Charis Jones is a former educator who although self-proclaims to “Love the Kids” as the pandemic hit and the world changed she begin to take a look introspectively at herself & daily routine as many others did while watching the world change in front of us. She decided that while she enjoyed the relationships she built with her students the stage & performance were calling her name, and with that decision, she settled and changed her course. After formally resigning from teaching in 2021, she moved across the country to make her musical dreams a reality. Taking her craft very seriously she decided that it was important for her to pursue a degree at the LA College of Music. She buckled down and accomplished the mission of obtaining her diploma in vocal performance under challenging circumstances such as doing some classes virtually due to the shutdown, being the only African American Woman in her class, and being an older student at 35, but her hard work paid off and this serves as a testament to her perseverance as she is on the verge of becoming a star on the Gogo Music scene.
She has already had some major wins as not everyone can say they danced & sang Gogo with an Academy Award Nominated actress & legend and got a song placed on Grammy award-winning rapper Da Brats Mixtape For Y’all Volume 1. Her song on the project is called “I Like Dat” in case you’d like to check it out. As an independent artist, she has surely gained notoriety already with more accolades to come shortly the world will undoubtedly be shouting that Charis Jones also “Did the Thing” as well.
As a native of Washington DC can you describe why Gogo Music is such a special element of the culture?
DC is a culture of feeling & Gogo music just feels good to your soul. It combines the musical genres of African Drumming, Jazz, Gospel, Rap & RnB. It’s a conglomerate of all the feel-good musical outlets. It’s historical, I feel there’s no way one can be born in DC & not have Gogo running in their blood.
You fuse R&B & Jazz into your Gogo Mixes. Can you share with us a bit about why you like to fuse those genres?
Wow, you guys really did your research, & I love it. I think my response however is very underwhelming, lol! I just really love those genres of music, so I never wanted to be put inside a box, so I just blend them all to create a sound that is completely outside of the box.
What does your Pre-Performance Routine look like?
My routine consists of a lot of prayers, rehearsing, printing out lyrics, drinking a lot of Pedialyte, attempting to get rest, sending out a text to folks about the gig reminding them to watch if possible and posting to social media. Another big important thing for me is making a strong tea consisting of Manuka Honey & Black seed oil to name a few ingredients.
What did it feel like to have the iconic Actress Angela Bassett not only attend one of your shows but also dance on stage with you?
Having THE ICONIC ACTRESS Angela Bassett not only attend the show but dance with me on stage was nothing short of a magical moment she exclaimed. She is such a down-to-earth and free spirit. I was honored that she came on stage & embraced the DC culture of Gogo music in such a major way. It was a fairy tale moment that I’m still pinching myself over, & I am so blessed to be a part of such an organic moment.
Are there any upcoming tour or performance dates fans can be on the lookout for?
Yes, thanks for asking, you can come to my first LA Show at the Bourbon Room Hollywood. The event is called the Red Carpet Unstoppable Single Release Show and it is a celebrity affair. I will be returning to my hometown DC on August 1, 2023, at Blues Alley, and then the Vibrato Jazz Club in Bel Air on August 16th. I am currently working on additional dates for the single-release mini-tour. Some of the cities slated are Atlanta, Philly, Nashville, New Orleans, & Houston.
Where can we purchase or download your music?
You can purchase or download my music from whatever platform you enjoy streaming your favorite music on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Music to name a few. Also, you can always just google me, using CharisReeseJones. Check out my website www.CharisJones.com and social media @CharisReese on all platforms to keep in touch with me. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity, and I pray you enjoy all the new singles.
“Gogo music unites the diverse cultures that reside in the DMV Area.” Gogo is a way of life. I was so inspired by Charis’s words as she expresses her love for her hometown’s rich culture. It is clear how it has influenced her sound as she is gearing up to take the world by storm with her latest album release “Unstoppable.”
Jones has experienced setbacks during recording the singles for the project such as delays with production due to adjustments we are all pretty much familiar with due to covid lockdowns & she contracted Covid-19 & suffered short-term memory loss, however, she kept on moving forward with more determination than ever as production began in January 2020 and now nearly three years later finally the world is about to hear her heart through the many very personal singles that are being released such as the latest entitled “ Good Day” which is significant as it is debuting during the month of June which is Black Music Month.
Congratulations Charis, I honor you for your strength & determination. I know it is going to continue to serve you well in all your future endeavors. As she mentioned earlier be sure to listen to & download her music on all major platforms as well as look out for her performance dates ahead as she shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Follow Us On Social Media!
