First Listen: Darnel Alexander and Jordan Johnston answer the question

(November 7, 2024) Jordan Johnston is of the age that he’s appreciating the music that previous generations jammed to. And for the Minneapolis based singer and songwriter, that means he’s cultivated a love for 1990s R&B. That’s not surprising to me because as a parent of children in their 20s and early 30’s, I know that demographic has an affinity for 90s R&B.

So, the professional relationship that Johnston, who is the son of drummer and former Flyte Time songwriter and producer Bob Johnston, cultivated with Darnel Alexander makes sense. Alexander was a member of the R&B singing group 2^nd Nature that charted with the song “Can You Show Me” in 1995. The two have collaborated on the performance of the Johnston-penned ballad “What If,” the song featured in this First Listen.

Johnston and Alexander hooked up in the most 21^st Century way. Johnston found Alexander on Instagram and followed him. Alexander responded in kind. And after hearing Alexander sing, Johnston decided to reach out and see if he was interested in collaborating on the tune.

Johnston’s sweet tenor and Alexander’s husky baritone mix nicely on this tune. The song finds the two reminiscing about a relationship that has reached an end and wondering what could have could have been done preserve what has been lost. The question “What If” not only applies to reflecting on what might be lost, but on the faint hope that something can be done or said that might lead to a reconciliation.

Fans of 1990s R&B or any era of soulful and honest singing will like this tune. Check it out here.