Derek Jordan – Humanist

Upon my first impression, I assumed that Derek Jordan was going to be a singer/songwriter. However, unless you look at the fourth track on Humanist, entitled ‘Cold Outside’, he doesn’t really fit that bill at all.

The five song EP has tracks that fall into both the harder and softer realms of rock music.

The title track has a bouncy, chugging guitar riff to it, and is more upbeat than the song that leads off the album, ‘Liberate You.’

‘Until We Fall’ again has a singer/songwriter-ish vibe; but with a harder edge to it.

Derek’s bio classifies him as ‘psych alternative rock’ and I would agree fully with that description.

Here are some clips from Derek Jordan’s bio:

Derek Jordan is king of individuality. The singer/guitarist from Los Angeles has electrified minds with his original genre, psych alternative rock. Combining psychological lyrics with high energized alternative rock to the likes of Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilots, Derek Jordan’s mission is to dissect the thoughts and habits of everyday life. He tells it how it is and expresses how it should be.

Derek doesn’t believe in under-living yourself…certainty doesn’t believe in conformity. What he does believe in is choosing your own path in life, pursuing your own passions, and forming your own opinions regardless of what you’ve been “taught”. There are no “rules” you have to follow in life. Certainty, security, and social customs are all made up. They don’t exist. They’ve been embedded in your minds through fear and avoidance of pain, resulting in the distortion of pleasure, adventure, and freedom that life is meant to be. It is a common conception that you can’t get what you want out of life and that greatness only comes from luck. This is absolutely absurd to Derek. This social mindset has plagued the mind and suppressed quality of life…With the instrumental aspects, he fuses a collection of blues rock, swing, folk and heavy rock elements…To Derek, individuality is what is missing and he wants you to reclaim it.

Doesn’t sound like all that bad of an ideology, right?

All in all, I would say that if you like rock music, check out Humanist. If you are into singer/songwriter music with an edge, check it out as well. Finally, if you like psychologic-rock music, this is an artist you aren’t going to want to miss.

Maybe the best way to sum up Derek and his music is this quote, which is at the very end of ‘Worry About Your Own’:

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding ones self of the ranks of the insane.”

For more information on Derek Jordan, visit the Derek Jordan Website, Derek Jordan Facebook Fan Page, and while you are there visit the Outsider Vocals Facebook Fan Page too!

Derek Jordan -- Until We Fall

All photos, music, and videos copyright of their respective owners. Used only for promotional purposes and to gain notoriety for the artists featured.

03092010