Coco Jones is riding a wave of career highs, but behind the music and magazine covers is an artist wrestling with the weight of her expectations. In a candid new interview with Vibe, the rising star revealed that her biggest challenge isn’t the industry, it’s herself.
Rather than feeling celebratory ahead of the release of her recently released album, Why Not More, Jones admitted she’s been caught in a storm of emotion and self-doubt. The highly personal project forced her to confront some of her darkest feelings, and it had a profound impact.
“I just hope it means something… I feel like I’m kind of grieving a little bit,” Jones said. “People ask me if I’m excited about it, f**k no. This sh*t hurt me. It brings out the worst side of you, ‘cause it’s supposed to, and you gotta write about ‘em.”
That creative process revealed a part of herself she’s still learning to manage, as the relentless internal drive leaves little room for rest or grace.
“I think that was the side of me I felt was the worst, this ‘no grace’ part. Basically, it was just pushing yourself until you’re satisfied with yourself,” she continued. “To have to put together a piece of work and present it to a label after you’ve already had certain levels of success, it’s just a very uncomfortable place to be in. It brings so many expectations from myself, from the world.”
Despite the recognition she has earned and the success she’s built, Jones made it clear that she feels the pressure now more than ever.
“I’m also my worst critic,” Jones added. Her logical, hardworking brain kicked in. “I feel like I have an expectation of myself that I can make things happen faster than they happen in reality, in real time. I feel like if I work hard enough and I have the right song, it would do that again.”