On the eve of their new album release, Canadian R&B duo Majid Jordan were in their respective Toronto apartments taking in the moment. Signed to OVO Sound, Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman’s Good People yearns for a more mature kind of love, offering a different take to their previous silky-smooth sound exploring lustful connection. “I think a part of it is definitely maturity,” says Ullman who leads on the duo’s delicate production. “The older you get, the wiser you get, the more experiences you have. You get less time for things that don’t necessarily serve you a purpose.”
Al Maskati and Ullman tell Schön! that the evolution of the album’s narrative came from vulnerable conversations they had with themselves and the people around them. “I think we really came into this one wanting to enjoy the journey of making music and getting a little more vulnerable with what’s on our minds,” says Ullman. Since their last album Wildest Dreams in 2021, singer Al Maskati says that he’s built a deeper connection with himself through meditation and self-reflection. “I started doing more work on understanding my mind, my habits and patterns. I don’t like to party anymore,” he shares. “I actually like a slower pace of life. I like to appreciate people. I like to host and have people in my home, and spend time with my family and loved ones.”
After more than a decade of friendship, Ullman and Al Maskati are still learning more about eachother. The pair travelled to Maskati’s native country Bahrain to finish the album, a trip that helped to strengthen their bond. “I’m from one part of the world and he’s from another so just by the nature of that we were able to bridge so many biases we had,” says Al Maskati. The key to bridging gaps in understanding, the pair say, starts by simply having a conversation.
Lately, the duo have used their wide reach to raise awareness for causes they care about. Typically, the duo use their platform to keep fans updated on their music, but in light of Israel’s invasion in Gaza, they posted on social media asking their followers to donate to medical aid charity Médecins Sans Frontières, an NGO on the ground helping Palestinian civilians. “I hope to help the world in any way that I can and I understand that as an artist, you can only do it in a certain way,” says Al Maskati. “We will try to help raise money for organisations and have conversations with people who are involved in bringing truth and light to the world.”
Ullman admits that with the ongoing violence in the Middle East, it did not feel like the right time to promote an album, noting that with friends the duo have been discussing humanitarian issues more than music. “It’s a time where everyone is watching something unfold. It might be the first time for a lot of people that they’re seeing something on their phone that isn’t shown in the media.” For both Al Maskati and Ullman, their advocacy reflects the transparent conversations they’ve had with each other while creating their new album.“The world is huge. There are so many different things going on with so many different conversations to be had,” Ullman says. “That’s what we look forward to when we release an album and we have a tour. It’s not that we’re not excited about the music, we are, but let’s also be human about it.”
Majid Jordan‘s album ‘Good People‘ is out now.
This Schön! online exclusive has been produced by
photography. Nathan Legiehn
fashion. Bobby Bowen
talent. Majid Jordan
words. Zahid Mahmood
