Local Review: meg jordan ― Miss Hippie

meg jordan
Miss Hippie
Loafa Beats
Street: 03.13.2026
meg jordan = Matilda Mann + Lucy Dacus

In Miss Hippie by meg jordan, a folksy guitar and a dreamy ukulele dance hand-in-hand with the depths of sapphic pining. jordan is a master of musical contrast, mixing lyrics of painful longing with bright rhythms. The result is a highly dynamic and emotionally rich album, the kind that was crafted as a cohesive whole, which should be listened to from start to finish (at least the first time) for the best musical experience.

“Hello” opens Miss Hippie with soft, slightly discordant guitar, jordan humming as it builds. The melody tilts back and forth between haunting and uplifting and gives a taste of all that is to come ― crashing drums, electric guitar and a sonorous string quartet that will return later in “That Dress.” Then the song cuts suddenly, and we move straight into the second track, “Miss Hippie,” which leads with the same melody introduced in “Hello.”

That little tune is a recurring motif that weaves in and out of the tracks on the album. I absolutely love when artists do this. It creates a cinematic, emotional through-line, and in Miss Hippie’s case, it’s the hopeful and indelible desire driving the album’s story: the complicated chase of the elusive Miss Hippie herself. She’s introduced in the title track, where jordan’s vocals fully shine through. This song has a slight jazz tinge as it swings in 6/8 time, energy forming in the abrupt rests in between phrases.

“Please Say” made my jaw drop. Its deceptively cheerful guitar and clapping chorus juxtapose the sad lyrics about being on the edge of losing someone. The contrast is absolutely maddening in the best way. jordan makes this move again in “That’s How I Feel,” singing about her unrequited love feeling “like raindrops falling from the sky / like fresh-baked berry pie / like crickets chirping in the night / like the sun shining bright.” This is such cozy music with such an ache of sapphic longing, and it’s utterly lovely.

The lyrics turn meta in a few places: in “Too Good To Be True,” jordan confesses, “I wanted to write this song on guitar / but girls who play guitar won’t get you very far / so instead I’m on my ukulele / the same one that I played for you, my Miss Hippie.” At first, I was a little off-put by this, but as I listened through the rest of the tracks, I realized this sets up an emotional impact for jordan’s later switch back to guitar. The melody, chord progression and ukulele in the next song, “Poems and Letters,” felt similar to “Too Good To Be True” ― but then right on cue, jordan sang, “I think there’s something wrong with me / ’cause I’m writing another song in the key of G.” Now I wonder if the initial similarity is purposeful, since the song then differentiates itself by really slowing down and stretching out its beat.

The quietest track on the album is “Anyone.” The ukulele turns discordant with a sense of giving up as jordan sings, “So I’ll be here if you change your mind or need someone to care.”  The song keeps threatening to build and drop like many of the others, but it never does, which matches so well with the lyrics. The emotions of “Anyone” lead into the full coming-to-terms of “Road Trip Song,” where jordan picks up the guitar again. The strings return, and devastating lyrics crash in: “But if I ever hurt you / please let me know / ’cause I don’t mean to. / You’ll never understand how much you mean to me / even if it’s just platonically.” Excuse me? You can’t just drop that on me out of nowhere!

The album’s musical motif decorates the outro, “Goodbye,” which has more strength and body than the intro as it reflects on the story we’ve just been through, carrying a heavy sense of disillusionment: “I wish things could have ended well / but at least I’m no longer under your spell.” jordan bids farewell to Miss Hippie before her voice fades back into the gentle motif.

The first time I listened to this, I was left a little speechless. I greatly admire the artistry that went into Miss Hippie. I feel like I’ve just frolicked through a misty meadow of wildflowers while simultaneously having my heart smashed. It was a wonderful experience, I promise. I’m so happy to have found a new favorite artist, and I look forward to more music by meg jordan. ―Rebekah Bowman

Read more from Rebekah Bowman:
Local Review: Pepper Rose — Meetings for the shy
Underground at the Social: Mocktails, Meals, Music and More

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