Your Cuppa Jo: Authenticity, Heartbreak, and Island Vibes in Every Beat

Hailing from the vibrant city of Los Angeles, Your Cuppa Jo—real name Jo—brings her soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics straight from “The City of Angels” to the world stage. Born and raised in the entertainment capital of the world, Jo’s roots in music are deep, especially growing up in a Filipino family where music was a constant presence. Whether it was belting out ABBA’s Dancing Queen at family parties or following in the musical footsteps of her three older brothers, Jo always had an affinity for song. This natural talent blossomed further during her four years in high school choir, where she fine-tuned her voice and grew even closer to music.

The Early Influences

Jo’s love for music started young, influenced heavily by her family, especially her brothers. Their tastes in R&B and rap became the soundtrack to her childhood, creating memories that would last a lifetime. One moment that stands out vividly for Jo is riding to school with her father and older brothers, singing along to Mockingbird by Eminem. With a burned CD spinning in the player, Jo’s dad would let her sing the song’s one curse word—a small but memorable moment that captured the bond music created in her family.

Her love for writing came just as naturally. From early crushes to personal stories, Jo found that pouring her feelings onto paper was her way of expressing herself. Whether it was love poems for middle school crushes or song lyrics about heartbreak, writing became her emotional outlet. “I really poured a lot of my feelings out on paper,” she says. And as she’s grown, those early feelings of love and heartbreak have shaped her current music, which she writes with depth, vulnerability, and honesty.

Jhene Aiko & SZA: The Blueprint

Two artists stand out as major influences on Your Cuppa Jo’s sound: Jhene Aiko and SZA. Their honest, emotionally raw lyrics, mixed with a conversational style of delivery, deeply resonate with Jo. “Jhene’s music has helped me through so many heartbreaks,” she admits. Songs like Triggered and B.S. were on repeat during tough times, and their introspective writing helped shape Jo’s approach to her own lyrics. SZA’s unique style of structuring lyrics to sound as though she’s talking directly to the listener also had a profound impact. Jo adopts a similar approach in her songs, aiming to create a conversational yet melodic flow that pulls the listener into her world.


The Birth of a Performer

Jo’s first taste of performing in front of an audience came during her senior year of high school at the talent show. Armed with her ukulele and an original song called Rocketships, she nervously took the stage, unsure of what to expect. But as she began to sing, her nerves melted away, replaced by the sight of her peers holding up their phone lights, swaying in rhythm with her song. It was a moment that shifted her perception of herself as an artist. No longer just “Jo the choir girl” or “Joey’s little sister,” she became Jo with the ukulele—the girl who captivated her audience and won the talent show. This moment solidified her passion for performing and helped her realize the power her music had to connect with others.

Musical Style: Love, Heartbreak, and Growth

Jo writes from the heart, and her songs often reflect her personal experiences with love, heartbreak, and the inevitable growth that follows. Her writing process is fluid, often beginning with a melody in her head and a rough structure for the lyrics, even before finding a beat. “It’s like Play-Doh,” she says, describing how she molds her lyrics to fit the beat, adjusting lines and rhythms to create the perfect balance between words and music. Her music, like her personality, is laid-back and honest, capturing a sense of vulnerability that resonates with her listeners.

Her first released song, Ride or Die, My Paradise, encapsulates everything that Jo stands for: chill West Coast vibes, a breezy love song perfect for driving down the California coast with the windows down. The song exudes California cool and showcases Jo’s ability to create an atmosphere through her music. But beyond the surface-level vibes, there’s always a deeper message in her songs. With lyrics rooted in her own experiences, Jo’s music offers an emotional honesty that invites listeners to reflect on their own love stories, heartbreaks, and personal growth.

Excitement for 10X: Bringing Her Unique Vibe to the Stage

Jo is set to perform at the biggest artist showcase in the world: 10X. For her, this is an exciting opportunity not just to showcase her talent, but to connect with other artists and continue growing in her craft. “I’m excited to present my talent and my love for music in my own way, and just be authentically myself,” she says. Always one to blend her unique mix of R&B, island vibes, and heartfelt lyrics, Jo hints at possibly bringing her ukulele to the stage, adding a fresh twist to the lineup of performances.

This opportunity is more than just a performance for Jo—it’s a chance to share her journey, her growth, and her lessons in love with a wider audience. Her authenticity shines through in everything she does, and she’s passionate about reminding people that they’re not alone in their feelings. “We are in this world to LIVE and LOVE and be our GENUINE selves,” she says, a message that resonates deeply in her music.


Looking Ahead: The Future of Your Cuppa Jo

As Jo continues to hone her craft, she has a vault of unreleased music that she’s eager to share with the world. With each song, she’s building a body of work that tells the story of her life: the love, the heartbreak, and the lessons learned along the way. As she looks to the future, Jo is embracing the process of making music not just as a hobby, but as a career. She wants to inspire others to be their authentic selves and to pour love and energy into their own lives, just as she’s doing with her music.

Whether she’s singing about the highs of love or the painful lessons of heartbreak, Your Cuppa Jo pours her heart into every word. With her unique sound, soulful melodies, and unshakable authenticity, Jo is ready to wake the world up, one song at a time.

So if you’re ever in need of a musical pick-me-up, look no further than Your Cuppa Jo. She’s the artist who can wake you up in the morning or keep you vibing all night long.