Exclusive Interview: Jordan Lynch Talks Touring with The Ivy, Balancing Drumming and Photography, and Embracing Opportunities
- Mikaila Storrs
- May 6
- 4 min read
Fresh off a North American tour with indie-pop duo The Ivy, drummer and photographer Jordan Lynch is keeping his creative spark alive, and it’s only getting brighter. After joking with us over Zoom about his sleep schedule still not being back to normal after his month on the road, Jordan joined us to share how his creative career began from early jam sessions and VSCO filters to his new reality working in the touring industry, including van breakdowns, sold out shows, and dreams that are bigger than ever.
Music was always in the air for Jordan growing up, but it didn’t immediately come with a plan. “I started drumming when I was 11 or 12. My dad was a drummer and he played in the kids’ church band,” Jordan recalls. “I always wanted to do something with music, but didn’t know what. I was like, 'Do I want to play guitar? Drumming is cool.'” His dad saw that spark and got him his first drum kit. “He bought me a kit, and then the rest is history.” Though there were moments where he drifted from practicing, Jordan always found his way back. “Eventually, I realized, 'No, yeah, this is what I want to do' and stuck with it.”
Drums may have been his first love, but photography also caught his eye. “I started on my phone. I went to a college in Oklahoma called OBU, and I had some friends that I met who were big into the VSCO scene,” he says. What started as casual snapshots with friends turned into a full-on exploration of light, color, and storytelling—elements that now define his visual style. His passion eventually led him to photograph events at his local church, laying the groundwork for what came next—his first concert gig in college, capturing Judah & The Lion. He laughs as he recalls that early experience: "And they were some of the worst photos, so I wish I had a chance to redeem myself after I've gotten a little bit better." It’s a story that rings true for nearly every photographer stepping into the world of live music.
Still, when it comes to choosing a focus, music wins out—if only slightly. “As a career, I guess I’ve always been like 60/40 drumming,” Jordan explains. “A lot of times, when I would be shooting a [church] service or something, I’d be like, ‘Man, I wish I was playing,’” he laughs. “Or I’d just be constantly watching the drummer. Listening and not critiquing, but just focusing on them. And then also shooting my photos.”
Early gigs for Jordan as a drummer, like most, came from the most humble of beginnings. "Most of the gigs were like, if they weren't church, it was like word of mouth. I would do little coffee shop gigs around Tulsa," he recalls. The big shift came thanks to a friend and a social post. "One of my friends was like, 'Hey, my friends are looking for a drummer that has this set of gear and a passport.' And I was like, 'Well, I have this set of gear and a passport,'" he says. An Instagram message turned into a coffee shop meeting with Shawn Abhari, half the duo of The Ivy, which turned into a jam session and then, suddenly, a tour. "It just kind of worked out after that."
But anyone who’s been in a band knows chemistry matters just as much as credentials, and that was something Jordan understood early in his music career. “Before The Ivy, some of the jam bands I was in, a lot of the guys I was already friends with, so we already had similar music tastes. That bond helped us when we were playing.” Thankfully, things also came together effortlessly with both Shawn and Wyatt from The Ivy. “I was able to hang out just at their house, get to know them, and then talk about music we both liked and geek out over Mk. gee.”
Jordan has been playing with The Ivy for about a year now, and hitting the road with the band has introduced him to an entirely new side of the live music world—one that's equal parts magic and mayhem. "In my mind, it was a bit romanticized, but a lot of stuff can go wrong," Jordan says. The tour had its share of wild cards: a van breakdown in Vail, a missing audio console left behind in Boston, serving, hilariously, as a doorstop. Still, the show always had to go on. “You just have to make it happen. Life is going on, stuff happens, and it sucks, but you just can't project that onto the fans. They just want a good show.”
After his first experience on the road, Jordan is eager to find new ways to expand his credentials as both a touring drummer and music photographer. Having shared his aspirations for The Ivy of performing at larger shows and festivals, he’s determined to create an opportunity that combines both passions into a single experience—something he’s dreamed of.
“I always had the dream to play drums for an opening band on a tour and then be the headlining band’s photographer. I don’t know if that’s ever a thing, but that would be cool.” - Jordan Lynch
When it comes to advice for newcomers, Jordan’s philosophy is simple: say yes. “Sometimes you have to swallow your pride. Maybe it's a smaller gig, it's not going to pay—you don't want to just do stuff for free all the time. But when you're starting out, you kind of do have to say, ‘Hey, here's what I can actually do,’” he says. “And then someone will pay you after they know what they're getting into.”
As for what’s next? He’s keeping it wide open. “I’m still trying to get my name out there,” he says. “I'm always in a place where I have to be open to new opportunities.” And the dream? It’s refreshingly grounded. “Maybe I guess making a little bit more money with it. Like, actually making money with it. I think that’s like a dream,” he says with a grin.
Whether he's behind the kit or framing a moment, Jordan Lynch is weaving rhythm and vision into an identity uniquely his own— one that's just as exhilarating and ever-changing as life on tour itself.
Watch All The Things Music: The Podcast x Jordan Lynch here:
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