:User:Poprush/sandbox

Jordan Lake was born in Kinston, North Carolina, and raised in Beulaville. He began singing in church and performing in local talent competitions from childhood. In high school, he participated in choir and swing choir, winning awards and singing the national anthem at his graduation.

In 2006, Lake auditioned for American Idol in Greensboro, wearing his father's firefighter uniform in tribute to Hurricane Katrina responders, and performed “You Raise Me Up.” He advanced to Hollywood Week.{{cite web|title=Another North Carolina 'Idol'?|website=TODAY.com|url=https://www.today.com}}{{cite web|title=American Idol 5|website=Reality TV World|url=https://www.realitytvworld.com}}{{cite web|title=American Idol Results 2006-05-21|website=American Idol Results Blog|url=http://americanidolresults.blogspot.com}}{{cite web|title=The Skinny Tie Report January 2006|website=Skinny Tie Report|url=http://skinnytie.blogspot.com}}

After elimination, he lost over 85 pounds, refined his vocal style, and performed at conventions, military bases (including Camp Lejeune), and local venues.

A YouTube cover of a Prince song garnered attention from a Los Angeles producer, leading to a contract with Warner Bros. under the name Jordan Southerland. He recorded a full-length album that was never released due to label restructuring and mergers.

After departing the label, he adopted the stage name Jordan Lake, collaborated with Katye Bragg, and developed unreleased material while pursuing a career in photography. In 2021, Lake released his debut album, Neon Nights, produced by Gabe Lopez.{{cite web|title=Jordan Lake – "Neon Nights" is pure sonic escapism!|website=TUNEDLOUD|url=https://tunedloud.com}}{{cite web|title=JORDAN LAKE Interview|website=IndieShark|url=https://indieshark.com}}{{cite web|title=Exclusive Interview with Jordan Lake|website=MobAngeles|date=20 July 2021 |url=https://mobangeles.com/exclusive-interviw-with-jordan-lake/}} The album featured the singles “Misfit,” “Hunters and Wolves,” “Dancing with the Dark Side,” and the title track “Neon Nights,” each accompanied by music videos.

He also released a cover of “Careless Whisper” by George Michael during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After relocating to Las Vegas in 2019, Lake continued to perform locally. In 2022, he headlined a live performance at Freezone NightClub.{{cite web|title=American Idol Contestant Jordan Lake To Perform His New Music Live in Las Vegas|website=EIN Presswire|url=https://www.einpresswire.com/pr_news/682124497/american-idol-contestant-jordan-lake-to-perform-his-new-music-live-in-las-vegas}}

In 2025, he released the remix EP Neon Remix, reimagining songs from his debut album. He is currently recording a second studio album and working on a companion project revisiting earlier work with Katye Bragg.

Lake’s sound merges pop, rock, folk, dance, and country, characterized by introspective lyrics, cinematic production, and vintage-inspired textures. His musical influences include Fleetwood Mac, Billy Idol, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, and Imagine Dragons.{{cite web|title=Jordan Lake – "Neon Nights" is pure sonic escapism!|website=TUNEDLOUD|url=https://tunedloud.com}}

Lake resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continues his work as a professional headshot and fitness photographer. His photography has been featured in publications including *DNA Magazine*, where he shot the editorial "Franco,"{{cite web|title=Franco by Jordan Southerland – DNA Magazine|url=https://www.dnamagazine.com.au/franco-by-jordan-sutherland/|website=DNA Magazine|date=28 May 2019 }} and *VoyageLA*, which profiled his creative journey in Los Angeles.{{cite web|title=Meet Hollywood Photographer Jordan Southerland|url=https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-hollywood-photographer-jordan-southerland/|website=VoyageLA}}

• Neon Nights (2021)

• Neon Remix (2025)

• “Misfit” (2020)
• “Hunters and Wolves” (2020)
• “Dancing with the Dark Side” (2021)
• “Neon Nights” (2021)
• “Careless Whisper” (2021)

• Gabe Lopez – producer
• Katye Bragg – songwriter and vocal coach

• “Jordan Southerland”, *American Idol Wiki*
• “Another North Carolina 'Idol'?”, *TODAY.com*
• “American Idol 14 Spoilers Hollywood Week 2015 Begins”, *Mjsbigblog*
• “American Idol Results 2014: 2006-05-21”, *American Idol Results Blog*
• “AUDITIONS, 1/24/06 Greensboro”, *Google Groups*
• “American Idol 5”, *Reality TV World*
• “The Skinny Tie Report: January 2006”, *Skinny Tie Blog*
• “American Idol Contestant Jordan Lake To Perform his New Music Live in Las Vegas”, *EIN Presswire*, *Nevada Post*
• “Jordan Lake – ‘Neon Nights’ is pure sonic escapism!”, *TUNEDLOUD*
• “JORDAN LAKE Interview”, *IndieShark*
• “Exclusive Interview with Jordan Lake”, *MobAngeles*
• “Franco by Jordan Southerland”, *DNA Magazine*
• “Meet Hollywood Photographer Jordan Southerland”, *VoyageLA*

• [https://instagram.com/jordanlakeofficial Official Instagram]
• [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1YN9BiRL1BCGVDbO80SZmC Jordan Lake on Spotify]
• [https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/jordan-lake/305209938 Jordan Lake on Apple Music]