Jordan Ward

The rhythm is the thing with Jordan Ward’s rich brand of R&B. Born in 1995 and raised in St. Louis, MO, Ward grew up with a serious compulsion toward performance, singing and dancing around his neighborhood and becoming a musical-theatre kid. “I feel like I’m always dancing internally,” Ward tells Apple Music. “Even if I’m not moving, I’m feeling the beat.” He headed to Los Angeles after high school and made his way into the ranks of Justin Bieber’s touring dancers, eventually lighting out on his own musical journey with his debut 2017 EP, A Peak at the Summit, featuring songs like the reflective “Consolation.” In 2019, his first album, Valley Hopefuls, continued the dimmed-lights vibe and showcased Ward’s soulful vocal chops. But with 2023’s FORWARD, Ward blossomed with more pop-centric production on songs like “FAMJAM4000” and “WHITE CROCS,” reminding listeners that he’s at his apex when he’s really grooving.