Rashida explains why she avoided a music career despite her love for it and her father’s legacy.
Rashida Jones, the actress known for her roles in Parks and Recreation and The Office, recently shared her thoughts on why she avoided pursuing a career in music despite her deep love for it.
In an episode of the SmartLess podcast, Jones candidly discussed the significant influence her father, Quincy Jones, has had on her life—and why his towering legacy in the music industry made her hesitant to follow in his footsteps.
Quincy Jones, 91, is celebrated as one of the most influential music producers of all time, with 28 Grammy Awards and iconic collaborations with stars like Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson to his name. However, for Rashida, the thought of living up to her father’s immense success was daunting.
“My dad’s a musical genius. That’s like, the last thing I want to do, is try my hand at that,” Rashida, 48, told podcast hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
She went on to explain that while her love for music runs deep, she feels it would be impossible to meet the standard set by her father. “I have a deep ache for music and I just don’t ever feel like I’m good enough to do it. Like I’ll never be good enough to do it, so I just don’t.”
While Rashida didn’t pursue a career in music, she has dabbled in it. She has lent her voice as a backup singer on Maroon 5’s first two albums, Songs About Jane and It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.
Despite these experiences, she remains modest about her musical abilities. “I love it so much and I kind of like, sing for fun,” she said. “I’ve written for fun, and I’ve sung backup on some albums and things like that… I can write [music], my reading is limited.”
Rashida’s admiration for her father is clear, not just in her words but also in her actions. In 2018, she directed the documentary Quincy, which chronicles Quincy Jones’ life and extraordinary career.
The film focuses on capturing the essence of her father’s personality, a side that Rashida feels has often been overshadowed by his professional achievements. “He’s so well-documented, he’s so accomplished, that it’s almost impossible to spend any time storytelling who he is as a person,” she explained.
“You have to cover so much ground with just what he’s contributed to the world and culture… My dad is a beast, and he has cheated death so many times. Ninety-one and still crushing it.”
Though she chose a different path than her father, music remains an integral part of Rashida’s life. Her partner since 2016, Ezra Koenig, is the frontman of the indie rock band Vampire Weekend, and the couple shares a 5-year-old son, Isaiah.
Rashida has spoken openly about their relationship, hinting that marriage may be on the horizon. “I’m sure we’ll get married at some point, but we basically are,” she said in a recent interview with The New Yorker.
While Rashida Jones may have opted not to pursue a music career, her deep respect for the art form, her family’s legacy, and her personal achievements in acting and directing demonstrate that her talents shine brightly in their own right.
