'Nostalgic for bad times': Franklin Jonas, 22, unveils debut single 'Cocaine' inspired by his battle with addiction
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The youngest of Jonas brothers, Franklin, has now registered his name in the music arena. The former child actor released his single debut ‘Cocaine’ on Tuesday, February 7, which is a psychedelic-influenced alternative track. "Cocaine is about longing for the coping mechanisms you don't have or can't do anymore," said the 22-year-old in a press release.
Franklin adds, "It's the point where you become nostalgic for the bad times because even the bad times had good distractions." The song co-written and produced by Charlie Brand is released with a music video where Jonas can be seen exploring nature while driving through the country roads. The press release reveals that ‘Bonus Jonas,’ as he’s popularly known, started making beats and learning to produce music during his college days.
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Encouraged by his fellow musician and roommate Clint Michigan to devote more attention to music, Franklin began writing and releasing songs. The talented artist also studied audio engineering with John McBride. Franklin had earlier sung with fellow superstar sibling Noah Cyrus for ‘Ponyo On the Cliff By the Sea.’ They both also featured in the 2019 movie ‘Ponyo’. He talked in length about his struggle with drug addiction and suicidal thoughts in a TikTok video back in March 2021
'Something intervened, and my life was saved'
"This is by no means the eloquent explanation I hope to give on a much more serious mode than this. However from a very young age I struggled with drinking and drugging as an escape because I hated life, and I didn't want to be here," Franklin said. While responding to a question from a fan on addiction, he said, "I eventually, after many years of trying to kill myself accidentally, came to a point where I was going to do it for real." He continued, "Something intervened, and my life was saved. I went to treatment, and it saved me. I couldn't be more grateful for the fact that I'm alive today because my world has changed so beautifully and so astronomically, and I am not that person anymore. I couldn't be more grateful that I'm alive and happy."
'I am a sober drug addict'
Answering another question from a fan on imposter syndrome, Franklin responded, “I am a sober drug addict who goes to Columbia University now. I don't belong there! It's okay that I feel that, but it doesn't make me less than anyone else, it doesn't make me more than anyone else. It's also good to understand that imposter syndrome can sometimes lead to a messiah complex, and that's not good either. But it's okay to be in the middle.”