Rochelle Jordan's Through the Wall deserves more attention—a cohesive dance album blending jazz, pop, and soul that sounds even better on vinyl.
There's something special about discovering an artist who feels like a well-kept secret, and Rochelle Jordan is exactly that. Her album Through the Wall is one of those rare projects that commands attention from start to finish—a cohesive body of work that knows exactly what it is and never apologizes for it. It's the kind of album I throw on at the gym and let run all the way through, no skips, which is increasingly rare these days.
What strikes me most about this album is how underrated it is. Not many people I talk to know about Rochelle Jordan, which honestly baffles me. If you're into Beyoncé's Renaissance or that sweet spot where dance music meets jazz and soul, this album should be on your radar immediately. It's uptempo, it's vibey, and it has this beautiful flow that makes you feel like you're experiencing a complete artistic vision rather than a collection of random singles thrown together.
I'm going to see her live next month when she comes to Amsterdam, and I'm genuinely excited about it. But before that, I've been spending quality time with the vinyl version of this album, and let me tell you—it sounds so much better than the digital version. There's a warmth and presence to it that really brings out the jazzy elements and the intricate production choices.
"It really has a nice flow to it... sometimes there's like a transition from one song to another that just makes you feel that like you're just listening to like a whole cohesive body of work which I really appreciate."
This is clearly an artist who put real thought into what the album would be as a complete statement, not just someone throwing together tracks hoping one becomes a TikTok hit.
La Dida is probably where most people should start—it's the first song that introduced me to Rochelle Jordan, and it perfectly encapsulates what makes this album work. You can hear the jazzy vibes immediately, but there's this undeniable dance energy running through it. It's uptempo without being exhausting. There's actually a live performance of this one on Spotify that's excellent and really shows her vocal chops.
Doing It Too grabbed me with its incredibly catchy chorus, but what I love is how she doesn't stick to the typical pop song structure. She places hooks and melodic moments anywhere she wants in the song, switching things around in a way that keeps you on your toes. It's refreshing.
Never Enough kicks off the second part of the album and shifts into something a bit more vibe-y, which provides a nice dynamic shift. The album is long—17 songs—but it earns that runtime by knowing when to pull back and when to push forward.
On to Something has this incredible bass that just hits differently. Those beats are something special, and there's a hip-hop influence creeping in here that adds another dimension to her sound. Her voice is beautiful throughout, but on this track especially, you can hear how versatile she is across different styles.
Crave is one of those songs I reach for when I want something chill but still uplifting—perfect for working at the table or just maintaining good vibes without going into full party mode. The way she sings on this track has this effortless quality that draws you in.
Close to You continues that vibe-y energy, and you can really tell by this point in the album that Rochelle Jordan knows exactly what she's doing. This isn't an album that suddenly pivots to acoustic ballads or tries to be something it's not.
The album closes with Around, and I love that choice. It never stops being a dance album, right up to the final note. It knows what it is and sticks to that vision—a good, uptempo dance project that blends jazz, pop, soul, and even touches of hip-hop into something that feels both cohesive and refreshing.
Through the Wall is the kind of album that deserves way more attention than it's getting. Whether you pick it up on vinyl like I did (highly recommended) or just stream it on Spotify or Apple Music, give it a proper listen. Don't shuffle it—play it front to back and let it do what it's designed to do.
Rochelle Jordan put real effort into crafting an album, not just a collection of singles, and that intentionality shows in every transition, every production choice, every moment where the energy shifts just enough to keep you engaged. In an era where albums often feel like afterthoughts, Through the Wall stands out as a reminder of what's possible when an artist has a clear vision and the talent to execute it.
