Q&A: Jordan Anthony on Vulnerability, Pop Anthems, and His New Era with “Reckless”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
WITH A VOICE THAT CARRIES BOTH RAW VULNERABILITY AND EUPHORIC LIFT - Jordan Anthony is carving out his place as one of pop’s most emotionally compelling new artists. The Australian-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has already built an impressive journey, placing in the Top 4 on The Voice Australia, representing his country in Junior Eurovision, and winning hearts as a Top 14 finalist on American Idol. But with his latest single “Reckless,” Jordan steps into a bold new era: a groove-driven anthem that balances heart-on-sleeve lyricism with undeniable pop energy.
From writing his first song at age seven as an escape from bullying to headlining arenas in his hometown of Perth, Jordan has always used music as both survival and celebration. Now, as he continues to blur the lines between pop, R&B and nostalgic storytelling, he’s building a catalog of tracks that define his artistry. We caught up with Jordan to talk about his new single, his evolution as an artist and the moments that continue to shape his journey.
LUNA: “Reckless” is such a groove-forward, late-night pop anthem. What was the moment in the studio that made you think, this song has to be mine?
ANTHONY: Honestly I remember so vividly the moment right at the end of this session when we were listening through the song after it was all finished; I was working with the incredible Emile Ghantous and Sam Sznd and we all kind of looked at each other and were like, “yeah this needs to be my song.” It just felt like it fit me and my voice so well, so we followed our instincts with it.
LUNA: This track started as a pitch for another artist, so how did you go about making it your own once you decided to keep it?
ANTHONY: To be perfectly honest, the reason why we knew that it was my song is because we had to do so little tweaking from that very first session when we wrote it. I just felt the song really deeply—and because we wrote it from a personal experience of mine, I felt super connected to it. When I was laying the vocals down in the booth, I really felt like I was singing it from a place of it being my own.
LUNA: Your sound blends pop, R&B, and a touch of nostalgia. How do you approach fusing genres while keeping your music cohesive?
ANTHONY: For me, the goal right now with my music is just making it feel amazing from a listener's point of view. Whether it’s more on the emotional pop-R&B side or a huge moving pop ballad, the thing I always try to keep consistent is the storytelling and vocal performance. If people feel connected to the songs and resonate with them, that’s all I could ever want.
LUNA: You’ve been on both The Voice Australia and American Idol. How have those experiences shaped the way you approach your artistry and career now?
ANTHONY: Those were such amazing experiences and really taught me so much about myself and the music industry. I think they encouraged me to stay consistent and, most importantly, stay true to myself—showing people who I really am and giving them someone they can connect with.
LUNA: You started writing songs at age seven as a way to cope with being bullied. How has that early connection between music and emotional expression evolved for you?
ANTHONY: To be honest, I don’t think that has changed one bit. I still use my music as a coping mechanism for everything in my life. My songs are a vessel to tell those stories—whether it’s love, heartbreak, or missing my family. I use songwriting as an escape, hoping that the things I’m singing about in my bedroom resonate with someone else out there too.
LUNA: What’s one thing you’ve learned from working with a variety of producers and writers?
ANTHONY: The biggest thing I’ve learned is to really pick my moments to shine vocally, and to be open-minded in the studio—trying things both sonically and vocally.
LUNA: Between “Broken Love,” “Cherry,” and now “Reckless,” you’ve built a strong emotional thread through your music. How intentional is that when you’re in the writing process?
ANTHONY: I think being emotional with my music is always my intention, but to achieve that I almost have to not try. Allowing the emotion to naturally flow into my music without forcing it makes for the best outcome, and people seem to connect with that the most.
LUNA: Who have you been listening to lately?
ANTHONY: Lately I’ve been listening to Justin Bieber's new album loads—I have Bieber fever to the core. I’m also loving Lewis Capaldi's new stuff and so happy he’s back. Tate McRae and Jon Bellion have been on repeat for me too.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of this summer season?
ANTHONY: So much music! We’ve got so many songs we’ve been working hard on, and I’m lining those up for another release really soon after “Reckless.” I’m also aiming to drop some new merch alongside the music releases too.
