Jordan Mohr strikes a chord in West Orange

West Orange High School senior Jordan Mohr can’t remember a time when she didn’t love music.

“I remember my parents told me when I was only 3 — we were watching some guy perform Christmas songs — and I just went up and grabbed the microphone and started singing,” Jordan said.

Now 17, Jordan said she continues to fall more in love with music every day. The more she learns, the stronger that love grows.

Most recently, Jordan celebrated two significant milestones in any budding musician’s career: She released her first debut single, “Haunted House,” and completed her first live performance last weekend at the Winter Garden Fall Heritage and Music Festival.

Jordan hopes the single and performance serve as the foundation for living a dream she’s had her entire life.

A SHINING LIGHT

Music wasn’t always Mohr’s only love. Her interest in theater started even before her musical journey began.

Jordan and her brother, Alex, grew up sharing a passion for the arts. The pair formed a close bond through the multiple children’s programs in theater and music they attended.

“Now that we are older, we are honestly closer than ever,” Jordan said. “Some of my favorite moments with him are when we just put on a good musical and belt our hearts out in our car jam sessions.”

Like many creative types, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Jordan to re-examine her priorities. She decided to step away from theater to focus more on music.

One of her first decisions was to connect with DME Artist Development in Gotha. Owned by Michael and Caroline Walker, the company offers a unique, wrap-around approach that enables artists to reach their goals and achieve their dreams as musicians, singers and songwriters.

“We work with lots of young people Jordan’s age, but she took the initiative by herself to reach out to me,” Caroline Walker said. “What is there not to love about her? She has this great energy and has so many wonderful qualities and values. She is such a shining light.”

Jordan said although she only started with DME this year, she already has been given instrumental instruction, vocal coaching, music production, day-to-day artist management, music business consultation and songwriting guidance.

“I love that in music, I can express myself in my own way,” she said. “Especially here, when we song write, it’s just this excitement of, we are all working together and everyone’s ideas are good ideas. You can put whatever you’re feeling or going through into a song and then create something from it and share it with others.”

A COUNTRY GIRL

Another aspect the company has provided guidance in is the selection of a genre for writing and performance.

After much consideration, Jordan decided to market herself as a country artist.

“I love the storytelling aspect of country music and the authentic guitar,” she said. “It’s my favorite genre and pretty much the only thing I listen to now.”

Jordan’s influences include Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini.

Jordan’s first single, “Haunted House,” recently was reviewed by Southern Fellow, which praised it for its music and subject matter.

Jordan said the Walkers pitched the song to her a few months ago.

“It had such a deep meaning, and I think this song is something everyone needs to hear,” she said.

BALANCING ACT

In addition to her budding career, Jordan also is busy completing her final year of high school at West Orange. She said she has a great support system from DME, her family, her school, her principal and her friends.

“They know this is my dream,” Jordan said.

Tracy Mohr said one of the things that impresses her the most about her daughter is her ability to not take herself too seriously.

“I am amazed by her work ethic,” she said. “She is just driven. You don’t have to remind her. She just does what she needs to do, and she doesn’t take herself too seriously, either. She still has fun, and that’s something I admire about her.”

Jordan said she tries to stay in a positive mind space, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.

“I am still learning and growing, and I am still working on not listening to everything people say about me,” Jordan said. “You are always going to have those people that don’t support you or say mean things and I want to continue to become stronger both personally and in my music. This is me, and if you don’t like it, then I want to be able to show others everything will still be OK.”