U of G graduate moving forward with music
Music fans in Guelph who haven’t already heard of Juno nominee Jordan Raycroft should be sure to check out his new self-titled album. Drawing inspiration from personal experience and his time as a student at the University of Guelph, the tracks on Jordan Raycroft range from upbeat pop-style songs, to relaxed folk tunes, to the ever-popular country sound beloved by many Guelph students. While he is a big fan of Canadian music, which can be heard throughout his album, Raycroft has made a clear point of carving out his own sound.
Raycroft notes that his Juno nomination was a “whirlwind of an experience,” and he was so excited just to be nominated alongside artists that he holds such admiration for. Interestingly, it was Peter Katz, with whom Raycroft played his first-ever show, who announced the nominations, which Raycroft described as “a real full-circle moment.”
Raycroft praised the music scene in Guelph, and credits the supportive community of artists for all the opportunities that have gotten him to this point. He remembers the Bullring and their open mic night (which he now co-hosts) as a great place to try out new songs and gain an audience. While living here, he worked hard writing and playing songs, and used his dorm room as a “mini-recording studio.”
Guelph also carries heavy importance to Raycroft because of his studies here at the university. As a Criminal Justice and Public Policy major, he was able to learn about another passion of his: social justice. Raycroft shared that he is particularly interested in the issue of human trafficking and its disturbingly high prevalence in North America, and he has been involved in artist partnerships with both International Justice Mission Canada and World Vision in an effort to raise awareness for the cause. Raycroft spoke of how important it was to him to use the platform that music awards him to promote the cause and help victims of human trafficking – or, as he puts it, to “be a voice for the voiceless.”
Looking forward, Raycroft hopes to further pursue music with his band and continue to positively impact the lives of others with his songs. He looks forward to playing at Junofest in Winnipeg on March 28, and intends to travel across Canada as part of VIA Rail’s Artist On Board program. This will be his third time playing on the VIA Rail, having previously played 53 concerts over his 47 day tour from Toronto to Vancouver and back. Raycroft is also looking forward to shooting an upcoming music video.