JoJo on Years of Being Silenced & Living with Mental Illness
This week I got to sit down with a woman whose music was such an important part of my adolescence (and probably yours, too). To this day, I know every word to Baby It’s You, Too Little Too Late, and Leave (Get Out). She starred in Aquamarine -- how much did I love Aquamarine? -- and has the voice of an angel. Yes, no other than JoJo. The ORIGINAL JoJo, that is.
JoJo let me in on why we didn’t hear from her for nearly ten years while she endured a legal battle with her record label that silenced her and prohibited her from releasing new music. We talked about parental mental illness and shared our mutual experience having mental illness play a prominent role in our upbringings. We talked about shame, perfectionism, and the risky behavior and unhealthy relationships she lived through before identifying, seeking help and caring for her mental health.
JoJo was the breadwinner of her family from such a young age - she was just 13 when her first hit single debut as #1 - and we talked about the crippling pressure that came with that. We really went there in our heart to heart and I’m so appreciative of her bravery and willingness to share this part of herself and her past with us.
JoJo is FINALLY able to release new music, and thank god, because this EP is truly a gift. It’s called Trying Not To Think About It and it’s about her experience with anxiety and depression. She talks about the negative, anxious voice in her head (who she calls Burlinda) and has an entire song about the decision to allow herself to go on antidepressants. It’s beautiful, and so important, and everyone should go listen.
References in this episode:
Binaural Beats App
A Time To Heal: The Ramp (Apple Music)
For more about the podcast and to continue our conversation, you can find me: https://www.instagram.com/jadeiovine/
Executive Producer Nick Stumpf
Produced by Catherine Law
Edited and Engineered by Brandon Dickert
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