Editor-In-Chief/Interview: Marvin Calderon
Cover Photography: Vonny Lorde @lastnamelorde
Makeup Artist: Ms Myles @ms.mylesmua
Publicist: Sophie Brocklehurst
Actress and singer Jordan Alexander talks her new album Now You’re Caught Up, working on HBO’s Gossip Girl as the lead Julien Calloway, her love for fashion and more.
Canada has a new pop star. Hailing from the vibrant city of Toronto comes the ever so stylish actress and singer Jordan Alexander who has just released her highly-awaited debut album, ‘Now You’re Caught Up.’
Originally from Vancouver, BC – Jordan moved to Toronto in her late teens and has since made it her permanent home where she basks in the city’s flourishing fashion and music scene. Growing up on the outskirts of the city, she was raised with a diverse musical palette, listening to artists such as Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg and Tupac just to name a few.
Before entering the world of acting, Jordan was a musician, even later learning how to produce her own music during the pandemic-era in 2020 while in-between acting auditions prior to landing the lead role as Julien Calloway on HBO’s Gossip Girl reboot. Two weeks after landing her big break on the HBO series, she packed her bags and moved to New York City to begin filming. Her move to New York didn’t just mark the big break of her acting career, but also her foray into the world of high fashion. In the American fashion capital, Jordan found herself attending the Met Gala, featured on numerous fashion magazines from Dazed to Galore, even landing the opportunity as an ambassador for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty. However, during that time, Jordan tells us that she never strayed away from singing, “I was always doing music, that never stopped,” she says as she worked on her debut album behind the scenes. “I wrote, produced and recorded the album while filming Gossip Girl.”
After filming two seasons of Gossip Girl in New York, Jordan returned to her hometown of Toronto, immersing herself in finishing her project alongside executive producer, JUNO-award winning rapper Haviah Mighty and producer JUNO-award winning producer Taabu. The queer pop-icon-in-the-making even linked up with the JUNO-nominated R&B/Reggae fusion artist Omega Mighty for the remix and music video for her single ‘Scared To Get Close.’ Inspired by the likes of Charli xcx, Karol G, Latto and Sexyy Red – Jordan produced on the album herself alongside Haviah and Taabu, crafting a pop-project filled with 80s synths, smart and sexy lyrics, giving us all the tea and drama on her life outside of acting to her personal relationships. “It’s a triple entendre,” Jordan tells us about the title of her album. “I was so incredibly caught up in the situation, caught up, down bad, really in my feelings.”
Fast-forward to the present, Jordan Alexander has finally dropped her highly anticipated 9-track album, ‘Now You’re Caught Up.’ From her brat-like ‘PWO’ to her soulful and intimate freestyle, ‘Why Would You’ – Now You’re Caught Up offers something to music lovers everywhere. As Jordan continues to make a name for herself in both the music and acting worlds, she hopes that listeners will find comfort in her debut project. “I get a lot of comfort from music. Songs that make me feel like I understand what the artist is feeling and can relate. I want it to feel like a catch up… and now you’re caught up.”
I had the chance to catch up with Jordan in an exclusive interview with XMPL as she talked on the inspirations behind her new album, collaborations, working on Gossip Girl, her love for fashion and much more. Check out our interview with Jordan Alexander and stream her new album – Now You’re Caught Up below.
XMPL: To start off the year, you released the first single from your album Now You’re Caught Up – what was the inspiration behind making a song about Leaving Toronto?
Jordan Alexander: Leaving Toronto is quite a literal track. I was leaving Toronto and under really fantastic circumstances. I had just been cast in Gossip Girl and the level of excitement and chaos was super heightened in that aspect of my life. But I was also leaving a lot behind which gave it a bittersweet quality. I was trying to get clarity about a romantic situation that was in a very unclear place and it was hard to feel like me leaving might mean leaving that behind forever.
You collabed with fellow Toronto artist Omega Mighty for the remix of your single Scared To Get Close – how did this collab come to be and how was it working with Omega on this remix?
It was such an honor to collaborate with Omega, she’s such an incredibly talented and interesting person. At first I was asking to see if she could choreograph a dance to go along with the track, but as we were talking she was so excited and telling me how much she loved the track and an idea to have her feature popped into my head! I was nervous because I didn’t want to push my luck, but lucky me she wanted to do the collab.
What’s the message behind the album name, Now You’re Caught Up? What were some of the inspirations behind this project?
Now You’re Caught Up wasn’t originally the title of the album. But I was talking it through with my friend and executive producer on the album Haviah Mighty, and she was asking me to explain the reasoning behind the original album name. Haviah has this ability to have you answering your own questions and I realized that the original album title didn’t apply anymore, and through that conversation: Now You’re Caught Up was born. It’s a triple entendre. Caught up on what I do outside of being an actress, caught up on the teeeeaaaa/drama, and caught up; what I was experiencing when I was writing the album, I was so incredibly caught up in the situation, caught up, down bad, really in my feelings.
From the singles from your album, which would you say is a personal favourite?
Personal favourite would probably be the remix with Omega Mighty on Scared To Get Close, that was just so magic.
I know you worked with JUNO-Award winners Haviah Mighty and producer Taabu – what was it like working closely with them on this project?
It was great! We actually worked together prior on a cover of Lovers In a Dangerous Time for Holt Renfrew back in 2021 so we already had a working relationship, and I had started becoming closer friends with Haviah since then. They are both so talented and we all meshed so well making this project, I loved it.
“I would love to collaborate with Toronto artists. I like getting involved with what’s happening in my city.”
Can we expect anymore visuals/music videos from the album?
Yes, I think so! I get busy with acting and have to put music stuff on hold a little bit. But I love making things with my friends when we all have time to create so I feel like I’ll end up getting around to a visual for Out Of Reach (the 3rd single).
Who are some artists you’d love to see yourself collaborating with in the future?
I would love to collaborate with Toronto artists. I like getting involved with what’s happening in my city. It’s so hard for me to imagine collaborations, I’m not sure.
What are your thoughts on the current musical landscape in Toronto? Do you have any favourite artists from the city?
Love it, love to see it expanding and growing. I love Haviah of course, Jessie Reyez (I would love to collab with her actually), and Sadboi, those are the ones that come straight to mind.
“I didn’t necessarily know I had that in me”
You’ve had a great acting career so far, working on HBO’s Gossip Girl remake as Julien Calloway – a huge feat for a Canadian talent! What was it like working as a lead on this series?
It was insane and wild, and I didn’t necessarily know I had that in me, I learned SO much playing Julien. Learned how to take up more space and put myself in leadership positions in my mind. I definitely gained a lot of confidence in my ability as an actor and confidence in my ability to progress and improve.
I know your were originally a music artist before going into acting. What motivated you to get back to your musical roots post-Gossip Girl?
Well I was always doing music, that never stopped. I wrote, produced and recorded the album while filming Gossip Girl.
Your character Julien had a great sense of style, something you both share in common. From Dazed editorials to repping Rihanna’s SavageXFenty to attending the Met Gala – you are no stranger to the wild world of fashion. What would you say is your favourite thing about fashion?
My favourite thing about fashion is the way that it elevates my mood and my power. I will move different in an outfit that I feel really good in, and I like the positive influence that that has. I also feel that it’s an act of self love when I put myself in a cute outfit.
Who or what would you say are some of your styles inspirations?
Sakina Garcia has been such a style inspiration to me ever since we met. They have an incredible sense of style and personal expression and they taught me a lot about the value of that. I’m also very inspired by 90s/00s stuff, I like really baggy jeans and I feel like that is that era.
What are some of your personal style “hacks” or go-to’s?
LAYERS. The difference that layering can make changed how I dress myself. Layering brings complexity and intrigue, even if the fit is still simple a layered element can give it more allure.
Lastly, what do you hope listeners will take away from your new album?
Comfort. I get a lot of comfort from music. Songs that make me feel like I understand what the artist is feeling and can relate. I want it to feel like a catch up… and now you’re caught up.
