Jordan uses song to conquer shyness

By: JAMES CURRAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 11:58 AM PDT ∞

Rebekah Jordan faces a conundrum befitting the intellect of a former biomedical engineering student: how to forge a career as a songbird in a pop music world dominated by divas.

Jordan, who will perform twice at the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival this weekend, has strengths in her music and presentation. Only, every strength is tempered by elements that don't jibe with modern music.

Consider: She's photogenic enough to have played a beauty contestant in a brief film career, but her clothing is not as suggestive as the dancers in current R&B videos. Her music relies on the moan of a cello instead of the bump of a rhythm machine. Her lyrics ---- not a foul word on her self-produced disc ---- focus more on emotion than bragging.

Jordan said she has often differed from the norm, with music the power behind a gradual blossoming from a shy childhood.

"I've always been a loner," she said. "I felt better that way. It was my personality. I didn't fit in when I was growing up. My brothers and sisters were much older than me, so I made up games a lot.

"If you knew me and the few friends I had, it's strange. ... My friends in school were like 'You sing? Since when?'"

It took Jordan many of her formative years in Cleveland to figure out the direction of her life. As an introvert, she found solace from the eclectic collection of records her parents played. Her parents also marveled at her voice, but she wasn't ready to put it to use.

"When I had to sing in church then, I would cry," she said.

The transformation started in college. She wrote in an Internet autobiography that her style of dress set her apart from the other students, who said she would probably be more comfortable in art classes. She realized they were right.

"I was really uncomfortable," Jordan said. "I was always smart and it made my dad proud, but I was miserable.

"My parents had dreams they didn't follow, so it set my life off on a different path ... to where I was free."

Jordan moved to California, where her mother had relocated after her parents divorced. However, although Jordan had learned to play the piano and some guitar, music wasn't as much of a calling.

"My boyfriend was in an acting class and it looked like fun," Jordan said. "I would have done anything new then. A new class, I'd sign up for it. You could be so free. I was like 'Oh, my gosh.'"

Jordan made strides as an actress. She landed roles in the Academy Award-winning Jack Nicholson film "As Good As It Gets" and portrayed rape victim Desiree Washington in a biopic on former boxing champion Mike Tyson.

Yet, Jordan still had issues with shyness.

"I'd go on auditions, which is a whole other thing ---- the judgment," she said.

The same boyfriend that impressed Jordan with acting became equally moved by her other abilities. Jordan said he suggested she pursue music after hearing some of her songs.

"In terms of happiness, I never felt happier than (in music)," she said. "It all seems so aligned right now. The thing about acting is it's someone else's vision, but I'm really starting to just like the process of music ---- of making a record. I've not done anything so challenging and yet so satisfying."

There was also a comfort level attained. Jordan said her mother helped her to take a major step to overcome shyness on stage.

"My mom was a performer," Jordan said. "She said something to me recently, 'It's not you; it's the gift that you're given.' Music has been just such an expression that it completely changed my nervousness."

Jordan's six-song EP ---- "The Trouble With Fiction" ---- is available over the Internet. It doesn't mark her songwriting debut. First "American Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson recorded one of Jordan's other works, "Beautiful Disaster."

"I like how she does it live better than just with the piano," Jordan said. "It is what it is. I always tend to prefer a song in its purest state, but I love her voice and she loves the song."

Even should Jordan attain mainstream recognition with songs written for pop stars, she is unlikely to lose her taste for the unusual. She recently has been trying to learn how to play the accordion.

She said the purpose isn't to update "Roll Out the Barrel."

"It's a beautiful instrument," she said. "It's in a lot of French music, a lot of Latin music."

Contact staff writer James Curran at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2627, or jcurran@californian.com.