“I’ve always gravitated toward artists who are clear about who they are and who aren’t super focused on fame and money and image. Music and art should be about reminding our culture of all things that are so much deeper than that instead of feeding a culture that cares about that stuff.”
– Caroline Jones to The Country Note
When a nine year old Caroline Jones begged her parents for singing lessons, they obliged. And when a pre-teen Caroline Jones realized she could put her poems and song lyrics to music and melody. . .
“. . . . it became magic. After that, I never wanted to do anything else. . . .”
Even though Caroline was born in Connecticut, that didn’t stop her dad from adding his Memphis touch by turning her onto The Temptations, Aretha, and Earth, Wind and Fire. In the 90s of course, music was all about bigger than life, one name artists-Celine, Mariah, Whitney, who also left their mark on the impressible young performer. In fact, this dynamite who has since toured with some of Nashville’s biggest acts to date, had no knowledge of country music . . . that is, until she turned 17.
“I had been writing songs and making demos in New York and my manager at the time said, ‘there’s a lot of country sensibility in your songwriting and Nashville is one of the only places that values musicianship and songwriters. You should go down there.’ So I went down, met some writers, and went to a show at the Bluebird (Café). That was a turning point in my life. Prior to that, I didn’t know that there was an entire genre that felt like it existed for me, which is that storytelling and authenticity . . . musicianship. . Craftsmanship . . . everything that is prized and valued in Nashville is what resonated with the artist I was naturally becoming.”
Self described as a hungry student of country music, Caroline researched history all the way back to the Carter Family, Jimmy Rogers, and Hank Williams. And even now, at 27 years old, she perfects her craft constantly, just the way her idols Emmylou and Vince Gill have done.
You can hear all things Caroline the Craftswoman on her new album, Bare Feet, which came out March 30. Caroline plays all the instruments on the record except for the bass and the drums. This includes electric and acoustic guitars, steel dobro, slide, piano, and the five string banjo that happily kicks off the first song. Caroline’s reason for learning multiple instruments?
“It breaks up and adds color to your show! I was playing solo acoustic shows with just me on stage and I wanted to make it more interesting. Then when we produced this record—well– I have been so blessed to have records made in Nashville with session players and I’ve learned so much from watching them. I’ve always had my own ideas of what melodies should sound like and the best way to bring it to life is to play it yourself because if they’re all in your mind, they have to come out somehow.”
If you’re wondering why else she didn’t use Nashville session players on her new record, it’s because she didn’t record it in Nashville. Her “office” and creative team all reside in West Palm Beach, Florida, which Caroline sees as a uniqueness in comparison to most artists who use traditional studios and co-writers on Music Row. And as co-producer alongside Rick Wake (Celine Dion, Trisha Yearwood, Whitney Houston), the budding superstar envisions the production and layering of instruments as an extension of the song process.
Her production skills will come in handy this summer out on the road with artists like The Eagles (including her idol Vince Gill) and Tim and Faith on their Soul2Soul Tour. She will also continue tours with Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band, whom she’s been linked with in the past. Nothing is as fulfilling to her as meeting the fans and inspiring people, because in her book, it’s about more than just having hits on the radio or getting famous. Watching Zac Brown, Jimmy Buffett, and Kenny Chesney has taught Caroline that the artists with the longest careers are the ones whose stories have inspired people for decades because they are truly focused on the stories, the music, and the fans.
And when the Billboard “Artist to Watch” is not in front of thousands of music lovers or making fun behind the scenes videos for her fans, she’s impacting listeners with a show she hosts on XM called “The Coffeehouse.” For the last four years or so, Caroline has invited songwriter friends like Natalie Hemby to share the “Nashville” tradition of telling the stories behind the songs. And every now and then, you can catch Caroline playing a songwriter’s round live, which is something she hopes to do more of once she gets off the road.
“People who go to those rounds—tourists and locals—they are loyal to the craft of songwriting and lyrics and it’s such a pleasure,” Caroline’s wise beyond her years mentality and relaxed Florida state of mind is ever present..
So when her name pops up on a writer’s round poster, take advantage! And in the meantime, catch her on the road singing new songs like “Twlight’s Crime” and “Country Girl”, which have quickly become audience favorites.
Rolling Stone recently featured the lovely and charismatic Caroline Jones as one of the “10 Country Artists You Need to Know” for a reason. Because you indeed need to know her. To know her is to love her and to dance around barefoot on the lawn as she is most likely doing on the stage.