The Biz With D: Interview w/Jordan Bratton + Charles Perry + Alex & Dre

You’ve got to understand music’s traditions in order to reinvent them. Jordan Bratton certainly does. The 18-year-old singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer possesses a prodigious grasp on all aspects of music. His critically applauded 2014 mixtape, The Grey Area, and debut single “Danger 3” are wholly the products of his personal production and songwriting vision. Armed with a multitude of talents, he stands poised to truly break ground.

At only four-years-old, the New York native realized his innate passion for singing. Encouraged by his “musical” family, he joined the choir in Kindergarten and enjoyed his first moment in the spotlight singing a solo at Lincoln Center during the holidays. Young Jordan also learned the drums before picking up piano and organ at age eleven followed by guitar, bass, and even clarinet. Immersed in the likes of Earth Wind & Fire and Kim Burrell among other R&B and gospel icons, he even started performing live with his dad’s band as well as playing organ at church.

“I built a great feel and vibe for soulful music,” he explains. “I really admired those artists, and they impacted my singing so much.”

Around the same time, Jordan also hit Broadway. After joining the touring production of The Lion King as “Young Simba,” he went on to star in The Color Purple. All the while, he amassed an impressive collection of songs and productions created in his parent’s basement.