Jarrod Lawson

Jarrod Steven Lawson (born 17 September 1976; Redwood City, California) is an American composer, singer, and pianist who has earned international acclaim as a leading voice in modern soul and jazz fusion. Known for his smokey vocal delivery, complex keyboard proficiency, and sophisticated vocal arrangements, Lawson expertly blends soul, jazz, gospel, and R&B.

His expansive acoustic command and ability to weave profound messages into uplifting musical spaces have garnered frequent comparisons to legendary artists like Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, establishing him as a prominent figure across the global contemporary soul landscape.

Early Life

Lawson grew up completely surrounded by music, largely due to his parents, Steven and Susan, and his father’s operating of a recording studio inside the family’s California home. Drawn to rhythm as a toddler, Lawson began playing the studio’s drum kit at just two years old. When he was eight, the family relocated to a rural farmstead an hour south of Portland, Oregon, providing an open environment where he deeply explored his father’s extensive record collection.

He immersed himself in classical, jazz, soul, reggae, and Latin music, developing a particular fascination with the piano by the age of 13. He later enrolled in an esteemed college music program where he honed his performance craft by singing in the chamber choir and playing piano for the college jazz ensemble, all while meticulously developing his composition talents in melody, harmony, and lyricism.

Career

Lawson initially built his reputation through numerous solo gigs in Portland, quickly becoming a celebrated favourite within the Pacific Northwest and sharing stages with notable artists such as Bilal, Average White Band, Angelique Kidjo, and Ronnie Laws.

After performing at Stevie Wonder’s birthday party, Lawson released his self-produced, eponymous debut album Jarrod Lawson in 2014, issued by Dome Records in the United Kingdom. Heavily championed by BBC broadcaster Gilles Peterson, the album earned a nomination for Album of the Year at Peterson's Worldwide Awards, while Jazz FM honoured Lawson as its Soul Artist of the Year.

He followed this success with the 2015 commercial release of his EP Live at the BBC, recorded at Maida Vale Studios, and the 2016 collaborative EP InterMission with fellow Portland musician Tahirah Memory. In 2019, he diversified his catalog by releasing a primarily instrumental album titled Visions under his Orpheus alias.

His highly anticipated second studio album, Be the Change, arrived in 2020, charting on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart and featuring legendary percussionist Sammy Figueroa alongside alternative soul trio Moonchild on the track "I'll Be Your Radio". Following an intimate, sold-out 2023 UK tour titled 'One Man & His Piano' and a subsequent relocation to Nashville, Lawson released his third album, Just Let It, in May 2026. The record featured the hit single "Next Move" with Raquel Rodriguez, which secured the number one spot on the UK Soul Chart, alongside standout collaborations with Rose Noir on "Do Whatchu Gotta", Eric Roberson on "Laugh At Yourself", and contributions from Carrtoons, JSWISS, and Allen Stone.

Personal Life

Raised within a non-denominational Christian family, Lawson's personal values and spiritual foundations heavily inform his identity as a songwriter and seeker of truth. His lyricism routinely explores themes of spirituality, love, global unity, and human connection, occasionally offering a critical perspective on the modern institutional church.

Within the wider music community, his legacy is framed by his profound artistic integrity and his status as a major catalyst for Portland's modern soul renaissance, with publications like Echoes magazine designating him as one of the hottest talents to impact the soul genre in a decade.

Current Activities

Alongside his ongoing live international touring schedules, he has been working in his new studio space on an upcoming full-length instrumental album under his Orpheus alias, collaborating closely with guitarist Trevor Larkin and drummer Tamuz. He is also fanfaring his continuous output of fresh musical material, including his single "Midas Touch" featuring the talkbox artist Swatkins.