At just seven years old, Jordan Sunshine already has acting credits, a love for music, and no shortage of confidence.
The young actor, who is the son of rapper and Public Enemy co-founder Flavor Flav, recently sat down with Maurice Benard on State of Mind. Jordan kept Benard laughing as they talked about everything from acting and music to the fear he had to overcome before becoming the outgoing child he is today.
When asked what had frightened him in the past, Jordan recalled how difficult it once was for him to talk to people.
“I was so shy and so scared and that frightened me,” Jordan said.
Jordan shared that he experienced selective mutism when he was younger and eventually received help from a therapist. With support from his family and the encouragement to interact with other children, he gradually became more comfortable using his voice.
That fear, Jordan told Benard, is no longer holding him back.
“No, no fear,” he said.
Jordan also surprised Benard with just how much he already knows about music. He plays guitar, drums, and piano, and explained that he began taking piano lessons when he was very young. While his teacher helped him get started, Jordan said he later learned other songs on his own.
When Benard asked if he used YouTube to learn, Jordan replied, “No, I don’t do that. I just do it by ear.”
His introduction to guitar came through his grandfather, Barry. Jordan recalled asking to pluck the strings of his grandfather’s guitar when he was very young. When Benard assumed his father had taught him to play, Jordan quickly corrected him.
“No, my papa, his name is Barry,” Jordan said.
His mother later found him a guitar teacher, and Jordan continued taking lessons even while in Hungary filming 3 Body Problem.
These days, Jordan is using his voice in more ways than one. In addition to acting, he enjoys singing and playing instruments, and he already has some definite ideas about what makes a good performance.
“When you sing, the song has a meaning that you’re singing. So you have to think of that meaning in order for it to come out right,” he explained.
Jordan recalled lessons from his vocal coaches, who encouraged him to focus on pitch, enunciation, and the emotions behind the music. He has since taken that love of singing beyond lessons, performing for people in different places, including Budapest.
While there, Jordan said people tried to give him money after hearing him sing, but he wasn’t interested in getting paid.
“I don’t want any money. I’m not a busker,” he recalled telling them.
Instead, Jordan said he enjoys what his music can do for the people listening.
“It makes me feel great. It makes me feel like like everything is great,” he said of making people happy.
Jordan’s personality came through just as strongly when the conversation shifted back to his career. At one point, Benard mentioned information he had found suggesting that Jordan raps.
“I do not rap. What is wrong with AI?” Jordan quickly responded.
The exchange left Benard laughing, but acting is one part of Jordan’s résumé that required no correction.
Jordan spoke about his work on Netflix’s 3 Body Problem before turning to his appearance in Season 2 of The Pitt.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Benard asked.
“I want to be what I am now,” Jordan replied. “Singer, actor, uh, drum player, piano player.”
By the end of the interview, Benard told his young guest exactly what the conversation had done for him.
“I just want to say thank you for brightening up my day,” he said.
Jordan’s response came naturally.
“That’s what I always do because my name is Jordan Sunshine.”
