“Follow Jordan Gruver’s engaging experiences as she retells them harmoniously on each song from ‘Until I’m Old News’.
Arizona-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Gruver carves out striking ballads after striking ballads, and tied together this becomes her debut album ‘Until I’m Old News’. The opening single ‘Proximity’ was released back in February 2023, and since then Gruver has been expressing her vocals with moving melodies, combining folk, pop and jazz instrumentation.
The vocal enunciation produced in the first song ‘Ask Me To’ conveys the depth of range (mid and low) and depth of emotion in Jordan Gruver’s unique tone. We can hear the rich jazz elements, which can be likened to singer-songwriter Norah Jones. In lines like ‘I used to like myself around you‘, there’s a warmth despite the wistfulness in the lyric, showing her skill in portraying complex feelings and storylines.
‘Proximity’, the first single released from ‘Until I’m Old News’, begins with an array of piano notes to create this stripped back sound. A minimalist yet so sophisticated piece, undoubtedly. The vocals have fragments similar to that of alternative artist Julien Baker, concurring with the instrumental so naturally. This purity within the production continues as we hear following song ‘Unrestrained’. A higher range meets a more acoustic instrumental. A solely instrumental interlude takes place in the midst of this melody, shrouded in an atmosphere so uplifting and thoughtful.
Gruver shares about how the album came to fruition: “We recorded the album at the Rancho De La Luna studio in Joshua Tree, California, in September of 2022. I was very adamant about wanting to record the album live in the room together. We tracked ten songs in four days and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The album is a snapshot into my early twenties after moving to LA. It’s about self-exploration – growing up and growing out of an older version of myself, learning who I am, who I want to be, and making tons of mistakes along the way.”
‘Without Loving You’ is just the type of song you want to sing to your heart’s content, attempting to reach the angelic high notes at the chorus. There’s something quite alleviating in the undertones of the melody, perhaps linked to the relatability derived from the narrator’s honest, likely relatable words; ‘Your only way of loving was to keep it in your heart’. The combination of piano notes and acoustics on ‘Transatlantic’ gives rise to a heartfelt, mellow effect. The vocals soak up every ounce of feeling.
On final melody ‘Lately’, everything seems to fall into place. Gruver recalls ‘Blurry nights watching TV‘ and repeats the focal statement ‘You can waste all my time‘. In terms of mood and character, ‘Lately’ is suggestive of folk singer Kathryn Williams. Pure instrumental leads us out, fusing sounds that encapsulate ‘Until I’m Old News’.
You can listen to ‘Until I’m Old News’ here: