JASMINE CEPHAS JONES AND HER PHOENIX WITHIN

BY: JESSE ZAPATERO

PHOTOGRPAHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLING: ALEXIS BERGENS, MAKE-UP: SEAN HARRIS @ THE ONLY AGENCY, HAIRSTYLIST: SABRINA PORSCHE @ HIGHLIGHT ARTISTS, PRODUCER: JESSE ZAPATERO, LOCATION, GM STUDIO DTLA
Full Look: ANNAKIKI, Shoes: JONAK

Jasmine Cephas Jones, an EMMY and GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and producer, continues to soar as a multi-talented force in the entertainment industry. First captivating the world with her dual role as Maria Reynolds and Peggy Schuyler in the groundbreaking musical "Hamilton," Jasmine has since demonstrated her versatility and passion across film, television, and music. With roles in "Blindspotting," "#Freerayshawn," and her own Blue Bird EP, Jasmine's journey is a testament to her relentless creativity and resilience.

In our recent conversation, Jasmine shared her excitement about her NEW album "Phoenix," a project that reflects her personal and artistic growth. "I realized that I am the PHOENIX," she says, explaining how the album helped her heal through significant life changes. Her dedication to her craft shines through as she discusses her love for every aspect of music creation, from writing and recording to performing. "Each step of the process gives me the opportunity to showcase my creativity differently, and I really love that."

Jasmine's admiration for trailblazing artists like Prince and her dream of collaborating with talents such as D'Mile and Yebba highlight her commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing new challenges. She also emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for artistic expression, a principle she applied while making her album.

"My album had to have a good energy of how it was created. That was really a goal of mine and super important to me,"

Reflecting on her journey, Jasmine speaks about the profound impact of art and the responsibility she feels to create meaningful and impactful work.

"Art can change the world. There’s a bit of responsibility there," she says. a sentiment that underscores her drive to inspire and uplift through her diverse talents.

Through her words and her work, Jasmine Cephas Jones continues to inspire the next generation of artists, showing them that they too can find their own Phoenix within

Hi Jasmine! We had so much fun with you on set. You’re amazing, what have you been up to since we’ve last seen each other?

I had a great time on set with your team! I’ve been keeping super busy since then - I’ve been spending time with friends and family, I’ve been writing. I was getting ready for my album to come out! It’s been a super busy and exciting time. I also just bought a house and am trying to get it all prepared before i move in. Literally everything, everywhere, all at once.

Can you provide an explanation of the inspiration and meaning behind the title "Phoenix" for your album? What themes or experiences led you to choose this name, and how does it reflect the overall message or concept of the album?

I initially named this album PHOENIX because it symbolized a musical transformation for me. It embodies the elevated version of the album I’ve spent my life dreaming of creating. However, life intervened. I set it aside for a while as I faced significant challenges - I went through a breakup, I moved far away from the family and friends that I loved dearly, I experienced the loss of my father. With all of these changes, I struggled to see how to complete the album because I had really evolved so much as a person. Eventually, I understood that PHOENIX represented not just my musical evolution, but also a deeply personal one. I realized that I am the PHOENIX. It’s truly remarkable how art can support you in difficult times. Working on this album has been such a crucial part of my healing journey. Although the songs have shifted and changed for me, they continue to resonate and speak to me.

Robe: OTT DUBAI, Shoes: VALENTINA RANGONI, Jewelry: NISSA JEWELRY

What are your favorite parts of the music creation process? Are you someone who finds the most joy in lyric writing or composing? Or performing?

I love all of it. When writing, I get to express myself through my words, my thoughts, my feelings. When recording, I get to express myself through my tone and my energy in my vocals. When performing, I’m free to express myself through my different movements. Each step of the process gives me the opportunity to showcase my creativity differently and I really love that. I also love to sit with the producer and help with the musicality of my music. Coming up with bass lines or horn parts. I love to be completely involved from day 1.

Do you have any dream collaborations with any other artists or musicians? If so, who and what do you think that would sound like?

Oh man, I have so many dream collaborations! I think a big one for me would’ve been Prince. He’s definitely one of my all-time favorites. What I love about his music is that he doesn’t really fit into any specific ‘box’ or genre, he was kind of just…his own genre. He did what he wants and that’s it. He did what he did and what he loved all for himself. I really don’t know what a collab between the two of us would’ve been… genre bending for sure. I also would love to work with Dmile one day. He sits in a pocket of music that I love so much. Also if I could do a duet with Yebba one day or Raye. I would die. I look up to those women so much.

Your song 'Come My Way' has such a feel-good vibe. At the end, you mention a desire to create your album in a huge house in the middle of nowhere. You also talk about wanting to create something unapologetic and stepping into your power. Can you share more about why these ideas are important to you?

When the idea came to my mind to finally write my album I didn't want to just go in and out of different studios at different times and try to work with so many different schedules. It was really important to me that we took some time away from the city and stayed under the same roof. I wanted to create a safe space where all these artists could go for it and not be judged. It was still during a time where covid was pretty bad and i think we all needed to just get out and create. I really made it clear that we all made things that week that spoke to us. That came from our hearts. My album had to have a good energy of how it was created. That was really a goal of mine and super important to me.

How does your creative process differ when creating music compared to preparing for a role in acting?

Creating music is a personal and introspective process for me, drawing from my own experiences and emotions. It involves self-reflection and vulnerability, allowing my true self to emerge.
When preparing for an acting role, I’m stepping into another character’s world. It usually requires research, understanding their background, and a ton of collaboration with the director and other actors.

Cape: CIRENE LOS ANGELES

Are there any similarities in the emotional preparation for both acting and music creation?

I think there are similarities in the emotional preparation for acting and music creation. In both, I need to find that right amount of deep connection. Both draw out emotion, they just draw out different emotions.

Do you find that your experiences in acting influence your approach to music, and vice versa?

Definitely! Sometimes when I’m creating music, I discover certain emotions I may have felt before but didn’t truly experience in depth until then. Once I’ve allowed myself to really feel those emotions, I’m then able to incorporate them into my acting.

Full Look: MAISON AUDMI, Earrings: STERLING FOREVER, White Croc Thigh High Boots: YTUSI

Who were some of your early influences in both music and acting? How have they shaped your approach to your work?

Prince, Stevie Wonder and D'Angelo were all artists that I listened to a lot when I was a kid. “Living for the City” from Stevie's Inner Visions album was my audition song for middle school, high school, and Berklee College of Music. Prince’s “How Come You Don’t Call Me” was my audition song for Hamilton. These artists literally shaped my future in a way. Gary Oldman is my favorite actor of all time. The way he transforms is pretty otherworldly and I've always been interested in transforming as an actor. Watching my father and growing up in a theater company called Labyrinth Theater Company shaped me as an actor as well. I remember watching Liza Colon Zayas ( who is now killing it in “The Bear”) on stage as a preteen thinking how unapologetic and fierce she was. Philip Seymour Hoffman was artistic director there at the time and directed a lot of plays that my father was in. There was a lot that I didn't understand as a child but I remembered and it wasn't until I went to acting school and studied Meisner method acting where it all came back to me. All those conversations that I would listen to as a kid growing up in the theater all of a sudden made so much sense... but that was also because i did my own work. I studied. I went to school for it.

How have you seen yourself grow as an artist since your early days at Berklee College of Music and performing in "Hamilton"?

There are so many moments that have helped me grow and shaped me into the artist that I am today. Any moment I’ve had where I’ve learned something new has played a serious role in my growth. I always want to keep learning. Going through tough times and experiencing things like grief really offers an opportunity for growth. Life is a difficult journey but it’s worth it. It’s worth it to see where you go and how you grow. I remember being in Hamilton and seeing how art can change people’s lives in such a deep way. Like I knew art could do that but when you’re in a show that big, that has crossed over into pop culture and then people are coming up to you saying things like this show has literally saved their lives... it puts so much into perspective. Art can change the world. There’s a bit of responsibility there. Whatever I do I make sure that it’s as meaningful and impactful as it can be.

Full Look: MAISON AUDMI, Earrings: STERLING FOREVER, White Croc Thigh High Boots: YTUSI

How do you view the current landscape of representation in the entertainment industry? What changes would you like to see in the future?

The current landscape of representation in the entertainment industry is improving, with more diverse stories being told, but true equity is still lacking. I think in the future, I’d love to see greater inclusivity, especially in leading roles and behind-the-scenes positions. I believe it’s crucial for the industry to reflect the rich diversity of our world and amplify historically marginalized voices. Big blockbusters are great but we need more independent movies again. More stories with depth, nuance, and new stories as well. There’s still so many stories that need to be told and people are interested in them. People still want human stories, not just guns and violence and blowing things up every 30 seconds.

How do you hope your work influences and inspires the next generation of artists, particularly young women of color?

I hope when people listen to this album that they too can know that they can find their own Phoenix within them. It's there... just waiting to be found. I hope when people listen, they know that black musicians are not just R and B either. We have made a lot of different genres that you hear today. It's just not talked about enough. We can be genre bending and that’s ok. Take Willow Smith for example. I think what she's doing is absolutely incredible. She’s become an insane musician who makes what she wants. Not what people expect her to make. Women of color have impacted pop culture in every medium you can think of. This isn't new. I hope anyone can feel inspired to make what they want to make. Try to do everything you can to find your own voice. It's so important. It will guide you.

You've worked with some incredibly talented directors, actors, musicians, & producers. Can you share an experience where collaboration significantly enhanced a project?

Phoenix was a complete collaboration process. I couldn't have made this album without all those important musicians, and family, and support from loved one. Every single project I have worked on though has in some way been a collaboration. Hamilton, BLINDSPOTTING, even ORIGIN. Every set, studio session, rehearsal room... there are moving parts for all. If I had to talk about one that isn't Phoenix, I think BLINDSPOTTING was so amazing to experience. It was my first lead in a TV show and I am very close with the creators of the show. It was so special to see my friend’s vision come to life. I got to have a hand creatively with the character Ashley Rose and my voice was heard for different ideas as well.

How was the transition from stage to screen for you? Did you find any particular challenges or surprises when you moved from performing in theater to acting in film and television?

On stage, everything is larger and more exaggerated to reach the audience, but on screen, the acting can be a bit more subtle if it’s called for it. I wasn’t surprised but the difference but I did have to work on the muscle of switching modes and understanding the different mediums. Now i don’t think about it at all.

Is there a preference between performing your music live in front of an audience and acting on camera? If so, why do you lean towards one over the other, considering the unique challenges each presents?

I feel like everyone asks me this question. I love to do it all. It really just makes sense to where I am in my life. I’ve been so focused on getting my album out and navigating that but I do miss being on set and being in character. I’ll always go back to the stage. I’ll continue to do it all… because I can and usually when I’m doing a lot of one thing I start to miss doing the other. So it’s really just balance. I still think I’m too young at the moment but I’m dying to go back to theater and play Lady Macbeth. Again, I’m not opposed to do any medium. It just has to makes sense with what’s going on in my life at the moment.

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

I have faced many challenges in my career. But I do think making this album was probably in the top 5. I made this album completely independently. I have fully funded this project. I have worked to gather all of my ideas and execute them. I have had doors shut in my face, people disappearing, not knowing what to do with the album, chasing people down to get answers, planning video shoots, asking for favors, people dropping out, grief coming at me at all angles, moving to the other side of the country, I can go on and on of all road blocks that have come my way making this album. But I knew I had to finish it, I knew it had to release this album. I have worked way too hard to shelve it. No matter what, I just had this tunnel vision. I'd get really down about something and I would just get back up again and find another way around it. I made the choice to have no choice but to finish. I made a promise to myself and I wasn't going to break that.

Full Look: ANNAKIKI, Shoes: JONAK

What advice would you give to young actors and musicians who are just starting out in their careers?

There is a letter from Martha graham to Agnes Demille that I still look at till this day. I keep it on my wall. I will follow these words for the rest of my life as an artist:

There is a vitality,
a life force,
a quickening
that is translated through you into action,
and because there is only one of you in all time,
this expression is unique.

And If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.
The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine
how good it is
nor how valuable it is
nor how it compares with other expressions.

It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly
to keep the channel open.
You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.
You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate YOU.

Keep the channel open…
No artist is pleased…

There is no satisfaction whatever at anytime
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction
a blessed unrest that keeps us marching
and makes “us” MORE alive than the others

Looking back at your journey so far, is there anything you would have done differently? What are your hopes and goals for the next decade of your career?

Nope. Everything has brought me to this moment in time. I just want to keep working on projects I believe in and keep growing as an artist. I also wanna make sure I keep myself grounded in nature. Nowadays peace is always the goal.

If you were a book what book would you be and why?

Right now, I’m on a big journey of self-discovery and still healing. I have come along way. But if i were a book at this moment in time i would say I’m women who run with the wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. It’s a powerful book of old folklore stories from around the world to guide women to reclaim their innate wisdom and strength. Yeah, that’s what time I’m on at the moment.