#BlackAltBae: Jordon Bolden of JORRE

Jordon Bolden is the frontman and mastermind of JORRE. It was an immeasurable delight to complete this interview with him on October 16th, 2026. 

 

First off, thanks for doing this. I was ecstatic when I first came across your band on Instagram. You’ve got some serious pipes! How would you describe the musical style of JORRE?
 
Thanks!! You have no idea how much that means to me. I’d describe this first iteration as the first birth notes of JORRE. I grew up in a Black Baptist household in Seattle, but when we weren't singing in the church, we were listening to the rock music on the radio. This project and JORRE is going back to that sound. What of the 1990s/2000s rock felt black to me, and how could I bring that back into the first birthplace for a band sound I personally want to get back to.

 

Are you currently based in Seattle?

 

Nope, just born and raised in Seattle. Currently live in New York City. 

 

It sounds like you come from a musical family. How do they like your current sound? 

You should hear our family functions. Most of my family lives down in Shreveport Louisiana, and don’t let there my Grandma or aunt start a prayer circle - cause everybody gonna have to add in their verse on “Trouble In My Way", haha. More than anything, my immediate family just loves GOOD music, no matter the genre. My parents had this CD player with a TON of CDs they’d collect and it was a mix of like Gospel artists like John P Kee and Fred Hammond to R&B/Jazz with Sade and Johnathon Butler, all the way to rock like Bruce Springsteen. I’m somewhere in the middle.

 

Random question – are you a theater kid? Your face is theatrically expressive when you perform.
 
Ehhhh, I gave theater a try but it doesn’t really align with my values anymore. Church was the real theater for me. I’m a child of the Black church. 

 

So if I understand correctly, JORRE is not a “normal” band. You stand at the core and collaborate with a roster, correct?
 
Yeah, JORRE (means ground/field worker) started as me wanting to create a new identity, yet I never really like being just a solo act. I want to create a world bigger than myself so I could get out of the way and feel free again to try new things. I haven’t decided how much of this reflects my own personal life, and how much is simply the projection of the life I want to explore. Everything I do starts with collaboration, so whether JORRE is me with a band onstage, a film project or an event, I want to always find a way to bring more people and ideas into the fold.

 

How and when did you establish JORRE? What inspired you to go with this specific format?

JORRE became a real thing only in the last year. I was tired of not putting out music and using my voice again (my friends more so, lol), so I went back to listened to all the albums I grew up with. The ones I sang along to, the ones that made me cry in the back seat on the way school. What made me feel fucking emo and ME, and all these references came to me. Then, with the help of my childhood friend Saxton, and the help of my INCREDIBLE producer Tony Pietrafesa – we got to work. Now I don’t have to dream of making music anymore, I’m finally doing it and excited to see where this shit goes.

 

How many instruments do you play, by the way? Did you take classes or are you self-taught?

 

I just play my voice! I’m really nerdy about the computer and vocal stacking, so I guess you could say I play the computer, too. 

So, you’ve been on set all week in Los Angeles. What are you currently working on?

 

Yes! I just wrote a mini TV series that uses my upcoming EP as a soundtrack! It’s a psychological drama, and takes place inside the mind of a suicide survivor's brain. We just shot it in West Virginia, and I’m not gonna lie, it’s fucking amazing. I produced, wrote, directed, edited, and [I'm] starring in it with some other increeeeedible actors you may recognize. ;) It’s always been my dream as an artist/filmmaker to let my music be the soundtrack to my scripted narrative mind, and I made it happen. <3

 

I’m from (and currently back in) West Virginia! Where did you film? What made you choose our beautiful state? And how did you go about doing a TV series? 

 

No way! We shot the project in Wheeling and Fallensbee West Virginia! It was a beautiful place – I wanted a play that felt surreal yet small town. West Virginia is cinematic as fuck. Plus they have a great film tax credit!

 

I’ve made a ton of films with friends, and used to package TV shows to pitch to networks like HBO and Netflix, but I never got a chance to make a show of my own – even in this small form, it feels SOOO massive to me. I can’t wait for people to experience it.

 

No kidding! I went to your IMDB page and saw your credits. Blue Bloods, Law & Order, Marvel’s Daredevil – that’s incredible! How did you get involved with such high-profile projects, and what was the experience like? 

Acting was a huge part of my life. When I moved to New York City, I got an agent and started booking tons of TV and film work. Feel very blessed for the opportunities I’ve had! Working in those spaces proved to me being in those spaces is possible (especially as a Black person), you just gotta find your people!!

So you’re a singer, actor, and filmmaker. Any other art forms we should know about?

 

Hehe, I used to try to hide the list of all the art forms I’m in, but fuck that. I make music and I make movies. I also love architecture and interior design. Oh, and culinary. I love to cook. Maybe I’ll open a slick restaurant with a great music and film curation. There are no limits anymore.  

 

 

Let’s talk “Wannabe”. I’m glad you mentioned the 1990s/2000s influence earlier. Every time I listen to this song (because it stays on repeat), I think, “I’ve heard this type of song before…but I’ve never heard it sung quite like this.” What went into the creation of that one? 

 

Ahhh, I’m so happy you dig it. "WANNABE" is my baby, for sure. I went through a pretty chaotic period of breakups (friends and lovers), and thru a shit ton of therapy, realized there was a level of cruelty I was allowing into my circle that I honestly wasn’t taking responsibility for. Almost like I was addicted to people who I knew would hurt me. I’m a blind lover and trust SO easily. I wanted to bottle that feeling of betrayal and imagine what I would say to those people. “You fucked with my head, it felt awful, but maybe I’m also responsible cause I allowed it for so long and maybe just needed to be okay with being alone.” I know someone else might feel that way, so I put that into a sound that I too would scream along to in my bedroom as a kid – Flyleaf, Paramore, etc. Jari Jones helped write the lyrics, and PHEW their pen is undeniable! 

  

 

 

“Clever” also made me wonder if you had a music theater background. I saw the live version before I heard the single version. What’s the story behind that song, and what made you link up with Wholesoul String Quartet?

 

YES, Wholesome String Quartet and Songs with Strings!! My bestie found them online. They sent me this video of Jamaica Moana and I freaked out. Not only did I love the arrangement, but they platform mainly Black and queer artists. My kinda people. I sent them "CLEVER", and they instantly hit me back offering a slot, I’m super grateful as it blew up on TikTok and IG. Jorre was really birthed when they put me on. As for the origin of the song, let’s just say I got into a minajatwa with this woman and her husband, and it ended in divorce, lol.

 

Lol, not a minajatwa! Speaking of Wholesoul, who else would you like to collaborate with? 

 

Oh man. I have so many people I want to collaborate with on my list. For music – Doechii, Childish Gambino, WILLOW! My new favorite has been Cure For Paranoia, writing something for us as we speak. ;)

 

I’ve noticed you capitalize everything. Your band name, your song titles, your EP title. Is there a special meaning behind that?

 

Totally. I’ve been playing really small in my life lately, so when I decided to do music again and this project, I wanted everything to feel giant and make my eyes hurt a bit until I see myself again. I think it’s working. 

Jordon, you have an extremely addictive voice. I need an album. I need a tour, and I need music videos – STAT.  When can fans expect these things?

 

Thank you!! My EP NOWHERE is out OCT 16th, and literally the second someone calls for me to go on tour, it’s game over. My goal is to open for someone within the next year. I wanna play stadiums sooo bad and will keep writing 'til it gets me there.

 

Who would you like to open for?

 

I’d open for WILLOW, Billie Eilish, Doechii, and honestly – Beyoncé.

 

Jordon, this has been amazing. I feel like I could talk to you for days. Thank you so much for taking the time. I’m going to be on the lookout for the new music, and I hope to see you live in concert.