Coco Jones describes this present stage of her profession in six phrases: “New ranges. New success. New classes.”
And the adage is greater than acceptable. Only a few quick weeks in the past, the musician and star of Bel-Air earned her first Gold RIAA certification for her hit single “ICU,” which lately landed the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. She additionally simply launched a dwell efficiency video for her new single “Loopy For Me,” a tune that her followers have rapidly gravitated to. “It’s been such a studying expertise to see what songs folks love,” she says. “Earlier than this, I hadn’t dropped any music in years and I didn’t know what was going to occur. However now I see that the world is de facto anticipating extra high quality and authenticity.”
This weekend, Jones might be performing on the BET Awards the place she’s nominated for Finest Actress, Finest Feminine R&B/Pop Artist, and Finest New Artist. And some weeks later, she’ll be hitting the highway at music festivals like Made in America, Essence Competition, and Broccoli Metropolis, to call a couple of.
All of those performances, she says, are follow for when she finally headlines her personal tour which kicks off this fall. “I simply can’t wait to change into extra assured,” she says. “I wish to see what occurs once I open up my coronary heart and actually go there. I wish to really feel like a extra outspoken and extra clear model of myself.”
By the top of this 12 months, she hopes to show this confidence in much more new music. “I undoubtedly wish to put out slightly one thing, one thing,” she says. “Somewhat snack. Perhaps a few songs.” And the purpose? To make music for everybody. “I don’t wish to write a tune that solely I can relate to,” she says. “Music is a common language, so I’m at all times attempting to maintain my songs as common as doable.”
Right here, she speaks with ELLE.com about going Gold, reaching new heights, and dealing to change into one of the best model of herself.
The place had been you once you first heard that “ICU” went Gold?
The producer texted me. He’s at all times tremendous obsessive about how the document’s doing. However I used to be tremendous excited. It’s been such an extended journey, so it feels very rewarding to see the world’s approval. And I truly simply acquired to see it in particular person. My label stunned me. I walked in and there was a complete celebration, lady.
The place do you retain the plaque?
I wish to put it in my mother’s home. My mother was the workforce earlier than the workforce, so this can be a win for the entire household.
Let’s get into “Loopy For Me.” You simply dropped the dwell efficiency video. How are your followers responding to it?
They’re residing for it. They’re like, “You’re consuming it” and I’m like, “I instructed y’all this was a buffet.” And, truly, it’s so loopy. We actually had a wardrobe malfunction the evening earlier than. It was presupposed to look utterly totally different, however the present should go on. However I used to be actually proud of the pearls [I wore in the video] as a result of they matched the inside. It was supposed to provide a jewellery field really feel. It actually simply exhibits how necessary my workforce is and the way elevated I’m now due to the entire assist I’ve round me.
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Do you get the thought in your visuals whilst you’re recording the songs? Or does that half come later?
I’m so visible once I document songs. Once I hear a monitor, if I don’t see a music video in my thoughts, I’m not gonna wish to write to it. I like to look at different artists and see what they’ve executed. Michael Jackson has a number of the finest movies. Victoria Monet’s are additionally actually good. I can inform that she’s concerned. I like to look at different artists and get impressed.
You’re performing on the BET Awards on Sunday. What can your followers count on?
Properly, clearly I’m gonna eat it up. However I’m at all times considering, “What can I do this I haven’t executed earlier than?” I don’t need folks to ever know what I’m gonna give. It’s going to be one thing totally different each time. Count on the sudden, girlies.
How does it really feel to be nominated for 3 awards—throughout each performing and singing?
I don’t actually have the phrases. To have each of this stuff pop off on the similar time is so loopy.
How do you stability the performing and singing parts of your life?
Music is extra versatile. Performing’s very inflexible. While you’re filming a TV present, you’re not the one character. What you do impacts the remainder of the storyline and the opposite issues we have to movie. So it’s actually tight and deliberate out. So, in figuring out these dates forward of time, music will be like water and simply stream in between the entire rigidness.
You’re going to be acting at tons of various music festivals this summer season. You’re doing Essence Competition in New Orleans and the Made in America lineup simply dropped. How excited are you to be on the highway and see your followers?
Tremendous excited. Performing is my favourite half. I do love being within the studio, however performing is adrenaline. It’s a rollercoaster trip. I be taught a lot about myself once I’m performing. I watch the totally different crowds to see what they love. It helps me to placed on a greater present to be taught what folks dwell for. I’m gathering knowledge for the sooner or later once I go by myself tour, which might be round this fall. After which my favourite half, the icing on the cake, is at all times seeing my followers sing “ICU” on the prime of their lungs. I’m at all times like, “Right here, you all take the mic ‘trigger y’all are carrying.” It’s so lovely. And I just like the problem of a pageant as a result of I sit up for performing for individuals who don’t about me. You’re gonna get the present of a lifetime.
Is that this your first time going to Essence Fest?
Lady, that is all so deja vu as a result of I actually carried out at Essence Fest once I was 17. I did a full set, however I didn’t have any songs so I used to be doing covers like Ciara’s “1, 2 Step” considering to myself, “How did I stand up right here?” So it’s full circle. Now that I’m right here, I perceive why the journey took so lengthy. As a result of, on the finish of the day, as a toddler star, you actually don’t know your self. You already know the characters and you know the way to sing the songs. They inform you to sing every little thing, however you don’t actually have an identification. So I really feel like I used to be ready for the work and the execution. However I needed to be taught who I’m to get thus far the place I’m extra myself.
Along with performing, what else are you wanting ahead to this summer season?
I undoubtedly wish to win some awards. I wish to acquire new followers. I wish to see my songs up greater on the charts. I wish to journey with my family and friends. I wish to date extra. However, general, I wish to follow residing within the second. With this new success, I’m at all times like, “Oh my gosh, what’s subsequent? I wanna preserve this going.” However I don’t wish to obsess over it anymore. This stuff got here to me as a result of I used to be being one of the best model of myself. I simply wish to preserve my palms open in order that nice issues can proceed to return in.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
Juliana Ukiomogbe is the Assistant Editor at ELLE. Her work has beforehand appeared in Interview, i-D, Teen Vogue, Nylon, and extra.