Shining “star” . . . Corey uses Starway studios to make his mark

Producer Corey Jordan has a passion for making people feel music and he is using his company Starway Studios to do so.

The 37-year-old is using his mind and hands to be a change agent in the world for something greater than himself.

“Being a producer helps me to do that in the music arena. I’m helping people to explore their talents and realize their dreams, and for me, that is my greatest satisfaction, lifting spirits and helping people to achieve something in life,” he told Bajan Vibes.

Corey’s journey has been nothing short of amazing. He’s travelled to over 200 destinations.

“Something that I always wanted to do from a kid was to experience different countries and cultures. That was made possible by believing in myself, being consistent and having a singular focus on my spirituality and my music. Because of my discipline and professionalism, I connected with the right individuals and one thing led to another.”

One of the challenges locally, he said, was finding people who were serious about their function.

“I need to find people who are willing to put in the time, the effort and the energy. It is not all about money or sitting back and offering the bare minimum, but if one has a talent and puts in the work through time, they will realise their destiny. That way of movement has brought me to have clients on almost every continent.”

He continued: “My inspiration comes from life in general. Anything can inspire me – the sunrise, going to the beach and listening to the waves. I am an Aries so we have that passion for movement and just getting it done. I like a challenge; it lights a fire inside me to achieve more.”

Corey said he tries his best to maintain a balance. He focuses his energy between family and friends and the golden rule keeps him in check, “do to others what you would have them do to you.”

The music maker said one of the other challenges he faced was growing up in a very poor neighbourhood, but he would often put on his father’s records of Earth, Wind and Fire and pretend to play along with the band on stage.

While at Lodge School, he would go around with the school orchestra and perform on keyboards. One time, a band that his friends formed was called to play for a local gig and they saved their money to rent rehearsal space and instruments.

“The evening of the show, the lead singer and the bass player did not show up. We were about to cancel the gig but I said to myself – I cannot quit after practicing for months looking forward to the gig. I’ll play the bass parts on one keyboard and play my keyboard parts on the other one at the same time,” the then 16-year-old said.

Corey said everyone in the band looked at him as if they were amazed but he said what led to that was discipline, not running around with the football on evenings, and deciding to practice more, as opposed to chasing girls or other distractions.

“Music is my love and my passion. At that time, Krosfyah’s manager was in the crowd. Two weeks later, he called me for an audition and I was hired as the keyboardist for the band.”

The producer has travelled to the Netherlands, Belgium, most Caribbean islands, New York, Miami and London. Some of the artistes he worked with are Machel Montano, Usher, TOK from Jamaica, Alison Hinds, and Krosfyah. However, he really aspires to work with Rihanna.

Corey said, as a child, he would bang on the desk, playing rhythms at school. So much so that teachers would have to stop him. At St Joseph Primary School, he said that he learnt to play the school song and nursery rhymes on the upright piano, but they then locked away the piano at school.

His mother, Linda, then bought him a keyboard, and he taught himself to play and to compose music. At his grandmother’s house, at the age of eight, he would listen to the radio stations. Then his relatives would switch the station and challenge him to play the songs. He would listen for a few seconds and play by ear. His relatives would be amazed that it could be done at such a small age. Both his parents, Linda and Jeffrey Jordan, have supported his music journey.

At The Lodge School he did music theory and was able to form bigger chords on the piano. Lodge School with a grand piano saw him being in the music room at break time and lunch time.

“A lot of children would come to the music room during their break to listen to me play. I started to play keyboards for the choir. One day, the piano teacher was late for choir rehearsal and I decided to jump on the piano.

Corey added: “Some of the children said that I could not play, but I proved them wrong. I played and modernized the songs and everyone started to dance and sing louder. When the teacher walked in and saw me playing he was amazed and asked me to show him the alternate chords.”

The producer said that he did Grade 3 flute at the Royal Board of music, and music up to CXC Level. From there, he took his experience to the world.

Outside of music, the arranger has an education in Information Technology, hardware, software and computer repair. (MR)