Open and honest songwriting
Ahead of PPL Center concert, singer Jordan Davis discusses new album and how he almost became a scientist
Jordan Davis was well aware that he’d have a lot at stake when he turned his attention to making his second album. “I don’t know how true it is, but I believed it. The second album is a big one,” Davis said in a recent phone interview. “The first album is kind of where you showed up to the party and then the second album is going to decide whether or not you get a chance to stay.”
And Davis had not only shown up at the party with his debut outing, “Home State,” he’d made himself a VIP by scoring a pair of No. 1 hits on “Billboard” magazine’s country airplay chart (“Singles You Up” and “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot”) and a third single, “Take It From Me,” which topped out at No. 2.
So not only did Davis’ second album need to earn him a more lasting reservation at the table of country music, it came with expectations that the music would once again make a real impression.
The 35-year-old Louisiana native decided the key to the album that became his recent 17-song release, “Bluebird Days,” was to open up as a songwriter.
“I think the only thing that I knew how to do was to be honest in songwriting. And I went back and listened to records, listened to my favorite songwriters and tried to write music like they did,” he said. “To me, it was always being able to grow with artists, being able to see growth in their writing, and you kind of felt you got to ride the ride with them.
“Fortunately, it paid off,” he said. “Now, I get to go out every night and sing these songs that are me. That’s kind of just the added bonus to it. I’m definitely grateful for that record.”
Honesty has indeed been a good policy in Davis’ music. “Bluebird Days” so far has given him two more No. 1 singles, “Buy Dirt” and “What My World
Spins Around.” A third single, “Next Thing You Know” recently reached No 2 on “Billboard’s” country airplay chart and he has a fourth single, “Tucson Too Late” climbing the charts now.
And Davis is getting to play his songs. He started 2024 with a tour of Europe and the United Kingdom and will be on tour in the states through September before heading north of the border in October for a run of shows through Canada. He’s bringing out his most elaborate show to date, and stops April 25 at PPL Center in Allentown.
“This is definitely our biggest production package we’ve ever brought out,” Davis said of his headlining shows. “But I think the main thing I’m most excited about is now we have this catalog of music that I’m just really, really proud of. I don’t feel like I’m going out any more and playing songs that I hope people like. I know my fans react to these songs. I know they connect with them. And they’re not always the radio songs. They’re not always the singles. We put just as much effort into making track number six off of the new album sound just as good as ‘Buy Dirt.’ It’s cool for us to get to kind of see where