JONES – real name Cherie Jones-Mattis – possesses a voice that oozes soul and elegance in equal measure. That voice was first discovered throughout her critically acclaimed debut album ‘New Skin’, and particularly the singles ‘Melt’ and ‘Hoops’ whi
Three-and-a-half years after the release of her debut and JONES is back with her new single ‘Giving It Up’. The sultry soulful pop belter offers up a feel good take on the loved up anthem, with JONES’ golden vocal full of power, control and confidence. What’s more, she can make something so remarkable sound so effortless.
JONES recorded the track with the rising producer / artist Fyfe (Kimbra, Foxes) and Mike Spencer (Rudimental, Zara Larsson, Tom Walker). She explains, “‘Giving It Up’ is a chocolate addiction confessional turned audio diary entry about a story where I found love in a very unexpected person… it also feels like the start of summer.”
The track’s accompanying video focuses on JONES looking elegant and stylish on a beachfront location. Her performance is complemented by a succession of striking images. The visuals chart the natural beauty of how a variety of types of weather impacts upon the coast, from hazy sunshine to sweeping clouds to sudden strikes of lightning.
The video was directed by the Bosnian-Canadian filmmaker and musician Nina Ljeti and edited by Vern Moen. Ljeti’s diverse creative projects have included music videos for Phoebe Bridgers and Wallows, writing and starring in the performance art piece ‘Birdshit’ with Marina Abramovic, and directing the feature film ‘Memoria’. She’s also the vocalist and songwriter for the band Kills Birds, who released their self-titled debut last year.
JONES was raised by her mother in Aldgate, London. They spent her childhood immersed in the music of Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley, while JONES’ early idols included Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Attending a local community arts centre as a teenager provided the impetus for her to delve into songwriting.
She often performed at open mic nights as a way of building her confidence as a live performer. Nonetheless she made enough of an impression for one witness to be suitably impressed to introduce her to various people in the music industry. That resulted in her first contract and the whirlwind of experiences that followed, including touring and recording with HONNE, sharing a table with Tom Jones ahead of her Jools Holland performance and headlining London Omeara.
Since then, JONES has focused on mastering her ability to own any genre she turns her hand to, be it pop, rock, delicate balladry or left-of-centre R&B. And there’s much more to come in the wake of ‘Giving It Up’ with more music to follow over the next few months.
