Based between New York City and San Francisco, and known for blending raw vulnerability with powerhouse vocals, Jolene captures the emotional highs and lows of growing up, letting go, and finding your way back to yourself. With over 300K streams across platforms, Jolene has cultivated a devoted following, that are drawn to her honest storytelling and genre-bending sound. She has performed and headlined sold-out shows at iconic venues including Café Du Nord and Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco, with additional performances across Los Angeles and New York City, and has appeared at several Bay Area festivals. In January 2026, she will return to Brick & Mortar Music Hall to headline once again—ushering in her bold new JOJO era…
The important lyrical theme that threads through ‘Emotional Damage’…
Jolene describes the crucial origin of her incredibly catchy new single, revealing how “I stayed home for safety during the pandemic and spent a lot of time chatting with my amazing business professor during his office hours. We bonded over our love of music, and one day he encouraged me to send him a demo — even if it was unfinished. I sent him my first song, ‘Balloon‘, and he loved it so much that he shared it with his son Ryan, who’s now been my co-writer and producer for the past four years. Fast forward to this new single, Ryan sent me an incredible beat called ‘Emotional Damage’, which he made with me in mind. We had been through a rough time and we wanted to channel that shared feeling of heartbreak and frustration. I was in my ‘breakup song era’—not just from romantic relationships, but from toxic friendships and people who made me doubt myself. The pre-chorus came to me when I thought about how anxious I used to feel seeing certain names pop up on my phone ‘When your name pops up on my phone, I turn to stone.’ And the line ‘They tell me get out of your tempo, but it’s not so simple, caught in your rhythm’ captured how hard it is to break free when you’re still emotionally tied to someone who’s hurt you.”
This song marks a real, tonal and creative shift for Jolene, as it’s not just about sadness or self-doubt anymore, ‘Emotional Damage’ really digs into anger, power, and reclaiming a voice. Jolene elaborates on this artist evolution, detailing how “That’s where my alter ego, JOJO, was born: she’s the version of me who doesn’t apologize for being mad, who stands up for herself unapologetically. ‘Emotional Damage’ is for the guy who told me he didn’t believe in me, made me question my worth, then left me when I needed support the most. It’s for the girl who said I wasn’t capable of being a leader. For the people who thought it was okay to degrade me—for how I look, my music, or my work. For everyone who made me doubt my worth. And honestly, it’s for anyone who’s ever walked out of a conversation replaying what they should’ve said”, ‘Emotional Damage’ celebrates taking your power back…
“You’re allowed to be mad, to set boundaries, and you’re allowed to be strong!”
‘Emotional Damage’ is an infectiously upbeat single that harnesses an incredibly important lyrical theme, and it is available right now!