel I’ve done that.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
This is an amazing question. I was just myself, the real me. The reason I titled my album “You Made Me This Way” is because I felt that there were relationships and people in my life that hurt me so bad that I became someone I never thought that I would be. I felt as though the only way to go throughout this life is to be guarded, I wasn’t able to have my heart on my sleeve or be a lover boy, or just be the genuine, nice guy that I am without being taken advantage of and so my heart grew a little colder. I became more of an asshole. I became more blunt, more direct, and for many years, I just never let people get that close to me. I gave them the version of myself I was willing to but not my authentic self. I honestly had to go to therapy to get the help that I needed to let go of that trauma and be open to not only loving someone or liking someone again, but just being able to be myself confidently without fear of judgement or acceptance.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Honestly, music is my platform to be able to express the things that are hard to say. When I was going through seasons of breakups or a trial in my life, I often isolated myself from people and that was the time where I was able to write music and put on paper the things that were difficult to say aloud. So honestly, my pen is my power. There will be a lot of songs on this album that will express just how I felt about what happened to me at that season in my life.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I used to feel like if I didn’t make it in music as a teenager or in my 20s that that means that I was not gonna be successful in it but the older I get the more I see people who are in their 30s finally getting their breakthrough. Artist like Victoria, Monet, Luke James and Leon Thomas for example, achieve the success they were looking for in their early to mid 30s and now that I’ve just reached my 30s with my debut album. I’m confident that there’s no such thing as being too late. Especially in R&B, I feel like you have to go through things to actually sing about it and so the older I get the more stories I have to tell.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people say that I chased my dreams, that I fought for the things that I want in life, that I love God fearlessly, no matter what anyone thought I said, that I was an amazing friend, that I love my family, and lastly, I didn’t accept no for an answer, I always find a way to make things happen.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: VoyageAustin is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Local Stories