EXCLUSIVE: NFL Super Bowl Champion RIVRR Talks New Music, Legacy & Life Beyond the Field | Illuminance Interview

Before the snap, there was music…get familiar with RIVRR

Most people know Jordan Fuller a.k.a. RIVRR, as the powerhouse NFL safety who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams during the Super Bowl LVI game against the Bengals in 2022. But as a matter-of-fact, the 28 year old superstar from Norwood, New Jersey, is indeed no stranger to iconic energy. From the time he was conceived, he carries his mother’s musical prestige as quite literally the cornerstone of his development, and now the music bud has finally bloomed.

From the NFL to his debut as RIVRR the artist.

When it comes to his first profession, Jordan describes himself as “cerebral on the field”. He reflected on his mindset as football player saying, “I basically turn into a machine in a sense. Going through checklists in my head, and completing tasks one by one. I turn a lot of my emotions off when I’m in that kind of zone on the field. I’m less sensitive to a lot of things, whether it be highs, lows, or even pain a lot of times.”

Behind the helmet lives someone else entirely: and RIVRR is that someone we are raring to know. We had the opportunity to get up close and personal with RIVRR and learned what it’s like to see through his bright eyes.

We’d dare to say destiny and DNA are truly at play for RIVRR. Being born into the loftiest levels of the music business, RIVRR’s mother Cindy Mizelle, a professional touring singer, was with-child with him while singing background for legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Luther Vandross, amongst other legends like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Whitney Houston.

We asked RIVRR to share his perspective on how his early musical roots and mom helped shape his music career so far. He candidly expressed, “Time will tell on how it shapes my career, but it’s shaped so much on my relationship with music. I was getting formed in the womb while my mother was on stage with some of the greatest musicians/vocalists to ever live.

Read the rest of the interview below. His points hit the core and garner their own intermission.

Tell us about “Alabama”. Where did the creative force of that song come from and what did you want your fans to get from the message?

“The inspiration came from real life experiences. The vibe of going on a date with a girl you really enjoy spending time with, and the energy just feels amazing from start to finish. I want the supporters to see a little bit of themselves in it. I think there’s material in it for all genders to appreciate.”

Now, at the intersection of sport, culture, fashion, and sound, RIVRR is stepping into his own uncharted territory. With records like “Alabama” capturing the warmth of real human connection, he isn’t chasing a moment — he’s offering one. is called “Alabama” because the chorus references “Sweet Home Alabama,” implying that wherever his girl is, that is home.

A Super Bowl ring is something most people only dream about. Nowadays, athletes are more commonly showing a multifaceted entertainment archetype. When did you come to realize the idea of recording music despite your success in sports? Is there pressure to justify taking music seriously after achieving something so grand as a Super Bowl win?

Honestly, making music was something that became a hobby for me instead of playing video games, watching tv shows, or scrolling on social media. Instead of spending time doing those types of things, I spent it recording myself at home. It feels like a meaningful way to spend my time in a world full of distractions. It’s time I set aside to simply be present and allow the moment to be whatever it’s meant to be. And it sounds different every time, which is fun. I show up as a different person every time I sit down and record.

I learned that my life feels a lot better when I’m able to create instead of consuming all the time. And it’s something that’s grown because I haven’t gotten sick of the process of creating and sharing with people who are close to me. Now, I’m just at the point where I’m ready to allow the world to hear. My art reflects life in a real way, and it gives meaning to the things I go through on a day to day basis. It’s one of my offerings to the world. Hopefully it contributes to the greater good in some way. We’re all humans at the end of the day; before we were anything else. This is me understanding and stepping into that.

RIVRR is described as a larger rollout at the cross sections of fashion, culture and music. How would you advise the next generation to pierce through the thousands of entertainment professionals who are mastering multitalented like yourself? I think the key is to stay authentic and to be yourself. There’s no other person on the planet that has the same perspective as you. Not even two children who grew up in the same household had the same exact upbringing. There’s nuances all around us. Tap into the ones you see. Your perspective is unique and special. Do what speaks to you. You can live with any and all results if you do that. The weird kids are the cool kids, in my opinion.

RIVRR is an an all-around entertainer. The kind who chooses presence over passive consumption, creation over distraction, and authenticity over expectation. Let’s not downplay a WHOLE SUPER BOWL though.

Listen to the single here: