31st May 2011-Eve Studios May 2011

Me laying down some acoustic guitars

The ’special’ mic

Robin adding some lovely Hammond

Daymo playing Betsey

Dave adding a monster drum sound

Bass

Producer Jim

10th April 2011-Pre Studio Rehearsals

Hey Guys,
Here is a shot of me and the band in rehearsals preparing for the studio which will be some time in May. The band are awesome and nailed the songs within a couple of takes. Producer Jim came down on day 2 and we started to pre produce the tracks in the rehearsal room. There were some very special musical moments and it’s really nice to see the excitement on the faces of everyone involved as we prepare for this amazing opportunity. MJ xxx

17th March 2011-The Space Between

As you may know in November I did a showcase gig for a big management company.
The showcase went really well and I have been given the opportunity to work with a top producer on my new material which is absolutely amazing.

For the past 4 months I have been working every day to perfect and hone my craft, pushing my voice and playing to new and exciting levels, perfecting every lyric & melody to give each lovingly crafted song the emotion and integrity it deserves.
So, here before me lies this amazing, possibly life changing opportunity and the truth is I’m excited beyond belief, scared shitless, excited, did I mention scared?
Here lies a big opportunity and all I need to do is deliver my best performance to date, record my greatest songs to date and show people that I am a serious contender.

I have spent many years working multiple jobs to pay for studio time, cutting CD’s and funding tours whilst watching friends climb career ladders, marry and live their lives but I have never lost faith that |’ll get to my goals and get to do for a living what I truly love.
Every day, month and step forward in my journey so far has felt like a lifetime but I have a feeling things are about to change for the better.

I cannot wait to get to work in the studio and start this exciting new chapter.

Love as always.

MJ xxxx

12th January 2011-Preparing for the studio

Hey Everybody,

I hope you had a lovely Christmas break and are feeling refreshed. I have been busy over the past few months writing and preparing for the studio. I am really trying to push myself hard as a performer, player and songwriter and keep challanging myself creatively. I’ve been listening to a lot of John Mayer recently who I think is absolutely amazing. Not only can he write great songs but boy can he play…and sing!
I have certainly grown as an artist and as a woman since I recorded the album so I can’t wait to get back into the studio and see what happens. I certainly can’t wait to show you guys!
Love,
MJ xxx

1st December 2010-Key103 Jingle Ball

4th November 2010-Maria Jordan Showcase Gig, Sacred Trinity, Salford

Here are a couple of shots from my recent showcase gig I did in Manchester for 150 fans. The night was a great sucess and I have an amazing opportunity with a big management company. I’ll be heading into the studio in the next couple of months to work with a producer on some new tracks. I really can’t wait to get started and will keep ypu posted with updates. Thank you so much to everyone who came down.

Me and the band, Daymo (guitar), Robin (bass), Dave (drums)

27th September 2010-The Roundhouse, London

A few months ago I was booked to play the famous Roundhouse theatre in London for the Wella Trend vision awards ceremony. As you probably know just getting to step foot in this venue as a performer is a huge honour so I had many sleepless nights of excitment in the lead up to this day.

I headed down south on Sunday and stayed in Camden which is a really cool part of London. With most gigs you pretty much just get time to drop your stuff off at the hotel and do the gig but we had a bit of spare time to catch up with friends in Camden on the Sunday night which was lovely.

Rehearsals for the show started at 9:30am on Monday 27th. I really am not a morning person and neither are my vocal chords, plus I must have only slept for 3 hours the night before, a mixture of sleeping in a strange bed and an overactive active mind, so I had to start warming my voice up at 8am. I doubt my neighbours in the hotel were pleased!

We arrived at the Roundhouse at 9:30am and I was stunned at how the production company had dressed the room. There were huge moving chandeliers hanging from the cieling, TV screens, cameras and a huge stage with a long catwalk. The catwalk had a round stage in the middle and I was told that this is where I would be performing.

I was then shown to my dressing room so dropped off the bags and headed straight to the stage for a rehearsal.
Shortly after my rehearsal, Empress Stah came on stage to run through her set. She is an amazing Trapeze artist. I sat watching in awe as she twisted and turned through a hoop hanging from one of the chandeliers with amazing grace and poise. A short while after Empress it was Paloma Faith’s rehearsal. Unfortunately Paloma wasnt there to rehearse but the band sound checked so I sat with Dave and Empress to watch them. As a fellow musician you are always looking out to see what instruments other bands play, how they get their sounds and how they put their show together and try and learn something new. The sound was awesome!

I headed back to the dressing room to have my hair done by the Wella team. For this show I was asked to sing Eva Cassidy’s version of ‘Over the Rainbow’ which is a beautiful song and a complete contrast to my Album but fun anway and I always love learn new songs to stretch my vocal range.

The team wanted my performance to be big and dramatic so dressed me in a floor length beautiful black dress and gave me a ‘Hollywood’ hair style to match. Shortly after I was taken to make up. The room was filled with beautiful models. My eyes were all over the room watching the models being made up, dressed and transformed. As a woman with curves you can’t help but feel really out of place in a room full of size 6-8 models. I can see how easily you can lose your perspective on what a ‘normal’ healthy figure should be when you work in the fashion and music industry. I’m quite happy to keep my curves though, they help me reach the high notes- well that’s what I tell myself anyway!

Shortly after being ‘made up’ I headed back to my dressing room and began warming up and rehearsing my set.
I bumped into Paloma Faith in the hallway as her dressing room was next door to mine. She had her hair in curlers with what looked like a tea towel from the 1940’s holding them in place. She always looks fab and is probably the only person who can carry off the ‘heated curlers’ look in broad daylight!

The hours rolled away and it soon got to the start of the show. Jo Whiley passed in the hallway and then popped her head into my dressing room to borrow a bit of make up. I had the Foo Fighters playing on my laptop so we had a good chat about our mutual love of the Foo’s and music. She took a copy of my album too which was really nice.

The show got underway and as I heard the crowd going crazy to Jo Whileys every word I knew it was going to be a good show.
I headed to the side of the stage to watch Empress’ stunning trapeze show, followed shortly after by the fashion show finalists.
Jo headed back on stage and the crowd went wild. The models started to walk off the stage and at this point I was told to go on.
Kelis’ ‘Accapella’ song was still playing as the models walked off stage and I walked on so I knew I either had to walk tall to the beat of the music or look like a fool. So I chose the walking tall option! Jo Whiley tagged hands with me as she left the stage and I walked on and the crowd went wild. It was one of those magical moments you never forget.
I stopped at the centre of the catwalk and the song began to play, the dry ice slowly surrounded my feet and I gave it my all. The crowd went wild some more. For me that song is all about believing there is something out there for you to aspire to, to dream big which is something I can relate to so I kept those feelings in mind as I belted it out.

As the song ended and the crowd cheered I took a few seconds to look around and take it all in.
That certainly was a day I’ll never forget!

Here is a shot of me performing at The Roundhouse.

22nd September 2010

Here is the newest addition to my guitar collection. She is a grey/black PRS Single Cut. She plays like a dream and rocks as hard as nails.

19th August 2010

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share some wonderful news with you. I have recently signed an international publishing deal with Warner which I am so thrilled about.
I have been writing since the wee age of 14 and have hundreds of songs in my catalogue which can now be put to great use. I’ve always wanted to hear my music on a soundtrack to a great film so if this happens it would be truly amzing. In my teenage years this is how I fell in love with so many of my favourite singer/songwriters.
I would like to thank all of you for your continuous support. I hope to be back on tour this Winter and will be in touch as soon as I have dates booked.
I’ll also keep you posted on my journey and keep you up to date with breaking news.

Til next time, love to you all!

MJ xxx

13th June 2010

Outside The Middle East (upstairs), Cambridge, MA before my gig. copyright Emily Jones Photography

10th June 2010

Here is a pic of me and guitarist Ben with Chris from WMPG Radio in Portland, ME. We stopped by the day after our first gig on the US tour to chat about the Album and play them a few songs.

10th June 2010

Performing live on WMPG in Portland, ME.

25th May 2010

Here is a photo of me fulfilling some of your ‘PLEDGES’.

25th May 2010 – PLEDGE MUSIC CAMPAIGN-100%

Thank you so much to all of you who got involved in my PLEDGE MUSIC CAMPAIGN. We reached 100% yesterday which is amazing!

Not only have you contributed to getting my music on the road through your purchases but 10% of the money raised will go to CANCER RESEARCH UK.
I have really enjoyed sharing my journey with you through the PLEDGERS ONLY UPDATES. I will continue to post EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES footage from my upcoming US TOUR and more.

If you think your friends would like to get involved please HIT THE SHARE button on the PLEDGE BADGE below so they get to know about this wonderful scheme.

Thanks again guys, YOU ROCK!

2nd May 2010

At The Ruby Lounge, Manchester before my set for BBC Introducing “live”

31st October 2009

Here is a pic of me with Steve Berry and Rachel from 106.1 Rock Radio’s breakfast show. I wrote them a jingle for their show, had a chat about the album and performed ‘Crazy’ live.