Few individuals had an even bigger 2023 than Coco Jones — and she or he may very properly flip 2024 into an excellent greater yr following Sunday evening’s 2024 Grammys, the place she’s nominated for a whopping 5 Golden Gramophones.
Forward of Music‘s Largest Evening, Billboard workers author Kyle Denis sat down with Jones to interrupt down her whirlwind yr and her emotions going into her first Grammy Awards as a nominee. At Sunday evening’s telecast, Jones is nominated for finest new artist, finest R&B track (“ICU”), finest R&B efficiency (“ICU”), finest conventional R&B efficiency (“Easy,” with Babyface) and finest R&B album (What I Didn’t Inform You – Deluxe).
“The Grammys are only a very revered group of people that earned their voice and their credit and credentials,” she says. “To me, I respect everybody who’s nominated and decides as a result of I simply really feel just like the Grammys additionally assist up-and-coming [artists and creatives]. For them to acknowledge the work that I’m doing, it simply feels very affirming.”
The “Caliber” singer continues, “After I first discovered I used to be nominated, I used to be on the aircraft. I undoubtedly was asleep. My cellphone was vibrating a lot, I used to be like, ‘This turbulence is loopy!’ However what I spotted was, everybody was texting me congratulations.”
Final yr, Jones earned her first Billboard Scorching 100 entry with “ICU” (No. 62), which earned a remix that includes Justin Timberlake and in addition reached the highest of Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and R&B Digital Track Gross sales. The success of “ICU” additionally gave solution to a deluxe model of 2022 EP, What I Didn’t Inform You, which climbed to No. 6 on Heatseekers Albums — her first look on the chart in precisely a decade. Along with her personal music, Jones has lent her skills to collaborations with the likes of Brent Faiyaz (“Second of Your Life”), Lil Tjay (“Grateful”), Adekunle Gold (“Make It Straightforward”) and Imply Ladies film musical star Reneé Rapp (“Tummy Hurts”).
“I’ve to say I actually liked [working with] Reneé Rapp,” Jones gushes. “I believe that was simply so cool as a result of it was mixing pop and R&B, and that’s one thing I need to do shifting ahead, so I like that. To me, it was sort of like foreshadowing.”
Like Rapp, Jones can also be an acclaimed multi-hyphenate. She’s at the moment gearing as much as movie the forthcoming new season of Peacock’s Bel-Air, through which she portrays the ever-fashionable Hilary Banks. “I’m excited! Lots continues to be up within the air, we simply ended the strike and I do know all people is getting again to work,” she says. “I’m undecided what’s in retailer for Hilary, I undoubtedly need it to be shocking although, I’m like ‘Let’s up the stakes!’”
After spending 2023 on a serious headlining tour, racking up R&B smashes and selling season two of Bel-Air, Jones is able to conquer the brand new yr with the teachings she’s discovered from these experiences. “Every part’s in seasons,” she muses. “Typically, individuals come into your life for a season, generally you could have seasons the place you don’t perceive what’s occurring, however seasons are the climate so they have to change they usually should evolve they usually should go to one thing totally different. Don’t attempt to maintain on to no matter has outlasted its season.”
