A chat with Jordan Hill on his Debut LP 'Long Time Coming'

InterviewsWritten by Geoffrey Carter on

Long Time Coming is the debut LP from rapper/producer Jordan Hill (FKA no puls). This beautifully crafted work is an impressive 20 tracks deep, full of tunes with funky hip hop grooves, organic feels and clever wordplay.

I was able to talk in-depth with the man himself about his process, inspirations, and journey as an artist.

Hey man, thank you for doing this. Tell us about yourself?

My name is Jordan Hill, I am 26 years old, from Los Angeles, CA and have been making music for over 10 years now. I am a multi-instrumentalist artist/producer who raps and sings now.

What was the process to get this record out to the world?

After the demos were made I moved to Tahoe to live with my best friend, manager, executive producer, and co-founder of my label 5th Creations, to finalize the album selects and get this music ready for the public. We took the album to a studio in Burbank called Bridge Family Studios where I mixed the album on a real analog board. First time ever doing this so it was a big step for me and my music. Once we finished mixing we sent the pre-masters to Boone Mcelroy over at Desert Park (https://www.instagram.com/desertpark/?hl=en). He really brought it home with how we wanted everything to sound. Going through my own label, my partner and I learned the in’s and out’s of DistroKid and distributing my own music to the world. LTC is available on every platform.

How did you get here from no puls?

7 months ago when Covid hit I was given time to fully re-establish myself as an artist, which I have been wanting to do for a while now. I had a revelation through an experience around the same time that forced me to look at my life through a very zoomed out lens. I decided that I wasn’t giving all of myself to my craft and noticed these stirring feelings of repression within me. The next day I ordered a microphone and wrote and recorded 50 demos in 2 months. I have been rapping for 10 years for fun behind the scenes, never taking myself seriously.

Every beat I have ever made as no puls I rapped too out loud but never had the confidence to pull the trigger. I reached a point where I’d rather die than not live my truth and passion to its highest potential. The entire album was written, recorded, produced and mixed by me. The homie Boone over at Desert Park brought it home with the mastering. Writing my own song brings a new connection to the music that many vocalists/rappers don't get to experience because they are not producers as well. This is where I separate and distance myself from the pack and I know it will be felt.

What inspires you?

Life experiences help a lot. Almost feels like I’m plagiarizing from my own brain when transmuting a visual scene to paper in a lyrical format. Nature is a big one. Feeling the expansiveness of the Universe allows my mind to expand into new territories of flow and rhythm through producing and writing.

You said you made 50 demos in 2 months. How do you select the appropriate tracks for an album with 50 tracks to choose from?

I meditated for an hour in our backyard in Tahoe, when I came out of it I wrote the first 20 tracks that came to mind and rearranged them into what you see and hear now. While making the demos, I knew which ones hit more than others and kept them in mind throughout the process.

What’s next for you and 5th Creations?

5th will be an empire. Starting with music videos, capsule drops, original art installations and more. Numerous projects are in the works as we speak.

Are you working on the next album?

Yes. It is in demo mode right now while I work on new tracks to possibly add to the album flow. When the time is right, we will drop. People will hear and feel the evolution.

What does LTC represent to you?

Long Time Coming represents the past 10 years of my life. The trials of being a human being living in a world of fear and confusion. It’s about having a flame inside that never dies and fulfilling a soul purpose and mission. I have been hiding under alter egos and masks forever and I am ready to step into the light as the truest version of myself, Jordan Hill.

Why go independent and not try and sign with a major label?

Many reasons, but to keep short, I want to own 100% of my art.

Any advice for upcoming artists or advice for people in general?

Do you. Stay in your lane. Follow your heart. Be honest and hold good intentions towards everything you do in life and the rest will follow.

Are there any tracks in which you are particularly fond of?

All the tracks on the album are special to me in their own way. The title track Long Time Coming was the first track I made out of the 50 demos so that one hits home a little more than the others just for that reason. I knew it was going to be the title track for the album as soon as I finished the demo. Last Sighting was a full release of my past relationship and entering into my truth and power as an individual. Essence and You Need U are direct contemplations through my brain on my journey and path up until this point.

Can you tell me more about the record as a whole and how it came into fruition?

The whole record is a layout of my thought patterns and streams of consciousness intertwined through vibration and frequency. I always told myself while making beats throughout the years that if I was given just one month to fully work on my craft without the scrutiny of trying to make rent and worry about how I’m going to eat the next week.

The virus gave me that time and look at what happened. In one month of being in lockdown, I had already made 35 demos, averaging a demo or more a day throughout May. I moved in with my best friend and business partner Lincoln Barnett in the forest in Tahoe and we put together the album as you hear now. Felt like a mission that was bestowed upon by a higher power. Working literally every day to set it up for a proper release and have it presented the proper way to the public. Mission complete.

You can stream/buy 'Long Time Coming' here.

Rendah Mag is a creative UK-based outlet, primarily focused on exploring the nexus of experimental music, art, and technology.

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