Jordan Gray

**NEWS JUST IN*** JORDAN WON THE H FACTOR LAST NIGHT! WELL DONE JORDAN***

There's a new talent emerging on the scene, showing off his wares on Myspace, he goes by the username Tall Dark Friend. I'd like you all to meet Jordan Gray..

Hi Jordan what got you started in music ?

Well, my Mom is a good singer and she had a fantastic record collection when we were growing up, a lot of modern country and motown. My Dad is big on the Elvis circuit, he used to do the whole Elvis mime dance thing and won every time, I can't dance like him though.I was a big MJ fan, still am, and in middle school I did two or three MJ tributes that got me going. I did the whole punk thing with a couple o' guys, got pretty big with a bunch o' mates singing heavy metal but eventually it got to be too much for me and so I settled back into a wonderful acoustic pop-rock trio.. with the two single most amazing guys I've ever worked with, Ben Sullivan and Joe Wilson really made the first few years worth while. When I realised they'd both be off to uni soon I taught myself piano and figured I'd go solo and see what happened. I guess I got lucky..

You taught yourself well, I personally, along with a lot of your fans, think you're an exceptional piano player, and am rather glad you went solo.Is there a genre you favour over others ?

I'm a big Jazz fan. Jazz and blues are difficult genres to pull off, especially nowadays, but they're totally worth it and stick with you for the rest of your life. Progressive acoustic rock is doing very well nowadays too.

They are worth it, and there is a lot more of both in the mainstream at the moment, with the likes of Jamie Cullum and Katie Melua.

What are your top 5 favourite songs ?

Ooh, no no no! lol


Ok, but they change..

5. 9 Crimes – Damien Rice


4. A Night In Tunisia – 'Yardbird' Charlie Parker


3. Human Nature – Michael Jackson


2. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (written by Leonard Cohen)


1. Lost Remembered Forgotten And Gone – Ben Sullivan of The Juniper Zoots





Some good choices there, mine change all the time too. One of mine is currently Ghostigator ;)

Aside from from music, what other interests do you have?

I write a lot, play table tennis, swim sometimes. To be honest, other than the music, food is my biggest interest. I love to eat, everything, and there's nothing wrong with that so long as you exercise, no diet can compare with a good exercise regime. I sometimes act in theatre if there's nothing else going on at the time.

Where do you draw your inspirations from ?

People are a wonderful source. I love people and how they interact with other people. I would bet most singer-songwriters are avid 'people watchers'. I was taken very ill between 2005 and early 2007 and I suppose I do draw a lot from those experiences.

Hmm yes, "people watching" a very lucrative pastime that one. It is amazing what you can get from watching a person.

If you had the chance to spend a day with one musician (alive or dead) who would it be and why?

I would love to have spent a day with the great Jeff Buckley, maybe even played a gig with him in Chicago or something. People who knew him say he lit up their whole lives with what he'd say and how he'd say it. I wish I'd been old enough to appreciate him when he was alive. Failing that I reckon a day with Ray Charles would have been a blast, I'm sure he could have taught me a thing or two.

Is there anything about the current music industry that you don't like ?

The music industry today seems more focused on the mainstream than they ever have before. A lot of big names today sound very British, Mancunian to be specific, which I suppose I do enjoy, but I think it is because they are more patriotic than they are talented that they make it big.I don't like the facelessness of today's industry either, things aren't very personal any more, not like the 50's and the 60's.

It has been very focused on commercialism, and it's a shame because there is so much unique talent out there.

What has been your biggest achievement to date ?

Well, the first album 'Beautiful' was entirely self produced, from the music, to the graphics, to the distribution, so I suppose I am very proud of that. Reaching the H-Factor finals (September 25th at The Four Seasons in Laindon) is a big thing for me, winning and heading off to the nationals would probably be one of the biggest things to date. There's been a recent major label interest which is exciting but just getting through these past few years and having something to show for it is by far my proudest achievement.

That is a fantastic achievement, and quite rightly you should be proud.

What are your plans for the future?

Ooh, lots of stuff. H-Factor Nationals (Jordan WON), 2nd album 'The Anti-Hero' just hit the studio floor, there's talk of a university tour across the country and a lot of work in London to promote the image.

Excellent, so we'll all get too see you touring the country. Something to look forward to.

Have you got anything in the pipeline ?

I'd like to network with a bunch of established musicians and put together a collaboration of some sort. Any saxophonists out there interested in a slot on the 2nd album? Besides that the sky's the limit, I'm so excited I can't contain it really, all I can say is I hope people will lend their support and look out for me, things are moving pretty fast and it could be any day now that I get the break I need.

Jordan is a very humble and unassuming chap, who did a wonderful thing a few months ago, he actually wrote a song called Ghostigator for me to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK, for an event I'm doing. Thanks Jordan.

Thanks for taking the time to speak to me Jordan, I wish you well and all the luck in the world, but somehow I don't think you're going to need it. I look forward to hearing your CD.

If you want to see and hear more of Tall Dark Friend, please visit his myspace


page


http://www.myspace.com/talldarkfriend




Good luck with the H finals, please come back and let us know how you get on.