Jordyn Sugar Drums Up Emotion and Energy with “Ghost” and Rising Pop Stardom
In an era when artists often stick to one lane, Jordyn Sugar is carving out her own. The Montreal-based singer-drummer is equally at home behind the kit as she is behind the mic, merging rhythm and melody into a pop sound that’s as vulnerable as it is powerful. With her latest single “Ghost,” out now, she proves herself not only a performer but a storyteller for a generation still figuring out how to process silence in a hyper-connected world.
“I’ve been through it, and I know so many others have too,” Jordyn says of the phenomenon behind her song. “‘Ghost’ is the first track I’ve created that asks a direct question to the audience: ‘Why’d you have to ghost on me?’” For Jordyn, music is less about wallowing in heartbreak and more about capturing the spiraling thoughts we often leave unspoken. “This is like a conversation with the listener. Your feelings are valid, and it’s okay to be confused without having all the answers.”
Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Jordyn has spent the past few years honing a style she calls Empowered Pop™. Her early single “Leaves Me” in 2021 introduced her mission to push back against unrealistic beauty standards and celebrate imperfection. Opening slots for Gloria Gaynor, CeeLo Green, and Kardinal Offishall have put her in front of thousands, but Jordyn insists her real breakthrough comes from connection. “I want my music to be the kind of place people turn to when they feel unseen,” she says.
That drive is matched by her chops. A multi-instrumentalist who commands both voice and percussion, Jordyn co-wrote “Ghost” with songwriter Bayla and producer Lucas Liberatore. The recording process was, she recalls, “a smooth, creative, and collaborative session that brought the vision of the song to life.” On the track, you can hear that synergy: polished pop production balanced with raw emotional intensity.
Her lyrics cut deep in their simplicity. “Didn’t say goodbye / Left me high and dry” she sings in the opening verse, before the chorus demands answers: “Why’d you have to ghost? You left me in the cold.” Later, she hammers home the transformation from intimacy to absence: “We went from lovers / To strangers / No more see ya later.” For a 21st-century heartbreak anthem, it feels startlingly direct—less about closure than about learning to live with the lack of it.
That honesty places Jordyn within a lineage of artists who blend pop accessibility with emotional heft. Like Olivia Rodrigo, she finds strength in vulnerability. Like Halsey, she pulls from the personal while crafting hooks made for arenas. And like HAIM, her embrace of live instrumentation—including drums—sets her apart in a field dominated by laptop beats. Critics have even compared her blend of empowerment and relatability to early Pink, who redefined pop stardom through raw truth and big choruses.
Within today’s pop landscape, Jordyn represents a Gen Z reaction to hyper-polished icons. While TikTok virality has boosted her reach—her videos have earned millions of views—her music resists fleeting trends. Instead, she’s building a catalogue rooted in authenticity, weaving together pop, rock, and R&B into something both retro-inspired and future-facing.
Fans will soon get a chance to see that energy live. Jordyn’s next performance is set for September 20, 2025, in New Jersey, where she will open for Rachel Grae. More tour dates are expected as she builds toward a full release schedule in the coming year.
As Jordyn Sugar steps into this new chapter, the message is clear: she’s more than a viral moment. With her dual gifts for rhythm and melody, her refusal to conform to pop clichés, and her unwavering honesty, she’s shaping a career that could redefine what empowerment sounds like in the streaming era. Or, as Jordyn herself puts it: “Right now, ‘Ghost’ is our focus single, but I have several other songs ready. This is only the beginning.”
Hi, Jordyn! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers for those not familiar with your music?
Hey great to meet everyone, I truly don’t remember when music wasn’t a part of my life. I started playing drums at 3 years old. My family had realized that I had a great sense of time and rhythm. Which is rare for someone so young. It just came naturally to me. When I look back at old videos, I realize that I have always been a singer, but I didn’t find my unique voice till I was around 16 years old. That’s when I started to listen to what I was singing and adjusting my sound rather than just singing the notes. I have so much passion for music that I was able to pick up piano and guitar. I started songwriting and creating content on social media and I eventually gained a following by doing covers and creative comedy/ music skits. My music is my primary medium for me to share my life story and related experiences. I try to talk about universal themes so that my music is relatable. I also try empowering my fans through my songs. I strive to lifer people up while inspiring others to keep believing in themselves. I want them to experience feel-good vibes when they listen to my music.
“Ghost” hits hard with that opening line— “Didn’t say goodbye, left me high and dry.” Was there a specific moment or message that sparked the idea for the song?
The concept of getting ‘Ghosted’ has been very relevant lately, especially now since there are so many ways of getting ghosted. Social media has made it so much easier to just unfollow, block or not answer someone. In my case, it’s about getting ghosted from someone I was speaking to on a regular basis. All of the sudden I don’t hear from them and then just like that I was “unfollowed” without any goodbye, closure, and/or real reason. The whole song follows the ups and downs of what it feels like to be ghosted and really just asking the question “why’d you have to ghost on me?”
You’ve said this track is like a conversation with the listener. If the real person who ghosted you heard the song, what do you hope they’d feel—or say?
I hope that the listeners can relate to the theme and overall question of the song “why’d you have to ghost one me?” It’s a self-reflection going through all the feelings in your head trying to break it down but at the end of the day still being left unsure about the why of it all. And sadly, coming to terms with the fact that you may never get an answer.
To my knowledge, the person that I wrote this song about has not heard it. Funny, given how self-absorbed they are, I don’t think they would suspect it was about them. I hope for their sake, and others they may hurt in the future, that they realize that it’s better to be honest and upfront with people.
You’re not just singing—you’re drumming. How does being behind the kit shape the way you write, perform, or even feel rhythm emotionally?
I believe that there is a rhythm to all things in life. For example, I was a basketball player for most of my life and its crazy but there was a rhythm to that which I also incorporate into my music and more specifically my drumming. Knowing the fundamentals of drumming helps when writing because I can visualize and hear the backbeat and rhythm in my head even without playing it. This is Jason helpful when it’s time to produce. When I’m in the studio, I can literally play the beat that I hear in my head for my producer to they can replicate it. I always find myself tapping on my lap or air drumming because it’s just so natural for me that sometimes I don’t even notice when I’m doing it.
You’ve opened for legends like Gloria Gaynor and CeeLo Green. What’s one unexpected piece of advice or backstage moment you’ll never forget from anyone?
I’ve been very fortunate to share the stage with the names listed above. It was pretty surreal when I found out about these two specifically. Ill start with Gloria Gaynor because there is a bit of a backstory that I manifested into that moment. Every year they have a charity event called Strangers in the Night. A year before I opened for Gloria, my friend and I drove by event and parked to listen to the artists perform. We got out of the car and walked a bit closer to where the stage was. We happened to get there as the Jackson 5’s was pulling up as they were about to get on stage. I turned to my friend and said, “I’ll be on that stage next year”, she kind of just brushed it off like as if. Not only did I get to open up for Gloria literally the next year. After she saw my performance, she invited to meet her in her trailer after the show. We even had chicken wings together and she was so gracious and supportive.. That night I got a text from the same friend I was with the year prior asking, “where are you?” and my reply was “In Gloria. Gaynor’s trailer eating chicken wings.” One of the coolest moments in my life.
Meeting CeeLo and opening for him was another incredible experience. It was at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Vegas which is already so cool. Growing up, “Crazy” was one of my favorite songs. After the show I was able to meet him backstage where we hung out and dud Shots. Now I can say I ate chicken wings with Gloria Gaynor and did shots with CeeLo Green.