Jordi Unga was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts on August 6, 1982. She is the middle child of three children born to Karen Motzko and Siosaia Unga. Jordis and her family moved around a lot because her dad worked as a musician, they finally settled in St. Paul Minnesota when she was eight years old.

When Janis was a senior in high school she attended Perpich Center for the Arts and Education where she studied music. Jordis had her own band called The Fighting Tongs.
Her band played a concert festival called Riverfest. Other bands that were on hand included Twisted Sister, Anthrax and Sevendust. In 2004, Jordis appeared on Star Search. The band broke up in 2005 and Jordis recreated the band as Liars Club.

In 2005, appeared on CBS TV new show RockStar:INXS. The premise was to search for the new lead singer of the band INXS. Jordis’s defining moment came when she performed David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World. From the exposure from this show Jordis gained many loyal fans.

In September 2005, Jordis signed a record deal with Sony Music; her first album release date is scheduled for 2007. Jordis is also signed to do an endorsement with ipod and Adias.