Jordan Ward Presents: THE APARTMENT TOUR

Born and raised in St. Louis, Jordan Ward is rapidly emerging as one of music’s brightest new stars. His passion for music and dance began early—first as a choir member, then through musical theatre—laying the foundation for his unique blend of performance and soul. Influenced by an eclectic mix of legends including Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., and Nas, Ward channels a deep connection to the roots of soul and hip-hop through his sound and storytelling. After experimenting with rap in his teens, Ward shifted his focus to singing and dance, moving to Los Angeles at 18 to pursue a professional dance career. His natural talent and work ethic quickly earned him spots performing with major artists such as Justin Bieber, Becky G, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé—appearing in Beyoncé’s Homecoming documentary for her iconic Coachella performance. In 2017, Ward made his musical debut with the EP A Peak at the Summit, followed by the full-length Valley Hopefuls and the acclaimed EP Remain Calm, which featured the standout single “Lil Baby Crush.” His 2023 debut album FORWARD marked a defining moment, featuring fan favorites like “WHITE CROCS” and “FAMJAM4000,” and cementing his place among R&B and hip-hop’s most exciting new voices. Ward’s rise has been fueled by relentless touring and widespread critical praise. FORWARD landed on Rolling Stone’s “Best Albums of 2023” list, while Complex named “FAMJAM4000” one of the year’s “15 Best Songs.” In 2024, he earned a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Most Outstanding New Artist—further solidifying his status as a singular, rising force in contemporary music. Currently, Jordan is gearing up for the release of his second studio album, due January 2026. The album features Sailorr, TiaCorine, and Smino and is produced by Lido, Michael Uzowuru, Teo Halm, Yeti Beats and more.

Twenty-two-year-old singer Nali would prefer her music to do the talking. The Brooklyn, New Yorker puts her heart, soul, and life experience into lyrics recorded to lo-fi R&B and hip-hop beats. During the pandemic, songwriting replaced life events Nali missed out on, like proms and graduations. That music has since gotten a response, as these self-recorded songs gained traction on social media and, later, on traditional streaming platforms. Tracks including “4 U,” “Damn,” and Nali’s collaboration with Zahir, “Swan Song” have become standouts. “This is very personal to me. I can’t write what I don’t feel,” Nali admits. Her upcoming single “Petty” expands her catalog with something upbeat and club-inspired, revealing a new side to her personality. Nali—short for Naliyah—was born and raised in East Flatbush. Her family, complete with a Jamaican grandmother, matched the neighborhood’s historically Caribbean heritage. After dabbling in piano and cutting a song in her early years, Nali eventually rekindled with music. “Turning 18 was a big shift for me. That was a moment where I felt very on my own.” The first song Nali wrote and recorded herself was “POV.” The song lived up to its title—a frame of observation set to a hazy beat. The singer uploaded it to Soundcloud and used Distrokid. At a time when she was not on TikT ok or Instagram, the then-19-year-old singer was surprised to learn from friends that the track was randomly gaining momentum through social media. Since building that foundation, she released a handful of songs and performed a few concerts, including two at Manhattan’s famed SOB’s club. 2022’s “Don’t Dial” confronted police brutality, albeit behind a sweet melody. “Damn,” captured the feelings of attraction. In her music, Nali refuses to waste a moment of her listener’s time or take up space. Many of her songs have a single verse and a chorus or two. Although Nali favors lo-fi and short, her music is far from whimsical. At the top of 2024, Nali released her biggest song, “4 U.” Empathetic, patient, and even cavalier—the song is a contemporary ballad over a soulful beat. IBreatheMusicAllDay, a popular I.G. account, praised the song. Since then, popular playlists like Spotify’s Fresh Finds R&B and Lowkey have featured Nali’s music and expanded her reach. In the summer of 2024, Nali partnered with Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter Jack Dine (Alex Isley, Stormzy, Masego) and Norway’s Lido for “Mitsubishi.” The dreamy track shows expansion. Nali wants to further diversify with late summer’s “Petty,” a fun and uptempo New Jersey Club-styled song modeled after its title. Nali may be low-key, but she is intentional. “I’d like to have a song that people will still talk about in 20, 30, or 40 years.”