A jaguar has the traits of conquering every space it steps into. Living up to this in human form and excelling in every space is Belfast’s very own Jordan Adetunji. “I felt like I was conquering every space I was stepping into, sound-wise, genre-wise. On this project I wanted to showcase that and show my mindset.”
It’s been an unforgettable past 12 months as the “Kehlani” hitmaker gears up for his eagerly awaited drop A Jaguar’s Dream. The project sits 10-tracks deep and features a roster of talent from kwn to Lil Baby. Boundaries have been immensely broken and alongside his Grammy nomination for best melodic song of 2024, Jordan Adetunji’s ceiling has no limit as he ticks off countless bucket-list achievements.
Ahead of the release, GRM speaks to Jordan on his come up, the recording process for the tape, working alongside Bryson Tiller and much more.
Let’s begin with A Jaguar’s Dream, what are your thoughts on the project?
“It’s exciting. A Jaguar’s Dream, I made this over a period of time where everything was going crazy. I made a collection of songs, then I thought ‘How do I make this all cohesive and make sense?’ I just locked in, ignored all the comments and thought of a concept and made it come to life. I want people to take in my sonic and they’re going to hear what I can do, and a lot of people are going to notice it’s not what they thought!”
How long was the recording process?
“Everything was done – some things were just hooks – but he finishing process was probably like a month working on every song and finishing it all up.”
What made you choose this title for the project?
“For me, A Jaguar’s Dream is that I’m the jaguar! It’s about my dream. A jaguar conquers every space it steps into and that’s how I see myself. I felt like I was conquering every space I was stepping into, sound-wise, genre-wise. On this project I wanted to showcase that and show my mindset. It’s my dream and this is my world. These are the things going on in my life at the time. It’s about relationships and loads of different things.”
This tape features kwn, Bryson Tiller, Lil Baby and Kehlani. How does it feel to be working alongside such elite company?
“It’s amazing man, it’s a big one! I felt like a lot of them came around very organically. I didn’t want to just do features with people that didn’t make sense, just to get numbers. It’s artists that I mess with and actually listen to and that’s why it was great getting kwn on there. It just made sense.”
Which one gave you that ‘wow’ moment?
“Bryson of course, I can’t lie. The Bryson one is mad!”
What would you say is your personal favourite off the project? Which song did you have the best time recording in the studio?
“Definitely “305”. That’s one of my favourites. Another favourite on there is “Bitter” which is a very different sound wise and is a sound journey. I also have a song on there that’s from the time of when I recorded “Kehlani”, I recorded it a week after so it’s good to listen back to that. It’s called “Dirty Diana”. It’s so funny because we went back on to that track and changed it so much. I can’t wait for people to hear that one because it’s not going to be what they expect.”
I want to touch on the standout single “Kehlani”. When you made this song, did you envision it having the impact that it’s had?
“Yeah! I thought it was going to do bits, but the cultural impact it’s had is quite mad. People are doing it as their first dance for their weddings. That’s crazy! That cultural impact is always a blessing. I never expected that. Everything else, I did expect. It’s all manifestation. The Grammy’s is also crazy, it’s been a journey.”
As you said, you’re Grammy nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Would you say as an artist, this is a pinnacle to reach in your career?
“Definitely. It’s something you dream of, right? Now that it’s actually happened it’s mad.”
Coming from Belfast, Northern Ireland, do you feel the stakes are higher to be a success?
“I was born in London and was there until I was 10, so I still had that flavour! I was very used to grime and UK music. I was able to standout because there’s no one really like me over here and that’s a blessing for me. I was able to adapt because of that.”
Where did your music take off first?
“Definitely Northern Ireland first!”
What is your first memory of music and then integrating yourself into music?
“My first memory of music would be watching a Busta Rhymes music video. I think it was “Break Ya Neck”. Crazy visuals. As for me getting into music, I used to record on my mum’s laptop. I used to record on Audacity!”
Who were your inspirations when you began making music?
“A lot of my inspirations came from video games, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber! I was mad young.”
What has been the best advice given to yourself along your musical journey?
“Best musical advice I’ve been given is to work in your own way. To work on your own time. That’s the best thing I’ve heard.”
You’re 2024 was inspiring, if you had to choose a standout moment, what would it be?
“It would definitely be the first time I came out for Kehlani’s listening party. I felt like it was the first time I heard everybody sing it back! I was in the house a lot when it was blowing up. That was the first time I heard it outside, the impact it was making. That was amazing.”
Finally, what advice do you have for those trying to make a career out of music?
“Everything is timing. Don’t watch the scene, don’t watch anything. Do you and make the best music you can. Think about the music. If you think too deep into it, you’ll find yourself doing things you don’t need to do. It’s about music at the end of the day and that’s how it translates.”
Jordan Adetunji’s ‘A Jaguar’s Dream’ is out now and can be listened to on all digital streaming platforms.