Made in Chelsea's Andy Jordan talks touring, spiritual surfing and dancing at an Ed Sheeran gig in his kitchen

 
Balancing act: Andy Jordan on juggling music, surfing and Made in Chelsea
Mollie Goodfellow24 April 2015
The Weekender

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On screen, Andy Jordan is known for his dalliances with the beautiful women of Made in Chelsea. It wouldn't be too improper to say he has a touch of the lothario about him. In person however, it’s a far different story.

We caught up with Andy to talk launching a music career, juggling a lifestyle fashion brand and finding the time to escape the city and indulge his love of surfing.

You’ve finished two tours now – both of which were sell outs – how did you find the experience?

It’s my favourite thing in the world. I have a really busy life working three jobs. When I’m on tour it's the only time when it’s just music, which is a dream for me.

Is being a musician something you’ve always wanted to do?

I haven’t been through the natural processes that most musicians have been through, I was very much a bedroom singer. I honestly went from bedroom to tour. I did one gig before going on my first tour. But I was always a showman.

Chilling out: the Made in Chelsea star says touring is the only time he gets to be at one with his music

Where do you find inspiration for your song writing?

I go from one extreme – someone dying or a break-up – to something that’s more fun and chilled. It’s a hard line to balance, and you can’t even plan for when a song is going to come to you. I started to write a politically inspired song the other day, because of the election, about how everyone is selling the same product.

How do you find being on tour and being with your band?

We have so much fun. I think the best thing about it is I do my live stuff on a budget – I don’t have a record label, I am the record label – we don’t have money. I actually had a really nice tour bus for the last tour, but I didn’t get to enjoy it, because I was driving. The band was in the back with their feet up, watching films on the plasmas and I was driving.

Who are your musical inspirations?

I take live inspiration from Michael Jackson and James Brown. I think they had cooler live shows in the past. I’d love to perform with a big full live band. Recording wise I love soul music. For example, Kwabs. Hozier, I absolutely love and I love Paolo Nutini. I like artists who write their own music, like Ed Sheeran - he’ll keep writing songs for the rest of his life.

Trend setter: Andy's lifestyle brand JAM Industries combines the London look with surf culture

Have you met Ed before?

He slept on my sofa once, for three nights when I was at uni in Leeds. To say thank you, he said he'd do a gig in our kitchen. Ed had our entire house dancing. He’s just gifted and has fun with it. He can play to two people as well as he can to 25,000. It’s a gift and something I aspire to.

While juggling everything else, you also have a lifestyle brand JAM Industries – what is the idea behind the brand?

We’re taking surf culture because it breaks all the boundaries. I want to give that to London if I can. What drives me mad sometimes about my upbringing is that people are very afraid of breaking outside of where they come from like, “don’t talk to her she doesn’t have the right job". The worst thing I’ve ever been asked is, “who are you the son of?” and I just thought “does it matter?”

What is your inspiration when it comes to designing for JAM?

Autumn/Winter is ocean inspired. It’s a lot of Cornish fishing and things like that. What I try to do is find a middle ground between extreme performance for weather wear and something that you can wear that will still look quite chic and ‘London’.

Surfs up: Andy splits his time bewteen Chelsea and riding the waves

How long have you been surfing for?

Since I was about fifteen. My best friend at school, a very good surfer, used to take me to Polzeath with his family when we were growing up, so I got the buzz then and when I went travelling I just surfed for six months.

What is it that you love about surfing?

It’s like freedom and not being totally in control. I really like fully letting my hair down. I actually enjoy when you fall off and are trapped underwater. Nature is in control, and it’s more about you working with nature. It’s quite spiritual really.

Would you give up life in London to move down to Devon and be a full time surfer?

I prefer being in Devon but I don’t think I would if I didn’t have London. I’ll go and live in Devon full time as soon as I’ve found a wife. Devon can get quite lonely. I was there for three months and there’s just not that many people, it’s beautiful for that reason.

Fashionable flare: the Chelsea resident has an eye for fashion

You had the honour of being chosen as one of GQ US’s best dressed men in London –how does it feel?

I was stoked. I do think about what I wear, but in a way that is quite laid back. I’ll never be that guy that is like “Oh god my trousers aren’t tailored enough”, but I will think about what trousers I’m buying and what I’m wearing.

Made in Chelsea Series 9

1/10

As a star of Made in Chelsea, you kind of have to be a London ambassador. Where are some of your favourite London hangouts?

I’ve recently found a place that I actually love called Mr Foggs in Mayfair and it’s like an adventure bar. I like anywhere that feels like it’s not on the same planet. At the same time, I love going to Little Italy in Soho, as you just meet people from all walks of life cruising through there.

What’s the best thing about being on the show?

I love making it. It’s like the million dollar question: how do you make Made in Chelsea? Everybody wants to know whether it’s real or not. I love the fact that we all know and no-one else does. I live my life in scenes, so when I watch it back I want to high five the camera guys and say yeah you nailed that. I would love one day to retreat behind the camera and do the Mark Wahlberg thing.

Andy Jordan's single We Are can be purchased from itunes.apple.com.

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