Conversations with Aly Jordan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aly Jordan

Hi Aly, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Life can change so quickly and put us on paths we never expected…and sometimes it’s all because of pie.

In 2014, I first visited Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, TN. I was about to go into the studio and record a song on music row for the first time ever. My dad wanted to grab a bite to eat at Arnold’s – and of course we had to go to the guitar place next door after lunch. I was a junior in college and gigging as a solo musician to make some money on the side while I worked toward completing my BFA in North Carolina. Dad had been playing since he could walk, basically, and vintage instruments had a hold on him.

So we finished our cobbler and walked over to the little shop where I unknowingly would find my happiness just ten short years later.

After that trip, I completed college in the mountains near Asheville, and moved immediately to Nashville to be in a country music show in 2017. I had received the job offer before graduation, and was thrilled to have something lined up for after school. It was thanks to my mentors, Dale McCoy and David McFalls, that I had the connections in town to make this happen and I will be forever grateful to them. I made some of my best friends during those years.

My time in the show lasted from 2017 to 2020, when the pandemic abruptly had a hold on the world. All non-essential work stopped and we waited to see what would happen. My lease was up, so moved home for a bit. I spent two years in the mountains gigging on and off and making pottery. I would sell my work at craft markets/various events during the day and play outdoor venues at night per CDC recommendations.

This worked for a while, but I missed Nashville so much and I had to get back. Taking an entry-level sales job at an interior design company in Brentwood, I worked for a few weeks and got promoted to a corporate level role. It never felt great, but it somehow felt right, if that makes sense? Like I needed to be there but didn’t understand what the bigger picture looked like.

It was tough work, being a design project manager for five locations. Every single piece of furniture or decor that was produced in the design needed to be SKUed, approved, purchased, ordered, tracked, delivered to the warehouses, checked by regional team members, and then prepped for delivery/final install. It required high levels of organization, and the only creative aspect was the occasional reselection.

I really enjoyed the overall process, loved my Senior Field Designer and all the team members out of the Nashville branch. But the company was very young and had a lot to learn about how to treat their employees. A shocking turnover rate led to all but one of the local team members putting in their leave, and I was no different. In August, I had already begun laying the groundwork to leave by December.

I say all of this to paint the picture of where I was mentally during that time. I was grateful for work, but not thrilled with who I was doing it for. I was happy in Nashville, but not utilizing my creativity in the least. By the time December rolled around, I was out.

January was a hard one. If you’ve ever been between jobs you know it’s literally every emotion playing tug of war with one another. You’re elated to have that free time you’ve been asking for. You can’t be creative with that time because you feel guilty and need to be job searching. Job searching is an endless hole of doom. Etc etc. It was a lot. And then, there was Carter.

Quick side note: if you’re looking to jump into the music industry or have been here for a while already, you probably know about music connection groups on Facebook. They are highly cynical, very unhelpful, and can make you feel a little bit worse about the world. My recommendation is this: join all of them and post nothing. Reading, just like listening, can answer many questions without revealing too much. My grandma says, “Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Sometimes I am still bad at this. Sorry, Gram.

That exact thing happened to me. I saw a post about someone looking for part-time work, so I creeped in the comments and found a reply that seemed too good to be true. A part-time front desk gig at the coolest guitar store in town? I’m in. I reached out to the commenter and he sent the contact info. Exchanged a few emails and within a month I was officially on the roster.

When I tell you – leave that toxic job – I mean it with all my heart. Maybe don’t jump immediately; you know, take your time to think things through and make a plan, but definitely leave. Life is too short to not be in a place that brings you joy. My journey in the last eight months has taught me two main things: listening to your gut is imperative, and what is meant for you will be yours. Had I been too scared to leave steady work, I would have missed this amazing opportunity and future happiness.

Fast forward to September 2024 – I’m working for a company I’m so proud to be a part of, being creative every single day (in a role I love!) as a social media manger, surrounded by exceptionally talented musicians who support each other, and have the best bosses ever. Like, ever..no joke. I continue to write and perform music, but I now I have the perfect balance of using both sides of my brain, and it’s just divine. To share the wealth, I try to hype people up so they can live their best lives, too.

It boils down to this: always eat the pie.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not! I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome since I could walk, basically. But I try to live in the present, and not focus too much on the past or worry about things that might not even happen. I can be a ball of stress and it’s taken a lot of practice when it comes to learning to just let stuff go.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
This is such a tough question! I have had so many jobs since college – the most consistent one as a gigging songwriter. But I have been a zipline guide, scooped ice cream, done retail, worked at Morphe as a beauty advisor, had corporate jobs, performing jobs, freelance jobs. A little bit of everything and I think that is beautiful because every single position taught me something different. I am most proud of my ability to adapt and attempt to greet new situations with grace.

How do you define success?
Success is and always has been, for me, happiness. I may not be happy every moment of every day, but as long as I can find a least one glimmer every day, then I am successful. Sometimes it’s a iced coffee while you do your chores. “Romanticizing the mundane.” Money will come and go, people do too, but if you can create your own joy regardless of circumstance and try to radiate it for others around you, then that is success in my eyes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.musicbyaly.com/
• Instagram: @alyjordanmusic
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/alyjordanmusic