Sometimes you try, but you just can’t move on. That’s the basic point behind Jordan Maye’s “Embers Of The Learning Man.” But it’s more complicated than that—and so is Maye. The Atlanta-based singer/songwriter has lived a lifetime of ups and downs in 21 years. Though her considerable talent on piano landed her at Boston’s esteemed Berklee College of Music, she also sought treatment for mental-health issues and has since undergone the process of transitioning.
Maye has written a ton of songs along the way, many of which can be found on her self-released debut, Creation Of Jordan Maye, out August 23. Here’s what she had to say about the album’s latest single:
“It’s almost like a fable. There’s a ‘gather around the campfire’ aesthetic—let me tell you the story of the mistakes I’ve made so you won’t make those mistakes. The music and instrumentation are based on something I heard while I was in treatment. I think it’s important not to shy away from talking about mental health.
“When I say, ‘the embers, they burn, all the bridges you’ve earned,’ I’m talking about making mistakes, burning bridges and losing connection with people. You can try to rebuild, but sometimes that doesn’t work, and you have to move on. When I sing, ‘I rebuild, Lord, I try/I’ve no time to learn,’ I’m talking about some of my negative behavioral patterns. I have this habit of seeing things in terms of black and white, especially if I make a mistake or there’s tension with friends or with dating. My tendency is to assume that they don’t want to talk to me anymore—and I’ll stop talking to them first.
“I’ve grown since then, and I’ve learned that relationships can heal, and that people don’t want to cut you off. If they’re your friend, then they’re your friend because they enjoy your company and who you are as a person—and your existence betters their world.”
We’re proud to premiere Jordan Maye’s “Embers Of The Learning Man.”
—Hobart Rowland
