Following the success of his breakout EP, ‘The Collection’, and a string of major stadium and theatre performances, emerging vocalist, actor, dancer, and storyteller Jourdan Evans is rapidly expanding his artistic footprint.
By blending rich, powerful vocal stylings with the grand scale of narrative filmmaking, Evans is carving out a unique space for himself in the contemporary creative landscape. He is currently developing a series of cinematic music films and a brand-new slate of original music slated for release later this year.
In our latest interview, we sat down with Jourdan to chat about his beginnings in musical theatre, the personal experiences that shape his work, the creative process behind his ambitious cinematic music films, and what lies ahead as he builds towards his highly anticipated debut EP of original material.
Thanks so much for joining us today, Jourdan! To kick things off, when did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what originally inspired you to take this path?
“Hi, thanks so much for having me, Broken 8. I’m really glad to be here and really appreciate the opportunity to chat with you.”
“I’ve always loved singing, acting and creating. When I was younger, I was constantly putting on shows at home, creating the lighting and staging, doing all the singing and acting, and turning whatever space I had into a little theatre. By the time I was around six to eight, I had started writing my own little musicals and creating music and stories to go with them. I think I’ve always loved the whole process of taking an idea and turning it into some kind of performance.”
“That love of performing eventually led me to my first professional musical theatre production when I was 12, playing Zebulun/The Baker in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. As I got older, I found myself in that strange in-between stage where I was getting too tall for some younger roles but was still too young for adult ones. I didn’t want that to stop me performing, so I started thinking about how I could create my own opportunities. That eventually led me into reimagining songs I loved, writing my own music and creating cinematic music films around them.”
Your most recent project is a cinematic music film built around your cover of ‘If I Can Dream’. Could you tell us a bit about that release and what it personally means to you?
“For me, the project is really about the joy of creating and being able to bring together so many things I love—music, acting, storytelling and film. I loved being able to take an idea, build a story around it and then watch that story come to life. Throughout the music video, you see different versions of me, each representing a different stage of the journey, from having the dream, to growing in confidence and continuing to move towards it.”
“There are moments that touch on the challenges that can come with pursuing something you really care about, but for me the bigger message is about continuing to create, believing in what you’re doing and enjoying the process along the way. Using the Hollywood Sign wasn’t about trying to say, "oh, I’ve made it." For me, it was more a symbol of hope and possibility, and of not giving up on your dreams even when the journey isn’t always easy. I’m still really young, still learning and still working out what kind of artist I want to be, but I feel incredibly lucky to be able to create, experiment and pursue something I genuinely love.”
Were there specific life experiences, moments, or particular artists that influenced you during the creation of this project?
“A lot of the ideas come from things I’ve experienced myself. I previously went to an all-boys school, and although I had some great friends there, I sometimes felt like the things I was passionate about weren’t necessarily understood and that I couldn’t always completely be myself. Moving into a performing arts environment became really important to me because I was suddenly surrounded by people who also loved creating and performing. It gave me the confidence to be myself, follow what I was passionate about and not feel like I had to change that to fit in.”
“I’m influenced by lots of different artists as well. I really admire performers who are great storytellers and can make you feel something, whether that’s Elvis Presley, Adele, Michael Bublé, Hugh Jackman, Teddy Swims or artists from completely different genres. I try not to copy anyone though. I’d rather take inspiration from lots of different places, stay true to myself and gradually work out what feels authentic to me.”
Walk us through your production and songwriting process. How do your cinematic music films come together from the initial concept to the final piece?
“For me, it usually starts with an idea, a feeling, an emotion, something I’ve experienced, or a message that I want to share with others. From there, I start thinking about how I can turn that into a story. Sometimes that might begin with a lyric or melody, and other times I’ll see the story visually first and start imagining scenes, characters or moments around it.”
“With the cinematic films, I’ll then storyboard the idea and start thinking about the locations, the look of the film and how the story should move. I’m also learning how important it is to find the right people to bring those ideas to life. I’ve been really fortunate to work with some incredible people, including Lilly K Photography and my music producer, Thomas Keating from Sing Sing Studios, who understand what I’m trying to create and bring their own experience and creativity to the process. I like that the process can be different every time. Sometimes the music leads the story, and sometimes the story comes first.”
In your eyes, what is the single most vital element when writing a song or producing a music film?
“For me, it has to make you feel something. You can have a great location, great camera work or a really well-produced song, but if there isn’t any emotion or reason behind it, I think people can tell. I always want there to be a story or an idea underneath what I’m doing.”
“I also love the idea of creating something that can connect with different generations. Music can mean completely different things to different people, and I think that’s one of the things that makes it so powerful. Being authentic is really important to me as well. I don’t want to make something just because I think it’s what people expect me to do, or feel like I have to be locked into one direction. I’m still learning, and I think having the freedom to experiment, try different things and actually enjoy the process is a really important part of finding out who I am as an artist.”
How would you define your overall sound and narrative storytelling style at this stage in your career?
“I’d probably say my sound and storytelling style are based on honesty. I want what I create to feel real and to come from something I genuinely connect with. I’m also prepared to experiment, take risks and try different sounds, rhythms and styles to work out what feels right for me. Right now, I really like being at a stage where I can keep exploring and discovering what fits me best as an artist.”
What is the central theme you aimed to convey in your latest project, and is there a specific visual or moment that best captures that essence?
“The biggest theme in ‘If I Can Dream’ is hope, but I think it’s also about the excitement of the journey and finding what keeps you going. For me, the Hollywood Sign really captures that. It’s such a strong symbol of dreams and possibility, but I also like what the climb towards it represents. The journey isn’t always smooth. Some parts can feel easy and other parts can be really difficult, but you keep moving forward. Then you reach a point where you can look up, see where you’re heading and remind yourself why you started.”
“I think there’s also something really exciting about not knowing exactly where life is going to take you. You can start in one place and, through hard work, opportunities and the choices you make, find yourself somewhere you never expected. That’s probably where I feel like I am in my own life. I’ve been lucky to have some amazing opportunities, but I know I’m still only at the beginning. For me, the project is about holding onto hope, remembering what keeps you going, enjoying the journey and continuing to move towards something you believe in.”
Have you gathered valuable wisdom or advice from other established industry figures along the way?
“Definitely. One thing I’ve learnt is that you can take something from almost everyone you work with. I’ve had the chance to be around some very experienced performers, musicians, producers and people in the industry, and I always try to listen and learn.”
“Some of the best advice I’ve heard is that talent alone isn’t enough. You have to be prepared to work hard, stay adaptable and keep creating rather than just waiting for opportunities to come to you. I also really value the advice about staying grounded, being kind and treating everyone with respect, no matter what role they have. People want to work with people they enjoy being around, so being reliable, easy to work with and appreciative of everyone around you is really important. I think if you want longevity in this industry, you need all of those things—talent, hard work, adaptability, humility and a good attitude.”
Looking back so far, what stands out as your most rewarding moment as a musician and filmmaker?
“Oh my goodness, that’s actually really hard to narrow down to one. I’ve been incredibly lucky with some of the opportunities I’ve had so far. I think some of my best moments are actually when I know I’ve made an audience happy. When people are smiling, singing along, enjoying the performance, and then come up afterwards and tell me how much they loved it, that’s probably the best feeling.”
“For me, performing is about being able to give something to other people. If something I’ve sung or performed has made someone feel good, even just for that moment, that means a lot to me. I think that connection with an audience is probably what makes performing so special.”
Looking ahead, what can fans expect on the horizon, and what are your main goals for the remainder of 2026?
“Oh wow, there’s a lot happening, which I’m really excited about. Probably the biggest thing I’m working towards is the release of my first EP of original music in the first half of 2027. I’m still writing and developing the songs now, and I’m also really excited about eventually creating a music video for one of them and finding a way to bring the story behind the song to life visually.”
“I’ve also got some amazing live performances coming up, including supporting Human Nature in Brisbane at Night at the Parklands and Ben Folds at Night at the Barracks in Sydney. There are a couple of other opportunities being talked about for next year too, but for now I’m just really grateful for every chance I get to perform and learn.”
“One of my bigger goals is to keep building towards a career as an entertainer. For me, music, acting, stage, screen, dance and musical theatre are all connected rather than being completely separate things. I want to keep developing across all of them because I think being strong in different areas gives you more to bring to every performance. I’d also love to eventually perform more of my own original music live and maybe one day take it out for a small run of shows, but I know there’s still a lot of work to do before that.”
“For the rest of 2026, I really just want to keep writing, training, discovering my sound and pushing myself in the areas that don’t come as naturally to me. I’m still working out exactly what kind of artist and entertainer I want to become, so I want to keep learning and make the most of every opportunity that comes my way. Thanks for the great conversation.”
With a grounded attitude, clear visual vision, and a commitment to emotional honesty, Jourdan Evans is poised to make a lasting impression on the music and film worlds alike. As he balances upcoming support slots for legendary acts like Human Nature and Ben Folds with the development of his debut original EP, Evans continues to demonstrate that true artistic growth comes from embracing the journey.”
Be sure to stay tuned to his journey as he builds towards his next chapter—there is undoubtedly much more to come from this remarkable young talent. To keep up with Jourdan's latest projects, releases, and upcoming live performances, follow him on Instagram and YouTube.
