Jordyn Mallory Vs. Taylor Swift

posted in: Country • Features

It’s pretty remarkable to think of all the things Taylor Swift has accomplished at such a young age. At only twenty-one years old she has already released three studio albums, won four GRAMMY Awards, and was the youngest artist ever to win the coveted CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year. On top of all of her awards and accolades, she was also played a key role in the growing popularity of country music in general. The combination of elements from country and pop music in her style allowed her songs to catch the ears of die hard country fans as well as casual listeners. She opened up the world of country music to many people who had never given it a chance before, subsequently boosting its popularity in the mainstream. Her story has inspired young artists all over the country to pick up acoustic guitars and start writing songs. One OurStage artist in particular, Jordyn Mallory, seems to be following right in Taylor Swift’s footsteps.

At only nineteen years old, Jordyn Mallory is beginning her career at a very young age, just like Swift. Determined to succeed, Mallory took extra classes and graduated high school a year early so she could move to Nashville, TN to pursue her music career full time. Since then she has played shows with the big name country artists like Loretta Lynn and Eric Church, and she is well on her way to reaching Taylor Swift’s level of popularity. Take a listen to Jordyn’s song “Ready” and compare it to Taylor Swift’s hit song “15.” Right away you will notice some obvious similarities between both songs. Nearly identical in tempo, both songs begin with twangy acoustic guitar chords and feature a hybrid sound between country and pop. Like Swift, Mallory’s lyrics are deeply personal, and just like in “15,” the subdued verse leads into a huge, anthemic chorus.

“Summertime Song” is another track that shares some similarities with Taylor Swift’s style. Here is an incredibly catchy country song that definitely has some pop elements in it. Mallory once again uses her personal experiences in her lyrics, recounting tales of a summer romance. However, this song also shows Jordyn varying the instrumentation in her songs and developing her own unique style. Instruments like the violin and banjo play crucial parts in the song, creating a fusion of modern and traditional country sounds. “You” is another song in this vein. This ballad begins with a soft string arrangement, which slowly builds momentum with the addition of acoustic guitar and piano. The verse eventually builds into another big chorus, and an electric guitar solo in the bridge caps off the song nicely. “I Don’t Want It Again” shows the singer-songwriter branching out even further. Relying heavily on electric guitar, this song has a somewhat alternative country feel to it with a distinctive rock influence. Jordyn Mallory is emerging as another talented artist in the recent country renaissance, and she’s proving that age isn’t a factor in great songwriting.