FEATURE: Spotlight: Coco Jones — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Coco Jones

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IT is clear that 2022…

was a big and successful year for Coco Jones. I am here to discuss her music, but as she appears in Bel-Air as Hilary Banks (played originally in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air by Karyn Parsons), we have this immense talent who has a thriving acting and music career. You can hear and feel Jones bringing disciplines and emotions from her acting career into the music. Jones has released a few E.P.s to date but her latest, What I Didn't Tell You, came out in November. I think it is her best work yet. I believe she is working on an album at the moment. Here is a phenomenal R&B artist influenced the likes of Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, and Christina Aguilera. Her music is incredible, and I would advise everyone to check her out. Before getting to some interviews with her, here is some biography about this immense talent:

“You may have seen Coco Jones on the big screen—she’s been in film and on TV since she was a tween and if not, you will soon, since she’s the new Hilary Banks in Peacock’s Fresh Prince reboot, Bel-Air. You also may have seen her on the tiny screen—with nearly 2 million TikTok followers, dedicated to upping representation for proud, talented, dark-skinned Black women. But in 2022, you should also plan to hear her, as the multi-faceted Ms. Jones at last launches her music career with a brand of R&B as soulful as it is relatable, as diary-honest as it is marked by powerful storytelling. And though she’s young, it’s been a long time coming.

Raised in Nashville, TN, by a mother who was also a singer, and a father who played in the NFL, Jones learned ambition early on. “My dad got to wake up and live his dream his whole life,” she says. “That was kind of the upbringing that our parents wanted us to have: ‘Whatever you’re passionate about, as long as you work for it, we’ll support you. We’ll help cultivate that.’”

In fact, music came first, and Jones began recording at the age of 9 with just that sort of help. Her mom set up shop on a Windows PC and helped her record an album’s worth of demos that they would then burn onto CDs to share. “Auditions, talent shows, cattle calls…” Jones jokes, “I’d just be out there handing out these little albums that my momma made on her computer.”

It makes sense that Jones found her way into acting through song—first as a recurring guest on Disney’s musical sketch comedy, So Random!, and, in 2012, as the golden-voiced love interest in the network’s TV movie, Let It Shine. She’s stayed busy since, flexing her range across titles that span adventure romps, intense dramas, holiday fare, and comedy horror (Netflix’s Vampires vs. the Bronx). But singing has remained close to her heart since those early years. Her music feels like it was a lifetime in the making and, in fact, acting may have something to do with that.

“It definitely informs my music because I like to tell stories in my songs,” says Jones. “I think being an actress helps me tap into what somebody else was feeling. Even if that specific thing didn’t happen to me, I can sing like it literally did because my actor mind will put me right there.”

All of which helps Jones in her mission to be intimate and direct with listeners. Her confessional style began turning ears with 2018 single “Just My Luck,” a clapback against the entertainment industry: “Does my confidence offend you?” she wonders. “Cookie-cutter enough for you? Is my melanin offensive?” The video has resonated, amassing over 3 million views on YouTube. And these days, newer songs like “Love Is War” brim with vulnerability and intensity as she sings about the challenges of a fractured relationship: “I know you’ve got scars, I’ve got ‘em too.”

While Jones released music in her younger years, she’s now stepping into the rich R&B career she deserves, signing with High Standardz / Def Jam and hitting the studio with Grammy-stacking heavy-hitters like Bryan-Michael Cox, Darkchild, Eric Hudson, Bongo, Camper, Lil Eddie Serrano, Full Circle, and Rockette—folks whose credits span the panoply of modern R&B, from Whitney to Mariah to Beyoncé to Summer. To put it bluntly: these are people who place their chips on winners.

Of course, for Jones, it’s not about success so much as connection. Ultimately, she wants to use her voice as an instrument for change on a broad scale, a tool for growth on a personal level, and as a method to bring her fans closer to her—and, in turn, inspire growth in them.

“I’ve learned that the more I open up to them, the more I discover that I’m heard and supported,” says Jones. “I want to bring transparency to my music so my music can be relatable. You can fit yourself into this song. My journey and your journey are the same. You get me; I get you”.

Maybe people know Coco Jones more for her acting and role as Hilary Banks in Bel-Air. As she told VIBE in April, she has this thriving music career. I think that this is her main passion. You can tell that her heart and soul is put into every musical moment. I think that she will join the legends that she looks up to very soon:

“Do you feel pressured to present yourself in any certain way? Is there any of that in your mind when you create?

Sometimes I do get apprehensive thinking that I’m not raunchy enough to keep up with what sells, but I always remind myself that talent started off selling at first and talent will continue to be what sells. If I have to give a gimmick, then the song is not good enough for me. If I have to put all these words in it to catch people’s attention, then my lyrics just aren’t hitting. For me, it’s more of a challenge to continue to captivate people without having to do anything for show.

Do you think that “Caliber” sets the appropriate tone for everything else that you have coming? What other themes or topics are going to be explored by you musically?

I think “Caliber” has a lot of the key ingredients that are going to make up my album. The vibe makes you want to dance and there will be some full choreography, some five, six, sevens, and some eights, okay! Towards the end of the song, I’m doing some more vocal acrobatics because I want people to know that I be singing! I can sing. And my album will, of course, give some even bigger singing moments as well. But really that balance to me of classy, sexy, grown, and authentic. I do feel like “Caliber” has all of those elements and that will be the theme of my album whenever it comes.

Who are some of the people who have inspired you musically?

Well, growing up I listened to a lot of powerhouse singers, Aretha [Franklin], CeCe Winans, Mariah [Carey], Jennifer Hudson, Whitney [Houston]. Of course, I learned those bigger notes and that passion from them. As I got older, PartyNextDoor, SZA, Summer Walker. I love Alex Isley. Masego is dope… I like the way their songs feel. I want to make my songs feel the way that I feel when I listen to them.

On that note, how do you want people to feel when they listen to “Caliber?”

I hope that they love the lyrics. I hope that they get some IG captions up out of it. And I hope they want to hit a five, six, seven, and eight, because, in the music video, it’s going to give that. And I’m going to need all the girls to make a little TikTok with a dance routine and also remember the choreo. When the concert comes, we can all hit it together. Let’s all sweat our laces out”.

In November, You Know I Got Soul spoke with Coco Jones about her new E.P., What I Didn't Tell You. One of the interesting observations is how Jones might have started out leaning more on Pop, but she always set out to make authentic R&B. I think this is evident when you listen to What I Didn’t Tell You:

“YouKnowIGotSoul: Obviously that was a different time from you, so take me back to a young Coco Jones and how she would be reacting to this recent success you’ve been experiencing.

Coco Jones: It would be similar in the fact that it just feels surreal that all of things that you worked for are materializing, but my prayers have kind of changed. Now it’s more like “Help me maintain this and stay grounded and grateful” instead of “Make this happen please!”. I think surreal would be the main emotion, but also I think 2015 me would be less surprised because so much has happened since that year that humbled me and grounded me that I feel like I’m just more shocked that things have turned around so much.

YouKnowIGotSoul: Talk about that journey for you. What was it like finding your sound and discovering yourself as an artist? Back in 2015, you had just left Disney and quickly transitioned into being an independent artist.

Coco Jones: It was hard. I think that because I was a child in the industry, I didn’t know my identity. When kids are in high school figuring it out and having all these real life experiences and going through things way beyond their years, I was on set working. My worth ethic was way beyond my years and business mindset, but personally I feel like I was a little delayed in figuring out my identity. I think that tying into me being an artist made it more difficult to try to categorize what I am because I didn’t know what I wanted to sing or write about because I’m still figuring out who I am. I was still living life, but I think there’s good and bad to that. The tenacity that I gained from being a child actor made it so that I was going to get to this place regardless. Sometimes I look back and I’m like “Wow, I can’t believe I stuck it out”. Some of these days were really scary, but I think because I learned so much about rejection through these auditions and keeping my faith until I got to a yes, it kind of helped me go through this process of finding my artist identity no matter how long it took.

YouKnowIGotSoul: We really loved that we could press play and get into this new EP. There were some songs that made me wish I was a girl! *Laughs* Talk about the title of the EP “What I Didn’t Tell You” and if there was a certain message you had about the whole project.

Coco Jones: Well thank you! Happy that you want to be in the community, you’re welcome to join. *Laughs* I think “What I Didn’t Tell You” is really just my real life stories as I was figuring out who I am. I think people a lot of people that recognize me from “Bel-Air” are completely surprised that I sing well and they just don’t know enough about me. These are stories that are off-screen that were part of my life and journey of figuring out myself. I was turning up, being crazy adventurous and being in my feelings. These are stories that are off camera that I wanted to share.

YouKnowIGotSoul: When we spoke previously, you talked about the type of music you wanted to make. You said that you still wanted to make Pop music but you really wanted to make authnetic R&B. When we listen to a song like “ICU”, it feels like something that you’ve been wanting to make your whole life.

Coco Jones: “ICU” is more of a record that chose me more than I chose it. Like you said, I did want the bops that I could think in my mind like “This could chart!” but that’s not me being authentically me. That’s me being strategic and a hustler. When I heard the music for “ICU”, I couldn’t skip the track and go to the next song that would do numbers. I had to follow the music that called me. That was one of the times where I was being the most authentically an artist because I didn’t care how popular the song was going to be. I just wanted to express myself and match that beauty the music presented to me.

YouKnowIGotSoul: You’re really a busy person on the acting side as well as your singing career. How do you balance all of that?

Coco Jones: It’s a hard thing to do because I have two employees. One is my show and one is my music. They don’t care about each other and they both want me there. It’s hard, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m getting what I prayed for and now it’s like “Oh crap!”. But for me, I know what I want at the end of the day, I knew when Hilary was all over the place, I didn’t want people to not have music to listen to. That means I have to be able to compartmentalize and be present when I’m on set and forget of those characters and lines. I need to be me, find me and make music that’s timeless and classic. I do that until I can’t anymore. That day, if I’ve been in the studio for 15 hours, I may not be able to in the studio for 8 hours, but for those 3-4 hours it’ll be like “Let’s do something meaningful”. If it’s not different or authentic, let’s stop and restart or I’ll see you guys tomorrow because I can’t not give my full self to this if I give my full self to my show. It’s about what’s important to me and figuring out ways to do what’s important to me to the best of my ability. There’s no balance to that though, it looks different every day”.

Before getting to a review for the fantastic E.P., What I Didn't Tell You, I want to get to a December interview from Edition. In the interview, Coco Jones mentions a music titan who she would love to collaborate with. Let’s hope that this comes to fruition this year, as it would be magnificent to hear the two of them on the same track:

“How did you land on the title for your What I Didn't Tell You EP?

So let me tell you! [laughs] I told the team I want to tell stories about things people don't know about me. So while I was trying to be all artsy, they stopped me in my tracks and said, "What about What I Didn't Tell You?" All I could do was say yes because they helped me bring the most authentic version of my intentions to life.

I noticed you're listed as a songwriter on a lot of your songs. How important is it for you to pen your music?

I think it depends on the artist because half of a hit song is who's selling that product. If I see a dishwashing sponge and a Spongebob sponge, I'm buying the Spongebob one because I like him. If I can, I like to have creative input on the songs because I want to be able to sell them to the best of my abilities. How can I sell it the best if I'm not actively involved in the creative process?

That goes back to what you said earlier about working with Babyface. The collaboration process is optimal.

Correct. Unless Beyoncé says, "Here's a song," because I'm not changing anything! I'm singing it exactly how she told me to sing it! [laughs]

That sort of answers my next question. Who do you want to collaborate with that you haven't?

Well, Beyoncé, I'm speaking this into existence because I want to be here for the long run, have power behind my name so I can do good in this world, and because I'm here for abundance in the high-caliber of quality that follows my name. I love Lucky Daye! I think he's so dope! Do a really hot and powerful girls' anthem with Alex Isley, Summer Walker, Chloe x Halle, SZA, Ella Mai and all the R&B girls! I want to do something with Calvin Harris because I love EDM, so if he wants me to sing on something, I'm singing on it. I don't want to be stuck in any genre because I'm into any and everything creative.

I'd be remiss if I didn't ask about Bel-Air. Knowing the difference between Courtney and Coco, how much of yourself goes into playing Hilary Banks and other characters you play?

Hilary is very much like me. She's very goal-oriented, brutally honest, charismatic, funny, and gives off boss energy. To be honest, I haven't played a character who is too far away from who I am.

Is that something you want to change?

Absolutely! It's a goal of mine to play a completely menacing character, be in an action-adventure or play a tomboy”.

After releasing, in my view, her best E.P. yet, things look very promising for Coco Jones. A magnificent R&B artist who is going to keep on making the absolutely finest music, I was very eager to spotlight her. I hope people check out what she is doing. Soul Bounce were among those to have their say about the stunning What I Didn’t Tell You:

“That chick. That girl. It girl. Princess of R&B. Those are just a few of the monikers fans have bestowed upon Coco Jones in recent months. The singer/actress has had a breakout year and made major waves from starring in Bel-Air (as the iconic character Hilary Banks) to working with Babyface (on their duet "Simple" from his Girls Night Out album). Perhaps her greatest achievement, though, is the release of her Def Jam Recordings debut with her EP What I Didn't Tell You.

The seven-song collection dives deep into a more personal side of Coco's life, giving us a peek behind the curtain of stardom as she details what happens after everyone leaves and the lights go out.

The EP opens with the sassy bop “Crazy For Me,” where Coco describes the lengths a man is willing to go to get and keep her attention. It sets up the lead single “Caliber,” in which Coco instructs romantic interests on how to shoot their shot with her. The enticing track unveiled a grown and sexy version of Jones fans hadn’t seen prior to its release.

Throughout the project, Jones brilliantly bridges R&B's generation gap with her sound, style and fresh takes on beloved classics. On “Double Back,” producer London On Da Track tactfully samples SWV’s “Rain,” including lead singer Coko's distinctive vocals in the background. The song is a standout moment on the EP, showcasing the strength of both Coco’s vocals and songwriting ability, conveying the rollercoaster of emotions that arise when attempting to rekindle an old flame.

We next get Jones at perhaps her most vulnerable on the EP's second single “ICU.” A stripped-down version of the leading lady appears as she reflects on the difficulties of growing apart from someone you deeply love but honestly aren't ready to move on from yet.

An allusive side of the singer-songwriter emerges over an upbeat track on “No Chaser.” The lyrics, production and vocals are deliciously crafted as Coco gives flirtatious femme fatale while flipping Ginuwine’s “Pony,” tucking in another Easter egg for listeners.

The next song, “Headlines,” is a warning call. Coco cautions her no-good man that she's on to his games and lies, and she's not the one, the two or the three to be played with.

Babyface repays the favor of Coco Jones blessing "Simple" by lending his genius pen to the song “Spend It,” which closes the EP and ends it with a sweet sentiment. Coco may not have a lot of time or money to spend, but she is willing to go the distance for what – or rather, who – she wants.

What I Didn’t Tell You confirms what we knew all along: Coco Jones is the ONE. Having already earned respect for her acting chops, this dazzling project puts her at the head of R&B's current class. One of the most talented artists of her generation, Coco Jones is the total package, making it impossible to want anything but to see her win”.

In addition to be a terrific actor, Coco Jones is a hugely exciting artist whose music is among the best I have heard for years. I love her new E.P., and many will wait with bated breath for an album. I hope that she gets to come to the U.K. at some point in the year, as there are many who would love to see her play live. If you have not heard Coco Jones’ music, then make sure that you…