A Chat with Jordan Cracknell (12.08.25)
From finance boardrooms to the dancefloor, Jordan Cracknell has swapped spreadsheets for synths with a debut single that’s as bold as its namesake, ‘Gordon Gekko’. We chat about her creative leap, musical influences, and flipping the “man in finance” narrative on its head.
OSR: What inspired you to make the jump from finance to music?
Cracknell: I thought to myself, ‘I’m only getting older, let me try this out and see what happens.’ I had taken piano lessons for a while when I was younger, but I disliked recitals, and so that was the end of that. We had a piano that my great-grandparents had purchased and that had been passed down. I would fiddle around with it growing up. I can sight-read music thanks to my instructor drilling that into me. And later, when I did ballet, there was a live pianist in the studio. All of this is to say that music has been in my life for a long time.
OSR: ‘Gordon Gekko’ is such a bold debut. Why did you choose this concept for your first single?
Cracknell: Gordon Gekko and the movie Wall Street are still so iconic, almost 40 years on. It seemed like a no-brainer to do a song about him. To make it more relevant to current times, I decided upon the female version of Gordon Gekko.
OSR: ‘Gordon Gekko’ blends retro 80s synths with modern house beats. How did you develop that sonic identity?
Cracknell: That is all down to my song-writing partners, Ronniee and Tom Marlow. I provided some general music vibes, but they were able to really run with that into what you hear now.
OSR: How did your songwriting process evolve working with a producer like Tom Marlow?
Cracknell: It was super chill. He and Ronniee have their recording studio at their house. Over the course of two days, we wrote and did the song! They are fantastic to work with.
OSR: You cite Marina, Fred Again, and Raye as influences. How do you incorporate their styles into your own?
Cracknell: As we wrote the song, we drew inspiration from their music the most, which helped us capture the general vibe.
OSR: You mentioned flipping the “man in finance” narrative. What message do you hope listeners take away?
Cracknell: That women can be as bold, flawed, passionate, destructive, and phoenix-like just like men.
OSR: You’re also an author and media commentator. How do you balance all your creative hats?
Cracknell: I keep a rigorous schedule and do a lot on weekends. I cannot just sit and do nothing. TV is the longest time I don’t do much, and even then, I can only watch for about an hour before I get restless.
OSR: As a debut artist, how are you navigating the pressures of branding in such a visual, digital era?
Cracknell: This is tricky, but I am lucky to have very creative friends who are also generous in their time and advice. They are also brutally honest.
OSR: What’s next after ‘Gordon Gekko’? Is there an EP or album in the works?
Cracknell: I’m definitely going to do another song. I will keep doing songs until they’re not enjoyable anymore.
OSR: What advice would you give to women who want to break the mould in male-dominated spaces?
Cracknell: Keep showing up, even when it is really hard. Anything can happen at any time at work, and the not-great person at work can leave suddenly.
Many thanks to Jordan Cracknell for speaking with us. Find out more about Jordan Cranknell on her official website, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Spotify.
