Photos by Ava Bozic
In the midst of dazzling disco lights and reflections from chandeliers, I could feel the palpable excitement as I made my way to the photo pit. The buzz of fans alongside gorgeous red stage curtains had adrenaline coursing through me. Having discovered Jordan Ward’s music through tracks “CHERIMOYA” and “FAMJAM4000” had me crossing my fingers that I’d hear hits off his 2023 album FORWARD. The clever album name is a nod to his last name, Ward, as well as his newest album, BACKWARD. Although I hadn’t given it the ceremonial headphones on a full-blast album listen, I knew I was in for a high-energy and joyous night.
As I awaited Jordan’s entrance, I thought through how I’d approach this article. Due to a serious case of senioritis with a dash of burnout, I had planned on only publishing a photo gallery for the show — however, Jordan’s sheer charisma, talent, and energy deserved more.
Opening with “STRANGER,” off his latest record BACKWARD, released in January of this year, Jordan stood in front of the curtains, warm tea in hand, making for an intimate performance of the vulnerable, self-reflective track. Jordan came out of the gate with beautiful vocals — I found myself drawing parallels to greats of our generation: Frank Ocean and Justin Bieber. As the slow ballad performance of “STRANGER” came to a close, the transition to “NOISY NEIGHBORS,” provided a glimpse into his range, diving into a more upbeat R&B sound. The song thematically references the internal battles we all face, mirrored through the motifs and reality of renting:
Well, I just pray that my landlord will do me right
Get me some sleep at night, can't even ease my mind
And put me in a place where I can have a sense of pride
We all got problems deep inside
Ward’s repeating motifs about apartment life, drugs, renting, landlords, and neighbors are all what I interpreted as pawns to describe a greater internal dwelling that takes place behind closed doors. The lyrics are all inherently relatable in a literal sense, as well as an internalized representation of one’s ruminations.
As the drums reverberated through the front row, Jordan yelled “LOS ANGELESSSS,” the curtains opened, and thus began THE APARTMENT TOUR. “Make yourselves at home,” he said, as he welcomed us into his set: an apartment living room, with timeless, grandma-esque lounge chairs and lamps. It felt like an homage to the origins of creativity — the privacy of our homes.
Next was “ROSS FIT,” a more electronic sound — completely switching up the vibe. Ward’s spirit and confident stage presence emanated throughout the audience, which was equally as high energy and joyous as him.
The show featured two special guests, Sailorr for “SMOKIN POTNA” and 6LACK for “MUSTARD.” Songs which quickly became new favorites — however, old favorites reigned as the highlights of my evening: “Lil Baby Crush,” a clear fan-favorite: “CHERIMOYA,” and “WHITE CROCS.”
At one point in the night, Jordan scaled the speakers on the side of the wall, getting impressively high. The ease of his movements and engagement with the crowd prove why he has danced alongside the likes of Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé. Having dedicated much of his youth to dance, Jordan’s plethora of artistic expression shines through his live performances.
I enjoyed Ward’s choice to skip an encore and instead leave it all out there. He ended the show with two feel-good tracks, “FAMJAM4000” into “CHAMPION SOUND,” whose lyrics repeat affirmations and reassurance to the crowd. It was the sort of togetherness, optimism, and love you can expect to leave with after experiencing Jordan Ward live, a peaceful sendoff after a lively night.
You're a champion, a champion (Mommy, you're a champion)
Mommy, you're a champion, a warrior (Mommy, you're a warrior)
Mommy, you're a champion, mommy, you're a warrior
Don't she cheer me on already?
Listen to Jordan Ward’s album BACKWARD here:
