Instruction
by Jax Jones (featuring Demi Lovato)

Album: Snacks (2017)
Charted: 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jax Jones' follow-up to his hit single "You Don't Know Me," this is a samba-infused dance hall anthem with booming drums and Brazilian carnival rhythms.

    "My feel when I made the tune was it might be too bombastic for people, like too loud, but I'm hoping everyone from the 50-year-old guy riding through the highways on his Harley, down to the 16-year-old just grooving in her bedroom, can feel this," Jones admitted to Billboard magazine. "It's my take on what's going on out there on radio... You've got the dancehall influence everywhere, so I'm thinking, 'How can I explore that within dance music at my tempo?' which is a lot faster than what's on radio at the moment."

    "My job as a DJ and a producer is just to have a big encyclopaedia in my head," Jones added. "If I'm gonna make a dancehall record, I'm gonna reference the best dancehall that I know -- even if it might just be super underground, but I know it's quality. I see that a lot, across people like Drake and even Justin Bieber. I can hear the reference that they're doing, and it's insane, because it's always inspired. It means I can listen to something that's 30 years old and find something in it that I can maybe bring up to date, or just introduce to newer audiences."
  • Jones wrote the song with his fellow London producer MNEK whose other credits include Little Mix's "Wings", Duke Dumont's "Need U (100%)" and his own collaboration with Zara Larsson, "Never Forget You." "I knew it was going to be lit the minute I played it to him, and he was just like, 'Oh yeah, I know what to do,'" Jones recalled.
  • The track features guest appearances from American singer Demi Lovato and UK rapper Stefflon Don. "I'm just trying to push the listener's ears as much as possible," Jones said. "Demi Lovato being on a record with Stefflon Don is not something you can just make up. It sounds weird, and to me, that's exciting. I want to keep doing that. I look up to people like Disclosure and Diplo - if I could find myself at 50 percent of what they achieved, then I'll be happy."
  • The song was Demi Lovato's second featured vocal spot on a dance track in 2017, following her hook-up with the Los Angeles DJ trio Cheat Codes for the single "No Promises."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.