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Article: When Jordan first walks into our head office here at 'Sound', he carries a certain air of mystery. Just like his music, this boy is confident and loud - you can hear him cracking jokes a mile off. Naturally, it takes a while for this secretive star to open up and when we stick a Dictaphone in front of him, he closes in on himself and becomes instantly sarcastic (he finds it hilarious it’s called a Dictaphone).
Eventually, Jordan relaxes and reveals why he agreed to this interview - something he had always turned down before. 'I was sick of being secretive' he states, shrugging it off 'I don't want the fans to hate me anymore. I want them to understand, you know?'
We don't know, of course we don't know, we've never left a band after years of success and been forced to stay quiet. We've never had the majority of a wide fan-base turn on us. We've never lost some of our closest friends. But wasn't that all his decision? Surely he knew the repercussions?
'People said I was stupid. I thought about it for a while, even on tour I was thinking it through.' For the first time since arriving, Jordan seems serious. His joker attitude is dropped, and he takes on a whole new persona - he sits up straight and carefully thinks before he talks.
‘That's what made it hard, spending twenty-four hours a day with your friends, meeting your biggest fans - and knowing you could throw it all away.' However, we can't help but be confused. If he was afraid of losing everything he had, why did he leave?
'I was fed-up with how we were being treated as a band. It's always the management that has the final word. Fans don't understand that. Don't get me wrong; I didn't understand either. I thought it was an easy-ride to fame and fortune. Things change and people change everyday. It's unfair that I'm not allowed to do that without being criticised'. The ex-frontman slumps back into his chair, worn out with his confession. We have to say we agree completely with this statement. Why should the public question his decisions? However, it's our job, so we keep asking anyway.
When he's asked for deeper, further detail he sighs - 'I can't give specifics because I don't want to. I thought I'd come in here, name some names, shoot people down... but I can't. All I can honestly say is that things weren't the same anymore. People react to change in different ways - they embrace it, or they don't.'
But does he regret it? ‘I can't regret this, I did it all for a reason. At the end of the day, you need to put your needs first.’
Jordan slumps in his chair and it becomes obvious the reality he’s thrown it all away hasn't really sunk in yet. He pulls out some 'Extra Fresh Gum' and half-heartedly offers us some. We accept it, whilst questioning the reformation of 'Before Last Night'.
'If they left the label and offered me a place, then yeah totally. I loved that band; they were my second family.’ So don’t worry everyone – maybe a reformation isn’t off the cards just yet.
He seems emotionally exhausted, and we feel sorry for him. It’s now that we begin to realise people are getting the completely wrong perception of him. So we cheer him up, and we ask him about his future.
‘We're just in the middle of talks now so it's all very hushed and undecided. All I can say is it will be exciting, loud and true!’
So there you have it! This is certainly not the last you’ll see of Jordan Paterson.
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