Rising Stars: Meet Jordan Carter of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Carter

Hi Jordan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sure, i make it a point to let everyone know that I am a Proud Clevelander,i was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio and i got my love for drums and all things music in that city. A lot of my musical hero are from Cleveland and still live in Cleveland. Erik Sledge, Joe Eff, Alan Curry, The Hubbard Family, Gabe jones, Paul Engram. man the list goes on. After Completing high school, I moved to Boston to further my education. Boston honed my work ethic and business skills. I studied under Neal smith (who ironically is from Cleveland) Vancil Cooper, Coran Henley, Al Cleveland, Martin Robinson, Victor Hernandez! Boston for sure made me a better musician and a better man! i found the love of my life there and stayed in boston for 13 years. Shortly after getting married, we decided to make the move to nashville. Weve been here for 2 years now and im loving EVERY PART of nashville, the music, the BBQ, the whisky, tuh, I love it here! i do have beef with all the party busses, but thats a story for a different day.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
*clears throat loudly* IT HAS NOT BEEN SMOOTH AT ALL! There have been many struggles, I think one of the biggest struggles for me was committing on what exactly i want to do, And i still struggle with that, Like i used to say ” i just wanna play drums..” but what does that actually mean? and i can play drums for free in a room by myself. So i had to figure out what i really wanted to do musically. Im also the most indecisive man in the world, I love choices and yet i hate making a decision. So my answer to ” what do i wanna do” changes all the time. Ive realized that I love playing behind artist and bringing there live show together, i love the energy, i love the feeling of a crowd, no matter the size. I also want to get paid LOLOL and then thats where another struggle comes in. because the music industry or more-so the LIVE music industry isn’t the most stable and lucrative industry to be in. and if you go on tour with an artist you miss time with your family and miss holidays and ect, i dont wanna miss my wife AND the christmas HAM! lolol . it can be lucrative but you will have good seasons and bad seasons, so the stability aspect makes me wanna go into the business side of music. but as you can see, its STILL a struggle for me LOL

Ive also struggled with me assuming i know what the industry wants, Like i often get worried that im getting older and i wont be needed in the music industry anymore because they are always looking for new, young musicians. I do combat that feeling with making sure that i am ALWAYS a student, i want to be as knowledgeable as possible, knowledge/wisdom is always the thing that the youth wont have,

I struggle with comparison of other musicians online, It is VERY EASY to compare your self to people in you’re area and/or age range. sometimes you see these really talented musicians doing a lot, and i feel like im not doing as much or making the right connections. and if im being completely transparent i also see musicians that i think isn’t as talented doing a lot more work than me and it makes me wonder what more should i be doing. I can be happy for those musicans because i want EVERYONE to win And i dont look down on anyone or DONT want them working, i just want the same succeess, heck even more. When i get that feeling tho i always remind my self that i have to be patient and be ready for when my name is called instead of looking at others. But i have to acknowldge that compairing myself with other musicans was/is a struggle. At the end of the day tho, “comparision is the theif of joy” and im not just gonna let something take my joy!

to sum this up, theres struggles all around! LOLOL i still struggle.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Im a musican, i play studio session, weddings, musicals/plays, bar gigs, I’m here for it all! i usually tell people that i play anything that gives me a check lol I am the musical Director for a few artist: Oompa, (@oompoutloud) Lisa Bello (@lisabellomusic) and Kaylee Rose (iamkayleerose). I also play Drums for a couple of other artist, @slimgambill, @avevadese, @Mattferrantimusic, @kyndlewyld. Ive played a few cool musicals including “wild” staring idina Menzell and songs written by Justin Tranter, I also Travel with the musical “macbeth in stride” written by tony nominated Whitney White!

I specialize in being a great listener. You tell me what you want and ill do just that, its a simple yet effective method. I offer my insight when i see its welcomed and i also take my feelings out of the process when its needed. sometimes artist and musicians have a vision and its my job to just help create the vision and not get in the way of the vision. I dont exactly know what sets me apart, but i do pride myself on just being a cool guy, i want to make sure that there love, laughter, good vibes and good food (especially pancakes/breakfast) around when im around. the stress of creating can be overbearing, i dont want to add to that feeling at all. so i make sure to be a light and not just SOOOO business minded that you never see my personality.

Ive recently started a podcast called “The Indemand Podcast” where i interview Creatives that indemand in order to help other creatives become indemand

Im proud of making it this far in the music industry, Theres SO MANY killing players that the industry doesnt need me at all yet somehow im still getiing work, and that makes me proud of myself.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a goofball, i mean, im still a goof. Never took life to serious, i have a saying that says “whats funny is funny” i laugh at everything even if its not really supposed to be funny, i laugh at myself, i laugh at my wife, i laugh at my mom! and ive always been that way. Everyone in my highschool knows me for playing drums and being a clown ( even tho i didnt win class clown, which is a long story lol)! I grew up in church and was in church ALL THE TIME growing up, its pretty much the core of me and my musicianship. I love god, and i honor and trust god, Im living my life to let my light shine and to hear well done. I was always into sports, i wasn’t always good at sports but i always had interest in sports, so i am a die hard Browns, cavs, Guardians fan. i primarily watch A LOT of football tho. Other than that i was always a musican growing up, from the age of 4 till now, my main intrest was music. I grew up around So much music in cleveland, From being in church with my musical family Ala, and Fred Council, Tommie Garrett and Lacretia Bolden , to being in jazz programs with Ray porello and jackie Warren. at the community college. Then later just being in the music scene and being in the musical community! Cleveland just submerged me in music and its the best thing that happen to my childhood!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jordancartermusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordancarter.music/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JordanCarterDrums
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JordanCarter
• Other: https://linktr.ee/TheIndemandPodcast