Jordan Alexander is a woman of many talents.
Singer, songwriter and actress, Alexander recently starred in Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones – the final episode is screened this Thursday on Facebook Watch.
Currently, she is trying to get through the day-to-day of lockdown existence: listening to music, missing restaurant ramen (take outs aren't the same), and creating little projects for the day-to-day.
Toronto lockdown sounds very like London lockdown... well, it's a small world, isn't it?
We'll hand over to Alexander for the rest of the interview – but first, huge shoutout to her sister, a nurse and one of the heroes helping us beat this thing.
As Alexander says, "I see how stressed she is, so I’ll gladly forfeit some luxuries to make sure I don’t make her job harder."
Amen to that.
My life...
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
I am over the moon excited about the release of the final episode of Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones on Thursday, April 9 2020, mark that date!
Juliette Lewis, like you’ve never seen her before, playing an unkempt shut-in looking for dead girls, as Ryan Kwanten calls into question your very understanding of good and evil. I play a troubled foster kid who’s caught in the middle of it all.
Are we all in way too deep? There is so much the audience still doesn’t know and the suspense is palpable. The community of fans (called Keepers) are sharing their theories online, and I’m dying for them to see what happens.
I have so enjoyed being able to engage directly with the people who love and support the show via Facebook Watch, it’s such a truly unique experience.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
Working with Juliette Lewis and Ryan Kwanten, and the incredible cast and crew of Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones.
I’m new to the industry and it was a really big undertaking, I'm proud that I went for it. I was very strict with myself to make sure that I was delivering what was expected of me, but I also had the most fun I’ve probably ever had in my life.
The support I received from the other actors, the directors, the showrunner and everyone involved, made it easy to face any fear or trepidation I had going into it.
If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?
Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones was basically my first project and it was everything I could have asked for. A safe and inviting set environment, diversity in the cast and crew, empowering and loving leadership in Raelle Tucker, fabulous writing, and a beautifully meaningful and important story! I kept thinking “this can’t be real.”
I’ve not yet had an experience that I would change. The experiences I have are what make my life/career mine and so far I wouldn’t change a thing.
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
The character I play in Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones is a mixed race foster kid with a shaved head, and she’s the main character, that’s not something you see everyday. I want to continue to play complex roles that show an accurate and multidimensional portrayal of people who are rarely represented, if at all. Seeing ourselves in media affirms our sense of belonging in the world.
I want to use art to help empower people who feel excluded from the general narrative, and encourage them to be seen and heard. I hope to be a part of the change and the movement toward diversity and inclusivity. The world is a beautifully colourful place and our media should reflect that.
Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?
Rihanna is a huge inspiration for me. She is business savvy, talented, strong-minded, and she supports women, all while still enjoying her life. I want to achieve my goals and be successful and I want to be happy.
The balance between giving it all I’ve got and respecting my boundaries is one that I try to observe closely, as I don’t want to find myself striving for an expectation that’s harmful.
I’m inspired that Rihanna changed the industry to fit her, not the other way around.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
My “concentration face” is a smile, and when I'm concentrating really hard my cheeks get sore.
My lockdown...
How are you finding lockdown?
Not too bad. I work from home mostly anyway, and it's still pretty cold in Toronto, so being inside is not the worst. Sometimes I do feel frustrated, and overwhelmed by this situation, but staying home is a very easy ask when I consider what healthcare professionals have to do.
My sister is a nurse and I see how stressed she is, so I’ll gladly forfeit some luxuries to make sure I don’t make her job harder.
Best thing about lockdown?
Even before lockdown there would be times where I wouldn’t leave the house for a couple days and I felt bad about, but not now! I can enjoy my hermit tendencies in peace!
I’ve also started this thing where I listen to an album from a particular era every morning, which is enjoyable. So far I’ve listened to “Broke and Hungry” by Blind Lemon Jefferson, “Blonde on Blonde” by Bob Dylan, “Everything is Beautiful” by Princess Nokia and “Remain in Light” by Talking Heads.
Worst thing about lockdown?
Not having access to a self-tape studio for auditions. I prefer to go to an acting studio to shoot my auditions, and doing them in my living room with my little sister, who I live with, as a reader is not ideal. Although I will say she is an excellent reader.
I really like what I do, and not being able to do it, or not being able to do it the way I like has been frustrating.
Top tip for surviving lockdown?
At night I write a list of all the things I want to do the next day, even if it’s making up little projects to keep myself busy. I find dealing with a lack of structure can be really difficult and giving myself a sense of accomplishment, and a way to keep track of progress is really helpful for me. I actually do this all the time because my work life is very unstructured.
On the flipside I don’t beat myself up about not being productive. For example, yesterday I stayed in my pyjamas all day and watched YouTube videos, whatever it is just let it be.
Accepting myself where I am, how I am is my best tip for lockdown and life in general.
If you could be locked down with one person, alive or dead, who would it be?
I would want to be locked down with Kendrick Lamar because he would remind me that “we gon’ be alright.” And we would make music together and it wouldn’t be lockdown at all! It’d be a creative writing residency!
What are you most looking forward to doing once lockdown is over?
Governments understanding the importance of community health. Also, eating ramen IN the ramen restaurant. I’m telling you, ramen just does not travel well.
The final episode of Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones airs Thursday 9 April on Facebook Watch
For more info on Jordan, see jordanalexandermusic.com
