Issue 22 // Coco Jones

GOLDCRWN

Issue no. 22 January 2017 Singer, Lili K Rock Band, Vista Little Monarch MUA, Victoria Gabby Fabrizio

+ 15 ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO OWN THIS YEAR

COCO JONES AN EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH THE RNB PRINCESS ABOUT GIRL POWER AND MUSIC

LILI K IS MAGIC a jazz singer with a

22

powerful message

COCO JONES SINGS An exclusive chat with

44

the RNB princess on music, girl power and boys.

GIRL POWER TAKEOVER

54

These top five girls are taking over 2017 with the power of their voices

PLUS Editors Notes

06

Playlist

30

Mental Health Advice

34

Cook With GCM

15

Little Monarch

12

HELLO THERE , BABES !

I am so happy to bring you guys in 2017 with me and this magazine. I am so grateful for all the amazing stuff that happened last year. This year, we plan to be more organized and have the ability to involve you guys more.

As many of you may or may not know, I am R | R or Raye. I am the founder and editor in chief of Gold Crwn Magazine. I am 21 and am also a freelance photographer and web designer. I love gaming and music but most of all I love writing and inspiring you all as much as you inspire me.

YOURS TRULY ,

R|R

FOUNDER | EDITOR | @ RAYEREIGN

from the editor

Motto For This Issue : “ Love yourself . Forgive yourself .

Be true to yourself . How you treat yourself sets the standard for how others will treat you . ” ― Steve Maraboli , Artist or Graphic Designer ?

EMAIL US TO GET YOUR ART FEATURED

i x e l A e u l B NEW EP

'Tri Me' out now featuring 'Perfect Mess', 'Ice Cold', and 'Solo Ride'

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GOLD CRWN EDITOR IN CHIEF / RAYE REIGN WRITER / GABBY FABRIZIO MUA PHOTO / VICTORIA DIXON COCO JONES PHOTO'S / LUIS ANDRINO LILI K PHOTOGRAPHER / DAKOTA BLUE HARPER & CHRISTOPHER WRAY-MCCANN GRAPHCS / CANVA L.M.PHOTOGRAPHER / PRIMARY WAVE DIGITAL VISTA PHOTO / HOLLY TURNER DIGITAL COMPANY / JOOMAG Gold Crwn Magazi ne i s a publ icati on under Gol d Crwn Magazi ne Publ i shi ng. Al l content of thi s magazi ne may not be reproduced, dupli cated, republi shed or featured wi thout prior consent from the publi shi ng company and wri ters themsel ves.

All ri ghts reserved 2017.

U O Y

L AL S I

D E NE &

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E V LO E B Y A M .

D O O F

CARRIE WHITE

GOLD CRWN

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goldcrownmag com

A Los Angeles-based indie-pop trio with music that sounds like a breath of fresh air. Little Monarch was created by former music teacher and solo jazz artist Casey K. He felt like something was missing. He contacted a musician who was interning at the same school he taught named, Nick Setter. They became instant friends and collaborators. Then, somewhere in that process, the duo became a trio, after Casey saw another band one night at the House of Blues and became enamored with their keyboardist, Lanita Smith. The rest is history and in this amazing interview.

What are your goals as a group for 2017?

We plan on writing and releasing more music, for sure. It would be great to align the band with a bigger act and do some tour dates as an opener.

How would you describe your music?

Upbeat, positive, warm, and soulful— A unique fusion of pop and rock with some edges.

What inspires your music?

Well, we try to stay focused on uplifting messages for our music, and stories that can insight positive change. Our first EP keeps it’s fun and light. Drawing on everything from late nights and blurry decisions to California sunshine and young love. Our follow up music will dive a little deeper and touch on some social issues, while remaining upbeat and hopeful.

Where did the name come from?

I wish there was a killer story behind the name, but honestly it was one of the names that all members agreed on. We wanted to take into consideration what we felt when we listened back to the music and Little Monarch fit quite nicely. It was either that or Pizza Dust, lol.

How did you each know music was what you wanted to do?

I think for all of us music has been in our lives since we were very little. We all studied music in school and then even went on to teach music and still do. Lanita grew up playing in Church in Memphis, Nick started guitar very young and went on to study it at Berklee in Boston, and I (Casey) came from a Musical Theatre family and studied Jazz at USC. How do you deal with pressure and negativity as a public figure?

So far there hasn’t really been any negative backlash towards the group but maybe as we grow and reach more audiences those situations will arise. We will always stay true to each other, our writing, and ourselves. No matter how much pressure we are under we stand for love, equality, friendship, and quality music.

Follow Little Monarch: https://www.facebook.com/littlemonarch/ https://twitter.com/littlemonarch3 https://www.instagram.com/littlemonarch3/

Lanita

Casey

Nick

FASHION + MUSIC + LIFESTYLE

JORDI WHITWORTH TALKS HIS START,HIS MUSIC GOALS, STYLE, FAVORITE THINGS + MORE!

THE WINTER SPECIAL

NOV '16 || FREE

ALL OF YOUR DYING POWERPUFF GIRL QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED

BY KRISTEN LI AKA BUBBLES

13+ WINTER ESSENTIALS YOU NEED THIS SEASON

Nancy Love Nikki Kross Victoria Lane Shayla Souliere

COOK

W

/

GCM

simple flavours Each month we bring you some of our favorite recipes from our readers or just in general

TWEET

TO

US

SHARE

YOUR

WITH

RECIPES

THE

WORLD

perfect pancakes

DIRECTIONS

Prep Time

Cook Time

Ready In

INGREDIENTS

:5

1.

minutes

: 15

: 20

minutes

In a large bowl

salt and sugar

1 1/2

cups all purpose flour

-

3 1/2

teaspoons baking powder

1

teaspoon salt

1

tablespoon white sugar

1 1/4

cups milk

1

egg

3

tbsp butter

milk

2.

minutes

,

.

,

sift together the flour

melted

baking powder

,

Make a well in the center and pour in the

egg and melted butter

;

mix until smooth

.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium

high heat

.

Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle

approximately

1/4

cup for each pancake

sides and serve hot

,

,

.

.

,

using

Brown on both

baked tilapea

DIRECTIONS

Prep Time

Cook Time

Ready In

1.

INGREDIENTS a

4 (4 2

ounce

)

minutes

: 30

: 35

minutes

minutes

Preheat the oven to

9 13 x

375

degrees F

(190

).

degrees F

Grease

.

inch baking dish

fillets tilapia

2.

teaspoons butter

1/4

:5

teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning TM

,

Place the tilapia fillets in the bottom of the baking dish

.

and dot with butter Season with Old Bay seasoning and or to

.

.

garlic salt Top each one with a slice or two of lemon Arrange taste

1/2 1

teaspoon garlic salt

lemon

1 (16

,

,

,

the frozen mixed vegetables around the fish and season or to taste

.

lightly with salt and pepper sliced

ounce

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package frozen cauliflower

with broccoli and red pepper

3.

Cover the dish and bake for

,

25

to

30

minutes in the

preheated oven until vegetables are tender and fish flakes

.

easily with a fork

sausage alfredo

DIRECTIONS

Prep Time

:3

Cook Time

Ready In

1.

INGREDIENTS

minutes

: 12

: 15

minutes

minutes

;

Prepare pasta according to package directions

drain and

.

set aside

1 (14

ounce

)

package Hillshire Farm

Smoked Sausage

,

diagonally cut into

1/4-

2.

5

inch slices

8

ounces pasta

2

cups heavy cream

2

teaspoons Cajun seasoning

1/2

ÂŽ

,

cooked

,

-

Saute sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat for

,

minutes

.

turning occasionally

drained

cup grated Parmesan cheese

3.

;

Add cream and Cajun seasoning

;

heat

3-4

simmer gently for

.

to thicken

,

.

Reduce

minutes or until mixture begins

Remove from heat

pasta to sauce and toss

.

bring to a boil

.

stir in Parmesan cheese

Add

triple decker

DIRECTIONS

Prep Time

Cook Time

Ready In

INGREDIENTS

2

slices white bread

1/4

cup mayonnaise

3

lettuce leav

1

tomato

3

slices of bacon

3

slices Cheddar cheese

,

thinly sliced

:5 :2

:7

minutes

minutes

minutes

1.

Toast the bread slices

.

2.

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each slice

.

,

bottom slice with lettuce

,

tomato

,

turkey bacon

Layer

.

and cheese

;

Spread another thin layer of mayonnaise on the cheese

.

repeat layers twice

microwave for

.

melted

45

.

Top with second slice of bread

seconds to

1

,

minute

Heat in

or until cheese is

25-year-old soul and jazz vocalist Lili K, has something to say and she isn’t afraid to say it…… women are like Magic and all men should remember that. Her powerful latest single, ‘Magic’, is sparking big buzz because of its simple message. Respect all women.

Lili wrote, executive produced, and recorded her debut album, ‘Ruby’ in 2012 along with her band at Mibal Studios in Chicago.

Tidal became one of her biggest supporters. They named her their first ever Tidal Rising Artist and released a docu series profiling her life in Chicago. She even was the headlining act on the Tidal Stage at Made Of America 2015.

She is gearing up to release a new album entitled, ‘Planet of Flowers’.

Read more about Lili as she talks Body shamming, music, girl power, Chance The Rapper and more.

Magic” is simply amazing! What made you decide to create such an anthem?

Thank you so much! Magic kind of serves as my beautiful expression of extremely ugly frustrations.

As women, we deal with sexism, misogyny, and rape culture daily. Despite these struggles, we somehow maintain our magic. I wanted to create something that was empowering and honest.

Did this single come from a personal experience?

It was a combination of many personal experiences, as well as other women's experiences. From a man calling me a bitch because I wouldn't give him my phone number, to the double standards that exist in our society, to our justice system giving little to no jail time for rapists, there are countless examples that

inspired this song.

When did you realize, you had such a powerful voice?

I honestly think recording this new album was the first time I truly understood the power of my voice.

When I discovered jazz, I was about 12/13 years old.

That was the first time my voice made sense to me, and that got me on the right path. However, I've always struggled with falling in between genres and being unsure of where I belonged musically. With this album (Planet of Flowers), I went into it with no boundaries or limitations. I just created with my band without worrying about the rules or about what genre anything was. It was such an empowering experience, and it allowed me to grow exponentially.

When Lili moved to San Diego, she began to write music, sing in school and be a part of the choir. In 2002, she moved backed to WI, where she attended Roosevelt Middle School Of The Artist.

In 2012 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, with a focus in Music Business.

Her and Peter eventually became collaborators and released two Eps, Metal Petals, which includes contributions from Chance The Rapper, Sulaiman, and the GTW, My Favorite Things, an EP of revamped jazz standards.

How did your music relationship with Chance come about?

Chance and I met at Columbia College Chicago; we were two of the artists who had been asked to be on the school's record label's mixtape. We didn't actually appear on that mixtape together, but soon after meeting, he invited me to the studio to record "Hey Ma" for his 10 Day mixtape. That was the start of it all.

How important was education to you?

Music education changed my life. 100%. The only reason I sing today is because of my grade school music teacher, Mr. Ken Anderson. He helped me find my voice and encouraged me to believe in myself.

Because of him, I attended Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts and Milwaukee High School of the Arts.

Alida LaCosse and Raymond Roberts were my middle and high school teachers who guided me on my musical journey. These teachers gave me the tools I needed to succeed.

After high school, she enrollolled in Columbis College where she took classes with Ruby Hornet’s Alex Fruchter and met producer Peter Cottontale.

Arts education enhances education in every subject, it enhances communication skills, it gives kids an outlet and a reason to enjoy school. I believe every child should be able to experience the arts in their curriculum.

Why did you decide to have a band instead of being solo on stage?

To me, music has always been about live performance and instrumentation. I came up singing with bands and jazz combos, and being a part of a band just feels better to me. There's a much brighter energy when live music is being created, plus it's so much fun to have a musical family! I feel so safe and comfortable when performing with my band, and

our chemistry is so magical during our shows. We genuinely love playing together.

impact on myself love. We're all so beautifully different, and that's something we must learn to celebrate.

Who are your inspirations?

The list goes on and on forever, haha. I'll try to keep it concise! Ella Fitzgerald and Rachelle Ferrell are probably my favorite vocalists of all time, as they've helped me to understand my voice. D'Angelo, Jill Scott, and India.Arie have made major impacts on me. Sharon Jones was the best performer I'd ever seen live, and I'll always love her. Plus Aretha and Stevie, of course!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a 25 year old woman and I still battle insecurities, but I now have a more positive way of dealing with them.

How do you feel about the industry's definition of the “it� girl?

I don't like the idea that there can only be one "it" girl, or one kind of "it" girl. I think it kind of pits women against one another, and forces them to fight for that one "it" girl spot. I think it's awesome to acknowledge more than just beauty or talent, and commend women for everything that they bring to the table, including their intelligence and opinions.

Well-rounded, outspoken, talented women are who we should be calling "it" girls.

What advice do you have for fans who are new artists?

Right now, Body shamming is a big thing in the entertainment world. Have you had to deal with it?

Oh God, yes, I have, and it's terrible!! To this day, 'industry folks' tell me I need to lose weight to be successful. And it's sad because I'm a size 8, which is a pretty average size. Like most women, I've struggled with my weight fluctuating over the years, and being told your weight matters more than your talent just exacerbates those insecurities.

Stay true to your passion and get ready to put a lot of hard work in! Don't compromise your art for fame, as it won't make you happy in the long run; nothing is worse than losing your love for your passion. Don't hop on waves or trends just because they're hot; good art has longevity. Invest in yourself. Practice, rehearse, perfect your craft, always know that you can improve, never settle for mediocrity.

This industry can break your heart, so it's important to stay positive and make sure you are still enjoying life.

How do you deal with it?

The three key things I've learned, is that you must love your body throughout it's inevitable changes, you must keep yourself healthy, and you have to realize that mainstream beauty standards are unrealistic for most women. Once I realized that eating healthy and working out made me feel better, I stopped focusing on the weight aspect of it, and I started enjoying a healthier lifestyle. I also stopped comparing myself to others, and that made a huge

What inspires you to write?

Life! Whether it's happiness, frustration, pain, love, or heartbreak, I run on emotion (I mean, I'm a cancer.

Of course, I run on emotion). I take those emotions and let them take the form of song. Some songs are about one thing, some songs are a hodgepodge of feelings and people and situations.

Jan. Playlist - Starboys & Advice Like our new playlist design? Thanks! It's a new year which means new tours and albums. This playlist is good for a car ride or a late night dance sesh with friends. Either way, you get a good vibe. The Weeknd still breaks records with his new album and Ed comes back on the music scene with two singles dropped on the SAME day!

'MAN' WED ON FOX

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

MENTAL HEALTH

by Gabby Fabrizio

It’s that time of the year when many of us are making New Year’s resolutions. But what has yours been this year? Shift that Christmas weight? Exceed yourself in your studies? Make some new friends and cracking memories?

Find the love of your life? There are so many resolutions that people make and let’s be honest it takes extreme will power to achieve these goals, but what about a resolution which will be the first step in making a positive change in you. I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to look after your mental heal, and if you have a mental health problem, how about this year your resolution is simply looking after your mental health?

NOMADIC

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24

19

"1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year" Mental health. Those two little words that leave people unable to continue the conversation and swiftly you find them rambling on about how nice the weather is. Have you ever found that when someone mentions mental health, the majority of the time, the conversation gets avoided or changed? It’s quite sad really that we still live in a society where mental health is so avoided, and so misunderstood, but that can change. And why not make 2017 the year to change it?

It’s not surprising that people shy away from mental health as a topic because they don’t understand it. And that’s okay, because the majority of the time when you suffer from a

mental health problem yourself, in the beginning, you don’t understand it either. Being embarrassed about suffering from mental health, is how a lot of people would describe the reason they don’t talk about it. But I am here to tell you, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s okay to not be okay just remember that. So many of your friends, family, teachers, and even you will be putting on brave faces daily, fighting their own mental health battles alone. But what if 2017 was the year when people spoke out, when people made that change when mental health became something people felt comfortable with.

You can be that change. New Years is the perfect start for a fresh slate, an opportunity for you to start fresh and put back into the world.

Why not use that to raise awareness of mental health? According to MIND, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year.

The statistics are so common, yet surprisingly,

the conversation topic is not, which is saddening. But, what if we are the generation to make mental health a topic which isn’t surrounded by negative stigma?

But just what classes as a mental health problem? There are so many varieties of mental health problems, each equally as important as each other. Some of the more commonly known mental health problems include depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Other things such as OCD and phobias are also classed as a mental health problem which could be surprising to some people. Nevertheless, any mental health problem is as important as the other and making the next step in society to any mental health problem being respected is something that our generation can do, and I believe will do.

It can be very hard for someone who doesn't suffer from a mental health problem to understand exactly what a suffer goes through, but the best thing that you can do if you don’t understand is respect, respect, respect. Respect that people all have their own battles they are fighting whether these are physical or mental, respect that sometimes people might not be able to do things, respect that sometimes people just don’t want to talk but when they do listen. In a world where we are some consumed in technology the art of communication is sometimes lost, and we are all very guilty of that. But, communication is key to changing society. Take time out of your day to speak to people, even if it is just a simple hello.

We Are All The Same The response I have received from all you lovely readers about mental health is amazing, and so many of you have got in touch with us regarding sharing your experiences with mental health to raise awareness and help other people who could be in the same situation as you.

Which is incredible. Not only are you putting yourselves out there to help others who will need your help, but you are contributing to raising awareness for such an incredible cause. You are not alone, although it may feel like it, you are surrounded by people who want to help you, you just need the confidence to communicate. Everyone is very different, I mean, let’s just take a look at three lovely readers, Rhianna (@LittleRhiRhi_), Gemma Walsh and Ollie Stevens.

Gabby: Hello everyone! Could you please share with us what your mental health problem is that you suffer with?

R: I suffer from generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder and depression.

G: I’ve gone through a dark stage of depression.

O: I have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and depression.

Continue on next page

Gabby: Thank you all of you. To the best of your ability, can you describe what your mental illness feels like to you, so how does it affect you?

R: It feels like you are suffocating 24/7, whilst also trying to live and breathe like everyone else.

G: I’ve always slipped into really depressive phases in my life. I still don’t feel good enough but when I fall off the edge with it everyone can tell I’m not me. I end up crying a lot and feeling like a failure. Just not wanting to be me, and I felt like I was watching someone else live my life but I was watching myself failing.

O: My mental health feels different each day, one day I will be less anxious the next day I will be super anxious. To me, it feels like it is always going to be part of my life.

Gabby: Thank you for being so brave, you’ve obviously all gone through a really tough time. Do you have any coping techniques that you use which you could share with us so people who are in a similar situation can maybe use your coping techniques?

R: Breathing exercises are a good strategy if you are in environments like exam halls or general day to day places. Another strategy which I use a large amount of the time is distracting myself by doing other activities, which allows me to take my mind off what is going on in my head. I think it is also important to speak to those around if you are feeling vulnerable.

G: As far as coping goes, not really no. I just know when I can feel myself slipping over the edge and so when that happens I just try not to.

Sometimes, it’s really hard though.

O: A big technique for me is breathing.

People tend to not pay attention to your breathing, but when you concentrate on your breathing it really helps, and always make sure you are in a happy environment to keep your mind occupied.

Gabby: Thank you for being so brave, you’ve obviously all gone through a really tough time. Do you have any coping techniques that you use which you could share with us so people who are in a similar situation can maybe use your coping techniques?

R: Breathing exercises are a good strategy if you are in environments like exam halls or general day to day places. Another strategy which I use a large amount of the time is distracting myself by doing other activities, which allows me to take my mind off what is going on in my head. I think it is also important to speak to those around if you are feeling vulnerable.

G: As far as coping goes, not really no. I just know when I can feel myself slipping over the edge and so when that happens I just try not to. Sometimes, it’s really hard though.

O: A big technique for me is breathing.

People tend to not pay attention to your breathing, but when you concentrate on your breathing it really helps, and always make sure you are in a happy environment to keep your mind occupied.

Gabby: So do you think that mental health problems are spoken about enough in society?

R: Certainly not! That is one of the reasons why I and quite a few of my friends have blogs and speak so openly about mental health. The more that mental health is spoken about, it becomes less of an uncomfortable subject to be open about. I guess it can be difficult to talk about because some people do not know what to say if they or someone they know is suffering. Also, for a long time, mental health issues were unlikely to be spoken about. By encouraging people to speak up as well as having mental health a compulsory subject in the education system, this can be further dealt with.

G: I still don’t think mental health is spoken about enough, but it has improved so much in recent years. There is still such a long way to go though. I think because it’s still not looked as being as severe as it really is, that people find it so hard to talk about. It is so personal compared to any other illness really, and it’s not something you can treat medically and it’ll just go away.

O: I feel as if mental health is becoming a more ‘normal’ problem, I would love for it to be talked about more though. I think it is hard to talk about it because you don’t want to admit you’re suffering and that you are afraid people won’t understand.

Gabby: So finally, do you know of the different kinds of help that are available for people suffering or do you think that the help does need to be publicised more?

R: The only reason that I know about the different types of help available is because of my own experiences. The types of help abatable need to be publicised so much more than it currently is because there are so many people who are struggling and do not feel like they can be helped.

G: I know there is a lot of help out there like charities. I think the NHS need to do more about mental health.

O: there is a lot of help around, speak to friends, family or even speak to someone who you don’t speak to a lot, make sure you get help. Suffering in silence is the worst.

Gabby: Thank you very much to our three readers who did an in-depth interview with us, they were all so brave.

Gabby Fabrizio is a writer for Gold Crwn Magazine who speaks about mental health and girl power monthly.

Need some help getting though it?

You are not alone.

Call the National Crisis Hotline: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863

Celebrities Speak On

“I have Lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways.

I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression are all side effects”­ Selena Gomez

“I was doing the same thing every night and numbing myself to sleep. The same routine. I couldn't wait to get home and hide out. ­ Brad Pitt (on his depression)

n Thier Own Battles

“I suffer from depression and was a model during a particularly rough patch of self hatred” ­ Cara Delevinge

“Unfortunately my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances. I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career” ­ Zayn Malik

COCO JONES SINGS Powerhouse vocalist, Coco Jones, who knocked out her acting debut on Disney Channel's 'Let It Shine', just recently released a new single and we just had to catch up with her to talk her start, boys and girl power.

Remember Disney Channel's most watched movie in 2012, 'Let It Shine'?

Well, meet the main character Roxie played by Courtney Jones, better known as Coco Jones. Jones, 19, who possess a similar vocal range to singer, Jennifer Hudson, is well on her way to bigger and better things with her recent emotional release, 'Miss Me When I'm Gone'.

Jones born in Columbia, South Carolina did her first performance at the age of six when she performed "America the Beautiful" to a crowded auditorium of parents at her kindergarten graduation.

Not to long after, at the age of nine, she met with the casting heads for Disney Channel. She then went on to gueststarred on the Disney Channel's So Random and "The Most Talented Kids" episode of the Maury Povich Show. In 2010, she independently released her self-titled debut album, CoCo Jones.

She used the album to create an antibullying concert series entitled 'UBUSTOP THE BULLYING. Then in 2012 she made her mark as an actress and delivered a stellar performance as the main character, Roxie, alongside Tyler Williams, in 'Let It Shine'. The movie was the most watched DCOM and most watched movie of the year for kids and tweens in 2012. 'Let It Shine' did not only showcased her acting ability but it also allowed her to showcase her singing ability even more to the world. Jones' debut single "Holla at the DJ" premiered on Radio Disney on December 6, with its release on iTunes the next day.

The video for the track premiered on the Disney Channel on December 12, with a premiere on VEVO just afterward. It is now at 5 million views.

Her second album Made Of was released on March 12, 2013, under Hollywood Records. The four track ep consisted of dance and pop filled songs that just made you feel good anytime they hit your ears. It also showed her diversity in genres and different patterns."Disney Channel gave me a great platform for my career to really begin, if not for the channels initial support who knows where I’d be."

Jones said about her experience.

As the positive reviews for her debut project came in, she got back to work in the studio around May 2013 with producers David Banner, Julie Frost, Ester Dean, and Jukebox. Fans expecting an album started to become worried when 2014 and there was no new music. In January 2014, jones left Hollywood Records and became an independent artist. Jones stated that even though she is an independent artist, she is not opposed to working on another label adding, "I just needed some time to grow mentally and musically. Now that I’ve figured out what I want from my music career…who knows? I’m open to anything!" I eventually had to ask what she learned about being on a label vs an independent artist. She, of course, talked about the creative process, "I learned how different a number of people are who have an input on your project as a label artist and independent, nothing wrong with either Continue

From Disney Channel's ' Let It Shine'.

Pictured: Tyler Williams and Coco Jones

_ "I learned a long time ago that if I’m going to be consistently happy in my skin I’ve got to be my own biggest fan" _

it’s just different." On August 29, 2014, Jones released a lyric video for her debut independent single, "Peppermint". It was officially released on iTunes on September 4, 2014, as the lead single off her debut studio album. On April 7, she released her official debut single as an independent artist entitled, 'Let Em Know" on iTunes. The next day the video premiered on billboard.

It consisted of flawless choreography with sister duo, Curly Fryz and cameos from some familiar faces. "My goal with that song was just to make a summer track that makes people want to be happy and dance!" she said when asked about the song. When asked about her "Boldness" towards guys, "I wouldn’t say I’m “Bold” when it comes to guys. My motto is “Keep it cute, and don’t be out here embarrassing yourself” so with that in mind I’d say I’m pretty upfront with guys, just about who I am and the standard I hold for myself. Just so were on the same page.."

In 2016, Coco Jones decided to do something different and release a ballet entitled, "Miss Me When I'm Gone". The song seemed to show her more mellow side but even more powerful vocals like never before.

"Miss me was really just a song that touched me deeply when I heard it, so many thoughts of this hurting world ran through my mind. I just felt that the song really needed to be heard." The music video, that consisted of short clips of US soldiers coming home, was on October 12, 2016. Coco, draped in a gorgeous black dress and heels, completely slayed the video like no one else. When asked about the meaning behind the video?

"We really just wanted an international aspect to the video since the songs so relatable, military has affected so many lives so we thought what better way to relate to so many families than by incorporating this into the video." she replied.

Do you want to pursue other talents that you haven’t let the world see yet? I tell you what If I discover any more talents the good lord blesses me with, you’ll be the first to know!

Do you have any new acting projects coming soon? YES! I’m currently filming a movie that I have no idea how much of it I can share, but! It’s coming out next year so be on the lookout!!

Girl Power

Some artist who left Disney such as Miley Cyrus, talked about how Disney tried to make them into this perfect person, how do you get away from that as an artist or actress? For one life gets in the way of that illusion, cause everybody makes mistakes (shout out to Hannah Montana) but you just figure out hoe to Your music, even from the time you released be okay with who you are and the rest your first album, was always so positive, becomes irrelevant. why is that important to you as an artist? "I just feel as though you’re blessed with What do you say to girls out there who talents and abilities for a reason, so why not view these magazines as the ideal take that platform and benefit the people human being? I’d say, girl, put that you reach with those talents. Blessed to be a magazine down and focus on the girl you Blessing!" see in the mirror, because regardless of who’s “trendy” at the moment on the Will we be getting an EP or Album this year? cover; the girl in the mirror is the one you If so what can we expect? I can say that I’m can count on seeing for life, Get to know and love her! working on a body of work at the moment, instead of just songs here and there, which I haven’t done in a long time… When will it be Have these teen magazines every made out? No idea lol you feel a certain way? Nope! I learned a long time ago that if I’m going to be What is your writing process like? It really consistently happy in my skin I’ve got to depends, if I’d just been through something be my own biggest fan, because who and I hear a track that my situation fits, I can else is gonna be? write really fast. Sometimes the track inspired my writing and then the process is different!

Continue on next page.

Continued Self-esteem within young girls is one of the biggest things right now. Have you ever dealt with low self-esteem and if so how did you get past it?

I don’t feel like I’ve had low self-esteem but I’ve had moments where I feel insufficient. Then I remember god doesn’t make mistakes and I flip my hair and roll my eyes at this world for trying to make me feel like I’m anything but beautiful.

As an artist in the public eye, how do you deal with negative commenters? I don’t. It’s none of my business trying to understand why a hater wants to hate on me. I’ll just let them do them over there lol.

What makes you say okay this is done or that and not go back and change it 200 times before it is released? I don’t know at all! I'm such a perfectionist that it's hard for me not to second guess things, but luckily my team knows that so they kind of take the reigns when I start nitpicking.

What does girl power mean to you and how do you promote it? Girl power to me means loving yourself, owning yourself, and proving yourself.

And I promote that by being unapologetically me, and making my dreams my reality!

Goals for 2017? My goal is the same every year, and that’s just to be happy! So I’ll continue in what makes me happy which is singing and acting and dancing and laughing and if that brings more success praise god!

This year will be owned by a lot of artist including Coco Jones, big time. With her cool personality, drive, and powerhouse of a voice, label or no label, she will dominate. My feelings towards that? I am not mad at all. More music please?

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Follow Coco Jones: Facebook: CocoJones Twitter: TheRealCocoJ Instagram: CocoJones Get 'Miss Me When I'm Gone': iTunes | Google Play | Spotify

GIRL POWER TAKE OVER

THESE FIVE WILL RULE 2017 WITH THEIR VOICES AND WE ARE NOT MAD AT ALL These girls have no problem speaking their minds weather though social media or music. They speak with intelligence and confidence on matters that include justice, respect and girl power.

BEST WAY TO BUILD ENDURANCE

YARA S.

Number one on our list of crwned babes is YARA. Known for her recurring role on Black-ish, off screen she is an outspoken activist who speaks on representation in Hollywood, climate change and youth empowerment.

strength | pg.5

BEST WAY TO BUILD ENDURANCE

ALEXI BLUE

the pink haired babe with the middle name blue, taks girl power in every song she writes including her new EP, "TRI ME".

Alexi never fails to voice her opinion on matters such as bullying or respect in relationships.

strength | pg.5

BEST WAY TO BUILD ENDURANCE

CAILEE RAE

is s songwriter, who was named one of the best musicians on Instagram, writes about letting go of things that hold you down on her single , 'Anchor"

strength | pg.5

BEST WAY TO BUILD ENDURANCE

ROWAN

known for her recurring role on, Girl Meets World, but outside of her character, she speaks about feminism and how we can better this world.

Rowan is wise beyond her years and it shows.

strength | pg.5

BEST WAY TO BUILD ENDURANCE

RACHELE

known for playing the mean girl, actress Rachele Smith is actually a really positive person. If she isn't doing inspiring videos about change and self love, she's getting you in shape.

strength | pg.5

Lili K presents

'MAGIC'

Official Music Video Out Now

Makeup artist stationed in VA, (where we are based) has gained a lot more buzzed after posting her first makeup tutorial since hitting the scene.

Follow Victoria Dixon: https://www.facebook.com/MasonAshleyMusic https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyvictoria_

STICKY NOTES

15 ESSTENIALS TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS MONTH A MUST IN JANUARY Each month we bring you 15 new sticky notes to help you navigate through each month. It is a mixture of inspiration and things to add to your to-do list including movies, books, and music..

BREATH

Don't Overthink

Listen to Alexi Blue’s "Perfect Mess".

Go after your dreams...

TODAY

Watch the movie, Sing, and let your voice be heard!

Order a California Pizza Kitchen Pasta to make your day 1000x times better.

Listen to a podcast on the regular.

Forgive Yourself.

Put yourself first & know you are worth it.

Follow The MAGCON boys in S1 of, 'Chasing Cameron' on Netflix Now.

THINK POSITIVE

Wine down on Thursdays and watch Scandal starting Jan 26 on ABC.

You don't have to fit in.

Read some good books on Wattpad and take a peek into the worlds of millions.

Own It & Be Yourself

X

Write your own sticky notes of inspiration!

X

a rock band that supplies energy and rock anthems They recently released their single, ' Henchman' (click the picture to hear the song}, Victoria Dixon or which was performed live in NY with Against the current on the 13th, and the reviews are amazing. VISTA was derived from the decade-long solo career of frontwoman Hope Vista. She decided to recruit guitarist Greg Almeida and drummer Matthew Vlossak and Follow Mason Ashley: create VISTA. They are on the verge of creating their own lane in the rock genre, releasing their first EP, Venuses, that got recognition from big media outlets such as http://www.masonashley.com Myspace and idobi. https://www.facebook.com/MasonAshleyMusic Follow Vista: https://twitter.com/themasonashley http://www.twitter.com/ThisIsVISTA http://www.instagram.com/VISTAband https://www.instagram.com/masonashleymusic/ http://www.facebook.com/VISTAband