What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My name is Jordan Rietto, and I’m an alternative hip-hop artist from Maryland, USA.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
I wanted something that captured the essence of my duality of artist and person. When I first started making music, all of my confidence was in my music and on the stage. “Jordan” was the awkward, sensitive part of myself. “Rietto,” adapted from the Italian word “rieto” meaning outcast, was the outspoken and unapologetic artist in me. Both of them together create the experience that is my artist identity.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
My love for music started in middle school when I discovered a lot of emo core rock music and rap. Given that I wasn’t really supposed to be listening to it, I indulged in it that much more. From there, my love for rock and hip-hop brought me to a place of creation from appreciation.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
My latest track, which will be released early this fall, is very intentional and involves a lot of music theory. While I enjoy the concept of making my rage mosh pit anthems or bar-heavy songs, I also enjoy producing musically technical tracks due to my theory background. My next release leans into this aspect a lot while remaining high energy and engaging.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
My main message is that your life is yours. As someone who has subjected themselves to the expectations of others for a very long time, my number one ideology to give others is to live for themselves.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
An obstacle that I overcame during production is always finding a groove that I’m confident with. Whenever producing, there is always the possibility of becoming overwhelmed with choices. All of them are good, but the weight of potential can become a distraction.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with artists like Travis Scott for the high-energy performances and Childish Gambino for more soulful tracks.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
Music will have me in Atlanta next year to continue my music career.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
The next big step is completing the album “Hell Is A LOVE SONG” as my first full project.
We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
Absolutely!
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
I’d love to get more live studio performance opportunities!
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
All of my recent drops are on all platforms!
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Instagram is where I tend to engage with people the most, @jordanrietto.
