Abi F Jones Q and A

BY ALEX ZINOVIEFF
TUESDAY, 25TH MARCH 2014

Inspired by her opera singer mother, Abi F Jones has already had a top 20 in Norway, and had a cut on a Coka Cola advert. These are early days for the Surrey based singer, but the signs are good. So is the music.

By way of an e-introduction by you - for our readers, who are you and how would you describe the kind of music that you make? 

Hello! My name is Abi F Jones. I am a singer/Songwriter from leafy Surrey and I have my debut UK single Burn It Up being released on the 7th April! The kind of music that I make is based on whatever's on my mind! But when I ask people, they say it's a mix between Adele, Ellie Goulding and Kelly Clarkson - but mainly it’s me!

Where have we caught you, and what were you doing before you started to be bombarded with our questions? 

You may have heard me on 'BBC introducing' radio station, they have played my songs a few times on there. Most of my success so far has been in Norway as my album went down very well there and my single made it to number 14 in the Norwegian charts! 

Your debut single ‘Burn It Up’ is set to be released on the 7th April. We have heard it, and think its awesome. We have included a taster of it at the bottom of the page, but how would you describe it, and where did it come form? 

I think it's awesome too! I would describe it as a dark journey with rock and folk elements. I love to mix up my genres. I never want to produce boring music! I wrote it with my amazing producer 'Paul drew'. He da' bomb!

We’ve long felt that pop music went through a ‘bad’ phase but is coming back strongly. Where do you feel pop music is at the moment? 

I feel like people are Getting a bit bored and too clever to be slaves to the disposable pop music that has been bombarding our billboards for the last few years. I am so happy to hear country and folk coming back in! (I'm a hugeeeee Dixie chicks fan)!

If I were to turn on your iPod now, what would be playing?

I have such a huge variety on there but I just turned it on and my man Tupac was playing. Obsessed is the word.

You grew up in a very musical family. Tell us about that…

I have always been singing and inherited my talents from my opera singing mother 'Jayne Whitaker' who has just performed in the fantastic 'la Boheme' at the Royal Albert Hall. My father sings and plays the guitar and sax as well! I had no choice but to be musical! Hahaha! :)

When you’re not doing music things, what do you like to get up to? 

Whilst I'm not in the studio writing and recording I am caring for Alzheimer's and dementia patients for a local care company 'Homeinstead'. It is a very humbling job and I love the feeling of giving back to my community. What goes around comes around. 

Once the single is out, and you’re reaping the plentiful rewards for all the hard work, what will the next step be? 

The next step will to keep ploughing on! I plan to start touring (locally at first) with my amazing band and then revel further afield! But it comes down to this...As long as I am working hard, writing and making people smile I am successful. 

Where will you be in 3 years time? 

In 3 years time I hope to be doing what I'm doing but on a much larger scale y'all!

You can hear Burn It Up here.