In the scheme of things, Shreveport, Louisiana’s Jordan Davis really hasn’t been in Nashville that long. His 2016 move to Nashville started out as bartending to make rent, and that burning dream, so familiar to a town full of country songwriters and singers on the brink of stardom, never dimmed. Just a few years later and Davis is following in the footsteps in some of American music’s most celebrated songwriters: John Prine and Kris Kristofferson. 

Besides a great story teller and possessing a humble persona, Davis may come across to many as perplexing. In his biography, Davis states that he might be considered a walking contradiction by someone like Kristofferson. 

“Because of my love, I grew up listening to him,” Davis, 31, said.  “I listened to him and John Prine. I grew up a true fan of genuine songwriters. But I also grew up in an era of music that I had everything under the sun at my fingertips, on my iPod, whatever. I could burn a CD. My love for production, I love the rocking tracks and I love programming on my records. So, marrying those two worlds and my love songwriting, and my love for programming music…those two things are very contradictive.”

What is for certain is the response Davis has received from his latest release, “Slow Dance In a Parking Lot.” The accompanying video, directed by Patrick Tracy, is a romantic, nostalgic heart string puller. Many memories made for teens in a parking lot and Davis’ on-the-mark lyrics “Getting close to you / Making the most of whatever we got / Even if it’s just a slow dance in a parking lot”have set the stage for many summer 2019 memories-in-the-making. 

The song follows Davis’ back-to-back No. 1 singles “Singles You Up” and “Take It From Me.” The songs are all featured on his debut album, Home State. Besides notching over 500 million streams since its March 2018 release, Davis also nabbed MusicRow’s Breakout Artist of the year and 2019’s Best New Country Artist at the 2019 iHeart Radio Awards. Furthermore, “Take It From Me” garnered a nomination 2019 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of The Year. 

One might also be surprised by Davis’ educational background. His degree from Louisiana State University (he’s still cheering for the LSU Tigers, by the way) is in Resource Conservation. Um-hum, a degree that may be clear as mud for some fans to connect to their favorite country star. Whereas others might be thinking a bit deeper and connect his love of nature and the environment. That might possibly be the reasoning by the gripping single, “Leaving New Orleans.” It’s a love letter of sorts to The Big Easy and damn good story telling.

Davis writes and sings “I’ll miss the Quarter, the Magnolias and the Ponchartrain /  And the French Market on a Saturday / I’ll miss the feel of this place / I’ll miss the bayou sunrise / The Mardi Gras and the Second Lines / Bourbon jazz, sidewalk kids with bottlecap taps, dancing for tips / But I’m leaving New Orleans There’s too much of you in this town…”

“One of my favorite times in New Orleans was when I was with my wife, and we were staying at this hotel, right around Jackson Square,” Davis said. “It was just about the time the ships were coming in, and the sun was coming up, and I just remember being like ‘man, that’s really just the sunrise that you can get in New Orleans.’ The character in the song doesn’t want to leave the city but must. 

“I think sometimes that if you have a relationship go sour, it kind of ruins the town,” he said. “You had some special spots, and when you think of those, like Mardi Gras, and I always think about if I had been walking around New Orleans with someone other than my wife it would be a little tainted.”

Davis’ songwriting instincts, shaped by Prine, especially in the potent “Sam Song.” A song about a veteran, “Sam Song,” Davis said is part of his own history and a turning point to become the artist that he is today. 

“John Prine is still releasing amazing music,” states Davis, who admits that he didn’t start performing on stage with a band until 2015. “Hearing just other great music like that makes you want to keep writing. His music has been a constant in my life and helped drive that love for music and songwriting.”

Davis is also very open about his teamwork with producer Paul DiGiovanni. Fans of Boys Like Girls will recognize DiGiovanni as the Boston band’s guitarist and country fans might recognize the rock band for its 2009 hit “Two Is Better Than One” featuring Taylor Swift. Boys Like Girls had a No. 1 album, Love Drunkin 2009, and DiGiovanni’s stamp might further explain the sweet riffs and tightness in songs from Home State.

Davis said that working in the studio with DiGiovanni has been an easy experience. “I trust him,” Davis said. “We’re on the same page and I trust his instincts.”

When he’s not in the studio or on stage, Davis loves horror movies (he loved Jordan Peele’s Get Out) and enjoys reading works from author Richard Rohr (among them Adam’s Return: The Five Promises of Male Initiation). 

He’s also working on his calorie intake. A self-described cheeseburger guy and “More Than I Know” singer utilized his connections with another country band to eat healthier. 

“I’m not a spring chicken anymore,” he said. “I met the trainer for Old Dominion and he started helping me out, he’s got me on a meal plan. It’s pretty boring, but that’s what I asked for – a lot of grilled chicken, a lot of vegetables. I’m a steak and potatoes guy. I have it in waves, I do really good, and then I have like three bad days. One bad day can wipeout a whole week of good. You got to be careful.