Jordi presents Sorry I’m Late

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue

Jordi is Jordan Radnoti, a native of Monrovia, California. A versatile and intuitive player, Jordi is first and foremost an accomplished drummer and voracious student of rock, pop and punk music who cites John Bonham and Taylor Hawkins as heroes. Drummer/singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, Jordi, has officially announced her upcoming debut album Sorry I’m Late out August 4 on Dangerbird Records. Highwire Daze recently interviewed Jordi after a Jack Lue photo shoot to find out more about this amazing artist!

Introduce yourself, where are you based out of and what is your local music scene like there?

Hiiii my name is Jordi! I am from LA, more specifically Monrovia. Monrovia doesn’t have a very active scene, but we’re close to Pomona and there is a good indie scene there. I know a lot of musicians from Monrovia though (like my live band)!

How did you wind up signing with Dangerbird Records?

I play drums in a band called Unicorns at Heart and they were doing a “Microdose deal” with Dangerbird. This deal basically has the artist release 2 singles. The producer I wound up working with who I knew from Monrovia mentioned my music to some of the team at the label. Then, Jim Fairchild from Dangerbird reached out asking to hear a demo of my song that was mentioned, and then we continued the convo and boom.

Is there any overall story or concept behind the album title Sorry I’m Late?

If I’m being honest, I don’t know. It’s a culmination of my youth and growing pains. It’s all over the place in terms of sound, and I feel like there’s a sense of confusion and trying to navigate my identity throughout the length of the album. So essentially, if I were to define the album’s concept, it is basically an homage to youth.

Select two songs from Sorry I’m Late and what inspired the lyrics.

Spilled myself all over the place - odd day. I felt like I pour my emotions and sometimes not at all, but when I do, I’m a mess. This line just felt like an extension of that.

Leave my own decision to my bad indecision - so easy. I was mad when I wrote this song. I get impatient with myself and am constantly contemplating what to do in the moment, it consumes me.

Who produced Sorry I’m Late and what was it like working with them?

Joe Reinhart! He is amazing. I feel so lucky to have gotten to work with him. I think we worked really well together and he’s just an amazing person and musician.

What could one expect from a live Jordi show?

At a Jordi show, you could expect on mosh-y music with a big sound.

If you could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?

Now, it’d be sick to open for Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Deftones or Foo Fighters. In the past, definitely Nirvana or even Led Zeppelin

You cite John Bonham and Taylor Hawkins as your influences. Here’s a two-part question. Part 1 – if you could cover a Led Zeppelin song, what song would you cover and why?

If there’s one Led Zeppelin song I could cover, it’d be Dazed and Confused. The song has so much dynamic, and at the high energy parts I could really dig in. I love the Bonham triplets in it too.

Part 2 - Were you ever able to see the Foo Fighters live prior to Taylor Hawkins’ passing, and what does his overall legacy mean to you?

I was super fortunate to catch Foo Fighters at The Forum for their last L.A. show with Taylor. I actually snuck onto the floor and getting to experience the live performance, I cried (which is not often for me at concerts). Taylor was truly amazing and passionate, a legend whose legacy will live forever.

What was it like being on the KROQ Locals Only Playlist?

Being on KROQ was so surreal. I was beyond ecstatic to listen every time locals only played; and to be played alongside artists such as Phoebe Bridgers and Grace Mckagan and from THE Kat Corbett? It felt unreal.

Are you currently involved with any other bands or projects outside of your solo project?

Yes! I play drums for a band called SideChicks, The Steens, and Unicorns at Heart https://www.instagram.com/jordiiimusic/ https://dangerbirdrecords.com/

The photos from this article are from a Jack Lue photo shoot. What was it like working with Jack Lue, whose credits include some very iconic Guns N’ Roses photos? It is always an amazing opportunity to be shot by Jack, and I, along with everyone in the scene, is lucky to have such a talented and legendary photographer working with us.

What is up next for you?

After the album releases August 4th, I am hoping to tour with the Jordi band, and keep playing live, as well as work on more new music!

Any final words of wisdom?

Be good to each other, live each day to the fullest, and tell the people you hold close to your heart that you love them. Peace and love.