Dao Jones
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Music
Press
Up-and-coming emcee Dao Jones has joined forces with DJBooth.net to bring fans his latest street release, the Cole King EP.
Taking its title from the artist’s own birth name, in which we find juxtaposed the commonplace substance of “charcoal” and the loftiest position in royalty, the project gives listeners a glimpse into the life of a young artist growing into his own, struggling to find balance between haughtiness and humility. Included among its nine original cuts are reader-acclaimed, Booth-premiered leaks “Japan” and “Mr. October.”
All tracks are produced by Dao Jones, with Frank Drake assisting on “Oprah” and “You Can Hate.” The sole guest appearance comes courtesy of Brooklyn buzzmaker and Booth regular The Incomparable Shakespeare. - DJBooth.net
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Tradition and originality are two traits that can be found on opposite ends of the modern human spectrum. Traditions are handed down for years, they're safe; we know they work. Being original requires bravery, and an immense amount of creativity. Both are admirable traits to possess, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone that balances them evenly.
Meet Dao Jones. Born Cole Charbonneau to parents Peter and Sally, Dao was fortunate enough to have grown up in the historic city of Saratoga Springs located in Upstate New York. Peter owned his own roofing company, while Sally stayed at home juggling Dao and his brother and three sisters. Traditional values such as hard work, humbleness and proper grammar were instilled in them at a young age. They were also taught to think outside the box. While Dao and his brother grew up eating, breathing and sleeping soccer and other sports, the girls in the family were all taking piano lessons and dance classes. But there was a creative bone in each of the 5 kids. Dao developed an early infatuation for hip-hop and occasionally wrote his own verses just for fun. It wasn't until 8th grade when he started showing people these verses, which to their collective surprise, were actually pretty damn good. He taped these verses and freestyles with his friends on a karaoke machine in his basement until his family got their first iMac. Thus spawning a new era in his life.
Dao started discovering recording and production software, bought his first microphone and keyboard and began independently creating his own original work in 2004. He wrote songs about everything from his high school to his neighborhood, from girls to sports, from party songs to socially conscious songs and everywhere in between. He was starting to fall in love with music and the process of creating it. He, along with his younger brother (producer Frank Drake) seemed to be naturals. Blame it on their father, who also wrote and played his own original music on his grand piano every night.
Over the years, Dao has developed his sound and musical identity while gaining respect along the way. He still carries the traditional values that he learned growing up in his five-kid home in Saratoga Springs, New York, and he uses them as an anchor at each stop he makes in this rapidly changing world.
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