"We've been writing for about two years," Jones said of the song released under the band name NI/CO.
"We finally have a body of work we can release."
NI/CO’s name is derived from the first letters of his first name and the last letters of hers.
The Nashville-based sweethearts, who met during their days at Belmont University, have another song featured in TV and Facebook promos for NBC’s “Today” show.
Jones’ vocals come through in one of multiple versions of the song published under the name CO.DA ( the first letters of Colton and Dani).
Jones explained that CO.DA is an alter ego for NI/CO, a pop band that leans toward R&B.
Like Marvin Gaye's "What Going On," Jones, the son of Cox Media Group Ohio Digital Manager Mary Irby-Jones, said NI/CO's version has a message.
“We don’t want to be over political, but we do want to give out a message that everybody wants love,” he said. “Everybody just wants the same thing and they want to be loved and accepted.”
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The first of six videos leading up to the song’s release was posted to social media June 8. The last was released Friday, July 13, to coincide with the NI/CO’s release of What’s Going On.”
The song is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
Other singles will be released.
Brillhart, a native of the Atlanta area, said “What’s Going On” is a very personal project.
“The videos subtly reference co-dependence, trauma and racial isolation while leaving room for individual interpretation,” she said in a statement.
The song already has been featured on Spotify playlists, including New Music Friday Denmark, New Music Friday Iceland and De Nye, a “hits of tomorrow” playlist for Spotify in Denmark.
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Jones grew up singing in church and got an early intro to the music industry as a member of Kettering Fairmont's Eleventh Hour student a capella choir that appeared on NBC's "The Sing-Off" in 2010.
Credit: Submitted
Credit: Submitted
He graduated from the high school in 2012.
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Jones says it’s a small world and he enjoys being part of it as both as a writer and a performer.
He and Brillhart said they fill in each other’s gaps creatively.
“It’s made us closer,” Brillhart said. “We just compliment each other well as people.”
Credit: Submitted
Credit: Submitted
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