After a brief hiatus, Chicago’s own Donell Jones has reemerged with his sixth studio album, Lyrics. The former South Sider has been seducing the radio airwaves with his enticing songs and sultry voice since 1996, but he calls this project his best w
After a brief hiatus, Chicago’s own Donell Jones has reemerged with his sixth studio album, Lyrics. The former South Sider has been seducing the radio airwaves with his enticing songs and sultry voice since 1996, but he calls this project his best work to date. Jones, who’s also an accomplished songwriter and producer, brings his own life experiences to his music, which he feels is what the people want to hear. “I’m always writing. I just sit back and start thinking about my life, what I’ve been through, and what I think people want to hear. I feel like each song has its own emotional side to it and it needs to be approached that way,” Donell explained to the Defender. The R&B singer, who released his debut album, My Heart, in 1996, has celebrated and explored the depths of love and relationships through lyrics that are relatable. “I’ve always prided myself with writing great lyrics and songs, which is why I named this album Lyrics. People really go through things: life and love situations, make-ups, break-ups, and the good and bad sides of love, and love in general. And I really feel like I captured that with this album,” Jones said. And he continued on that same path with his latest effort, which has received rave reviews and reached No. 9 on the U.S. R&B charts. “The lyrics are strong and the musicianship is phenomenal. I really feel like I captured the essence of R&B in a way that I haven’t in the past. I think the fans are really going to be floored because it is a sound that we are missing right now in R&B and it is my interpretation of what I think it should be,” he said. Jones burst onto the scene writing for major acts like Usher and 702 before releasing his first album on the Untouchables/LaFace label. Although he experienced much success, he never felt like he received the push he needed from his former label to truly flourish. “I am still trying to recoup from that situation. I did four albums with them, and I am still in the red 10 years later. It’s three people in the mix before you even see any money. LaFace had to recoup to Arista, Untouchables had to recoup to LaFace and I had to recoup to Untouchables. If I wasn’t out doing shows or if I didn’t write any of those songs, I would be pretty messed up right now” the singer explained. But he didn’t let that deter him and has since moved on and created his own label, Candyman Music, which is distributed through E1. “I am an artist myself and I want to be fair. I want to make sure that any of the artists I work with can walk away and say I was fair. A lot of record companies aren’t fair. They are all about the dollar and it is a business, don’t get me wrong and they have to make money, but at least treat the people fair that are out their working for you,” said Jones. He is looking to build a solid roster of talent by bringing other artists to his label. “I am debuting my niece on my album and I am in talks with KeKe Wyatt. I’m about to sign her as well as Chico Debarge. We are in talks but I definitely feel like it is going to happen,” said Jones. After 15 years in the business, Donell Joness is steadily moving forward with more creative control over his future. The Chi-Town native is all about forward movement but he still loves and misses his hometown that he left almost 20 years ago. “I just miss the city period. I miss the food, hanging out with my boys…man—aint nothing like Chicago. The only thing I don’t miss is the gang violence and I’ve been hearing a lot of sad things about the city and all the kids getting killed. I really want to do something special for Chicago,” he said. And Jones is extremely pleased with his path and feels like this is his moment. “I wouldn’t change anything that I‘ve been through because I wouldn’t be who I am today. I thank God because I am still relevant and I can still make great music. I’ve gotten better as a songwriter, a lyricist and as a vocalist. I just cant’ wait for people to hear this album. Even though I have four albums, this right here to me is my first. It’s almost like I’ve finally arrived.” Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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