When Jordan Klassen was 15, he bought Radiohead's Amnesiac on a family trip to the UK. “It completely changed how I had thought about music,” he said. “It became this adventure, and I wanted to be part of that.”

Klassen’s adventure has taken him on a chamber folk-pop path, and on his latest EP, Curses, is themed on an ongoing struggle with mental illness and cynicism. (The songs themselves sound earnestly sincere and whimsically optimisti, oddly enough.) Curses is a progression from his 2016 LP Javelin, which also explored mental illness and emotional vulnerability. He goes nostalgic with Myspace on a trip through his musical past.

Hometown: Abbotsford, BC. It's a suburb city of Vancouver.

Homebase: Vancouver, Canada.

How do you describe your music to people who haven't heard it before?

It depends ... if they're from an older generation I'll usually tell them that it's kind of like Simon and Garfunkel mixed with Enya. If they're my age I'll usually say whimsical folk pop.

Did you always want to sing and perform for others?

I'm not entirely sure ... when I was 13 I was in the Vancouver production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as part of the children's choir, and I remember feeling quite at home on stage.

But was guitar always your instrument?

When I was 14 I was in band class as a trombone player and I really hated it. I made this deal with my mother — I could quit as long as I invested in some instrument. I signed on to take guitar lessons and immediately started playing songs. I also play bass and dabble in keys.

What's your songwriting process?

I usually start with a musical idea, maybe a melody line or a conscious thought of what kind of feeling I want a song to invoke. From there I craft lyrics to fit well with the music.

Who are your musical heroes?

I really love composition and songwriting, so most of my musical heroes are folks who do that very well. Paul McCartney, Joanna Newsom, Nick Drake, Philip Glass.

How does living in Vancouver influence your songwriting style?

I think there's a certain amount of melancholy and reflection that comes with consistently being holed up away from the rain. Vancouver certainly has it's fair share! It's also quite a breathtaking place - nestled in the mountains right on the ocean - and I think that brings a certain whimsical element to my writing.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Once after a show a girl just handed me an envelope and walked away. Inside was $200 and a note that said something like 'Here's a tip for writing songs that have gotten me through a lot.' That really meant a lot.

Do you have any huge 2017 goals?

I have a goal to release two records this year, and tour them a whole bunch. I'd also love to step up my producer game and work with a lot more artists here in Vancouver.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#stillhasnoteatenbreakfast

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