Premiere: JORDI UP LATE "Back In LA" Music Video

Q&ASpotlightMusic

Mar 17

☆ By RAVEENA JHAJ ☆

ARTISTICALLY INTERTWINED AND INSPIRED — JORDI UP LATE combines her many passions into her music, from the versatile lyrics to the eccentric visuals, to the electro-pop production. Based in Los Angeles, JORDI UP LATE has grown up around the arts and has pursued her passions from a young age, like producing music from the age of fourteen. JORDI UP LATE is an artist whose music reflects the complexity of the human experience. Likewise, she describes herself as an individual that believes in the importance of being malleable in all facets of life. While electronic influences are prevalent, her music isn’t characterized by a specific genre and instead reflects the need to flow with the rhythm and muses of the day.

In her latest release, “Back In LA,” JORDI UP LATE explores her many passions to create a dreamlike experience. The concept of loneliness sets the center stage of the song, but through an empowerment perspective as we hear lyrics that focus on self-love and growth through being alone. The song is both fun and uplifting, while the video is vibrant, surreal, and funky, which matches the lyrics and production of the track.

Overall, it’s safe to say that JORDI UP LATE is an intricate individual. In front of her computer on Zoom, she described herself as the most loving asshole you will ever meet, among other descriptions such as being an “extroverted introvert” and a “self-proclaimed” bitch. She is outspoken and voices her opinion on today’s pressing issues, from the Black Lives Matter Protests to the issues regarding the pandemic. Given her love for an array of artistic multitudes, Jordi is highly involved in the writing, production, and visuals of her artwork, making her the center of control for the direction she desires.

The Luna Collective is honored to premiere the “Back In LA” music video and in our interview, we got to hear all about JORDI UP LATE’s unique inspirations, her relatable experiences, and her ambitious goals regarding music and life in general. Make sure you check out the “Back In LA” video below and learn more about JORDI UP LATE.

LUNA: Congrats on your latest release “Back In LA”! What inspired your new song, “Back in LA”? The song has very empowering lyrics. Were these inspired by personal events or significant moments?

JORDI UP LATE: "Back in LA" is the first song I wrote moving back to LA from college. For me, places are synonymous with people. Coming back, I was thinking of my ex but also realizing that nothing would really come from rekindling anything, whether it was a sexual or mental rekindling. Nothing positive would come out of it. Essentially, I was sitting in my room, bored, and needed to rediscover LA. For me, loneliness makes me want to put my energy into creative projects rather than going back to connections that would leave me unfulfilled. I wanted to find new people and find new artistic people. It feels regressive to go backward. It's more interesting to find people who are similar to who you are now.

Basically, "Back in LA" is a song that took inspiration from the thought of stating "fuck off" to the people that bring negativity into your life.

LUNA: The visuals for the track are really cool as well. What do you like about bringing the visual side of your work to life?

JORDI UP LATE: The visuals for me go hand and hand. I wouldn't say I have any form of synesthesia, but I have the closest thing to that. I have a feeling of something visual. I grew up doing both art forms as I learned music and painting. So it's all the same language for me. It's really fun to create animated videos to give another layer of meaning to what people can already take from the song. Even creating videos gives me insight into what I was thinking of at the same time. It metamorphoses into something new. With the video for "Back In LA," I wanted to create a real surreal version of LA, kind of like a really vibrant surreal suburb. I wanted to make it a little bit funky to match the song's personality while also letting the music video focus on myself. The song is so specific. It represents having self-awareness in the moment of being self-aware. I wanted to picture myself doing the things I might be doing when I feel bored. It's very experimental. I started editing and putting things together. It was kind of like a snowball process. The video is super colorful and energetic like the song felt, but I made it abstract. I wanted to give people an insight into my brain.

LUNA: As a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, how would you say your studies in different creative fields, such as animation, has impacted the direction you hope your music or music videos move towards?

JORDI UP LATE: The animation program at RISD is very experimental, and the teachers encourage you to get out of your comfort zone. That is the biggest reward from my experience at RISD. I was probably the only person in my year that was really focused on intertwining music and visuals. The diversity of creating videos in an art school was inspiring. I learned so much from my peers as I did with my teachers. I also made many other crafts aside from animation, like printmaking, ceramics, and installation work. It all contributes to how I envision a live performance being in the future.

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LUNA: Your debut single, “Facts” as well as your other songs, such as “Wasting Away” combine elements of electronic and pop influences. Is electropop the direction you hope to continue as you create more music?

JORDI UP LATE: I listen to pretty much everything besides country. I think my sound is constantly changing. I listen to songs I made at fourteen when I first produced music. That time was when dubstep was popular, so you could imagine what it had sounded like. In general, though, it depends on who I am working with. I really like having variety in my music, like the variety I have in my own life. Sometimes I want to paint or do ceramics or print work. Likewise, in my music, sometimes I am feeling emo electronic pop or sometimes I am feeling more R&B or more punk. It will always be changing. For example, “Wasting Away” has a more alternative sound. All the artists I like show diversion and are malleable. It’s important to be malleable to adapt to your vision and not malleable just for the industry.

LUNA: What’s been inspiring you lately?

JORDI UP LATE: I am a huge Star Trek fan and that inspires me a lot, especially with the pressing issues in this country. Star Trek is pretty progressive and gives me a lot of inspiration. From the different inter-species romances and existential crises that characters have in the show. It talks about equality and the future in a relatable way. I am also inspired lately by painting and other art forms. I’ve been focusing on getting my body into the shape of doing art.

LUNA: What would you say are the main themes of your life that you notice you like to write about? I have noticed that a lot of themes in your music seem to deal with the concept of loneliness in different ways and perspectives, such as in your songs, “Same Moon” and “Facts”.

JORDI UP LATE: A lot of my music is about people I have had or not have had relationships with, like many artists. However, a lot of my music focuses more on blossoming from those failed relationships and learning about myself. My music is about self-discovery that I may not have come through without writing—a lot of self-realization. The songwriting process helps me become more self-aware. It also helps me build confidence as a woman. For example, "Same Moon" is about being confident in loneliness. A lot of people my age are starting to realize that being alone is a beautiful thing. When I think of my writing and how I go about those themes, I notice that my writing has some humor. I am a self-proclaimed bitch. Definitely, not a pushover which reflects in my music and the messages. I have always spoken my mind. I always say that I am the most loving asshole that you will ever meet! And it's because that's how I show I care.

LUNA: When it comes to writing, what would you say is your creative process? Do you normally think of lyrics and the overall message first, or do you think of the sound and then correspond that with the lyrics?

JORDI UP LATE: It depends on where and how I am writing. So if I am writing on the piano, the lyrics shine through. If I am writing at the computer, with production, a lot of it has to do with the song. Sitting at a piano and writing is a much more solemn and lonely feel. You can be a lot more alone with your thoughts when it's not digital because it feels quieter, so it's more thought-provoking. When I am on my computer, I get inspired by the sounds. It depends on how inspiration strikes.

LUNA: A fun one - if you could have superpower what would you want and why?

JORDI UP LATE: It feels like every time I get asked this question, I have given a different answer. It depends on what's going on in the world. One that comes to mind now, which is both selfish and selfless, is to be able to create food. It would end child hunger and feed myself on demand. I'm a pretty big foodie!

LUNA: What would you say are your next main steps in regards to music? What do you hope to do in the year 2021?

JORDI UP LATE: The first next step is to get the EP finished. I want to get all the production done and release that over the summer. Another goal is a lot of collaboration, hopefully after the pandemic. I want to produce for other people’s projects as well as for my own. It’s a different way to flex my creative muscles. I would be so down to help someone write an R&B album or a very pop and electronic track. Something that is not necessarily my vision. And then just continuing to develop my own visual storytelling for the EP. I like to take everything month by month, so we will see.

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“I want to set the mood for younger emerging artists in Toronto, to be like, ‘Hey, you could, like, fucking work with literally anyone who has a kind soul.’ I do want to uplift the artist community. I do think collaboration is important, because if you wanna be in the community, you're gonna have to collaborate one way or another." - Cruz ⭐️ 🎞Allowing themself to take a more vulnerable & meaningful approach with their work, photographer Cruz is combining her creative talent with her passion for mental health advocacy. Read more about this incredible artist & how quarantine shifted her work + about the work they are doing for the community in our feature on the site now 💞