I.JORDAN drops new double single, ‘Always Been / First Time Back’, on Ninja Tune: Listen

I.JORDAN has released a new double single, ‘Always Been / First Time Back’ on Ninja Tune. Listen to both tracks below. 

It marks the DJ and producer’s first solo music since their 2021 EP, ‘Watch Out!’, and is their fist release since officially changing their artist alias to I.JORDAN. 

‘Always Been / First Time Back’ is the first in a series of two-trackers to come from Jordan in the coming months. The cover image for the double single was taken by photographer El Hardwick, and shows Jordan with their face turned away from the camera. The focus of the image is instead placed on other defining features, such as Jordan’s hair, tattoos and “J” signet ring, which they gifted to themself in celebration of their name change. 

Speaking about the cover image’s significance, Jordan said: “As a trans person I’m forever changing. Being visible in the image without directly showing my face allowed me to avoid capturing something I might feel unconnected to in a few months time, but still shows off parts of my trans-ness.

“I like to see these paired single releases as little snippets of me that reflect how much I change musically as an artist but also how often my gender expression can change,” they added.

Production on the tracks began during lockdown, while Jordan was “dreaming of happier and more hopeful times”.  They were later refined and finalised as they embarked on a busy touring schedule, which has taken them to clubs and festivals across the UK and abroad in recent months. From the uplifting melodic house of ‘Always Been’, complete with a heart-touching vocal sample, to the technicolour hardcore smack of ‘First Time Back’, we can guarantee that these tracks will be heard everywhere this summer and beyond. 

Earlier this year, Jordan contributed to a Harvey Sutherland remix EP and collaborated on a single with Fred Again… called ‘Admit It (U Don’t Want 2)’. They’re set to perform at a range of festivals this summer including Glastonbury, Body Movements, Hideout and Outside Lands. 

Revisit DJ Mag’s spring 2021 cover feature with I.JORDAN here. 

Stream/buy ‘Always Been / First Time Back’ here.

Photo credit: El Hardwick