Over the course of four years, Sari Jordan became immersed in the culture of New Orleans. They chose Tulane University to study political science and environmental studies but found themselves just as interested in music courses. A degree in music wasn’t exactly in their cards, so when it became their reason to stay in the city, they wanted to explore it as much as possible.

Music was always a love but never exactly a passion for Jordan. Singing around the house was one thing, but singing around campus became something bigger. The more open mics and reception dinners they found to perform at, the more of a community they found.

“Music is just celebrated culturally here in a way that is super different from where I grew up,” they said. “I just wanted to sing anywhere that would let me sing.”

Freshman year of college they were also introduced to Tulane University Jazz Ensembles. Joining not only brought them new opportunities, but encouraged them to engage outside of a classroom.

“That is where my brain and ears got cracked open,” they said. “Studying jazz and learning about harmony and keeping the form in a song really allowed me to blossom in my musicality.”

They felt an obligation to complete their degree but also wanted to continue their passion. For a long time, they held up this illusion that they would do anything other than music. Just before graduation, Tulane sent Jordan and other members of the ensemble to Switzerland to play three-hour quintet gigs for nearly two weeks. It was a transformative experience that made them realize that they wanted to pursue music.

“That trip really put into perspective not only that I could do it but that I already was,” they said. “I didn’t really accept myself as a musician for so long, and I had to stop looking for validation in other people and really take charge of my music journey.”

They found a job their first year out of college that leaned more towards their degree, but after getting laid off they recognized it as their chance to focus on music. Their first EP, Sing to the Moon, was released in October 2023 and became a powerful teaching moment. Songs written about interpersonal issues became incredibly political; that week felt so semantically dangerous for those lyrics that they look back at that moment and realize how hard they were being on themselves.

This time around, their focus is having fun and making art with their friends. Jordan has released two singles this year, “FREAK” and “TABLE OF ANGELS”, with the intention of releasing a larger body of work later in the year.

The releases have been partially planned around the New Orleans calendar, which they called “a living organism that lives among us”. Taking into account the tourism and the climate has brought a certain type of energy into the music and the celebrations of their releases.

“Releasing music feels best when I feel the support of my immediate community and the people around me,” they said. “I just feel really lucky to have a robust music community in New Orleans. It’s huge and deep and colorful and supportive and diverse; I wanted my community to be there for me and with me as I did it.”

“FREAK” and “TABLE OF ANGELS” felt like the perfect bridge between their last body of work and this upcoming piece. One song about killing off older versions of one’s self; the other about experiencing intense joy amidst intense political activation. The subject matter does a great job of addressing the personal elements they were experiencing while expanding their musical horizons.

This time around, they want their new music to be more of a casual listen. “TABLE OF ANGELS” in particular is meant to be danceable - something they learned from spending several years living in New Orleans. Finding joy, even among the most damning of circumstances, is a distinctly New Orleanian skill set that Jordan wants their music to represent. For them, this city changed their life. It’s only fair that their music pays homage to that.

“There’s no untangling New Orleans from my wires. I’m permanently altered.”