If you ask 15-year-old Coco Jones what she thinks of all this year's success, she might say: It's about time . "Yeah, that's a little too long for my liking," Jones joked with Buster. "I'd say, 'Girl, if I could make it go faster, I would! Now wear your pink skinny jeans and go sit down somewhere."
You can understand her eagerness. The 25-year-old started in the industry when she was still in single digits. But with her pink skinny jeans days behind her, the former Disney Channel star is seeing her hard work pay off. On the strength of her project I Didn't Tell You (Justin Timberlake remixed her platinum single "ICU" this summer), Jones was just nominated for five Grammys this month, including Best New Artist Award and Best R&B Album. “I do think ultimately I hope there won’t be genres anymore,” Jones said. "I wish there were bops in every area code."
She also stars as ambitious influencer Hillary on Peacock's "Bel Air," which was renewed for a third season this year. Like her characters, Jones has a lot of personality, both on social media—her witty candor often gets people buzzing on TikTok—and in her lyrics, whether she's deep in a full-body The love that the heart is deeply invested in still sounds the alarm for those who cheat. Lover in your pocket. Many artists describe making music as a form of therapy, but Jones says that if she wasn't working in Hollywood, she'd actually like to be a therapist. "I love therapy and recommend it to all my friends," she said. "I'm [sort of] their therapist, but they don't pay me. They don't take my advice. But it's top-notch advice."
Below, Jones reflects on her journey to the Grammys, the Disney Channel stardom that shaped her, and the sacrifices she makes to keep her nails flying.
On the importance of girl groups and "Eight Days of Christmas" men:
Is there an artist who really inspired you during your childhood?
Definitely Cheetah Girls. They are that moment. They are still that moment and always will be that moment. I'm just fascinated by Raven because I didn't even know you could do this: have your own TV show and appear in these movies and sing and dress cool and talk like the way we actually talk. I'm very impressed.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
It changes, but now, I would say my theme song is definitely "Deli" by Ice Spice. I don’t know what that beat is, but this song keeps me going.
The holidays are coming. Do you have a favorite holiday song?
I love "The Eight Days of Christmas" by Destiny's Child. That song inspired me a lot. I need a relationship that gives me that energy. I mean, Santa, you don't even work as hard as this guy! Like, who do I need in my life?
What are your favorite karaoke songs?
"Diamonds" by Rihanna. It's a great song: inspiring, everyone knows the lyrics, and then I pretend I'm from an island and do a little accent there. I'm very satisfied with the acting part.
Who is your current music idol?
I would definitely say Beyoncé because I think it's so impressive and so rare to remain relevant. New fans, old fans, how do you like it? She just built it differently.
On her five Grammy nominations and relationship with Victoria Monet:
You just received five Grammy Award nominations. Is there a song on What I Did't Tell You that you're particularly proud of ?
Definitely "ICU". I love the lyrics. "When I leave you, I see you" is my favorite lyric because I mean two things: When I leave that person, my body reacts - I need the ER, just Like I feel like I'm about to lose my breath. Then, when I walk away from this person, I romanticize their essence and I see their vision so clearly.
You’ve toured a lot this year. What’s it like to see so many people resonate with your music?
I've always had my biggest fans, you know? But it’s really exciting to see [“ICU”] travel to all these different cities and all these different people. You're kind of shocked because you're like, "I wrote this and I didn't know what was going to happen."
Does Kokostan have a name?
Co-Captain – that’s what they came up with. We even put it on my merch hat.
Aside from your own work, are there any Grammy-nominated albums or artists that you really enjoyed this year?
Victoria Monet, of course. From the beginning, I always saw her busy everywhere. She actually wrote this on my debut EP when I was first signed and I was 15, so I was like, "Hey girl, look at us!"
On practicing gratitude...even for a song she'll never hear again:
What song would you like to play at your wedding?
Love by Musiq Soulchild. I have always thought this song is very nice and well written. Sometimes love songs don't talk about good and bad . This song truly sums up what love is all about. This is so beautiful.
Do you have a song you’d like to play at your funeral?
Girl, what's going on? I would say "Thanksgiving" by Hezekiah Walker. Even when I don't get what I want, I always have gratitude because it keeps me positive and keeps me motivated. Gratitude has always been an important theme in my life. Also, everyone be grateful to have me in your life! [Laughs] I’m sure that by associating with me, I elevate you as a person. Stay grateful for this .
What’s a song that you’ve listened to so much that you can’t listen to it anymore?
Let It Shine by Dear Roxie (my character in the Disney Channel movie). It just follows me, that's okay. But I personally wouldn’t rush the game.
What’s the weirdest thing about a song you’ve ever written?
The weirdest thing about the songs I've ever written is My Bed and Trying to Sleep. I was really tired and thought, "What if I could write a sexy song about my bed?" You know when you think, "My bed looks nice right now"? I wrote a song about it. I feel it now. The passion is there.
Is there an instrument you wish you could play?
Of course . I wish I could play a few, but we could start with piano or guitar. In fact, I tried to learn them but I couldn't cope with the fact that I had to keep my nails so low.
A lot of people don't think of this! This is a huge sacrifice.
Yes! Considering I hold a microphone every day of my life.
