Pop duo including local grad finishes 8th overall in ‘American Song Contest’

A pop duo that includes a local graduate has finished eighth overall in NBC’s “American Song Contest.”

Colton Jones and Dani Brillhart, his partner in life and music, competed in the contest as Ni/Co, a name created from the first two letters of his first name and the last two of hers. They performed a version of their original song “The Difference” for audiences on Monday night.

Alabama's @ni_co_official took us for an emotional rollercoaster with their incredible duet. #AmericanSongContest pic.twitter.com/QEyr8rb4Rj
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) May 10, 2022

The winner was AleXa, a K-pop artist from Oklahoma who NBC said received a “substantial” number of public votes for her song “Wonderland.”

The duo started to gained popularity in 2019 due to their YouTube channel, featuring original songs and unique versions of popular cover songs. Since then, the channel has accumulated tens of millions of views.

ExplorePREVIOUS COVERAGE: Local grad in pop duo competing on NBC’s ‘American Song Contest’

The “American Song Contest” is based on the “Eurovision Song Contest,” with artists representing all 50 U.S. states, five territories and the District of Columbia, competing to win the vote for best original song.

Ni/Co competed representing Alabama, where Jones once lived and went to school. He graduated from Kettering Fairmont High School in 2012.

Jones is the son of Mary Irby-Jones, a former editor with the Dayton Daily News and current Midwest regional editor for USA Today’s regional newspaper network, overseeing Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

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About the Author

Daniel Susco

Daniel Susco is a Dayton-area native and staff writer covering breaking news throughout the greater Dayton area. He holds a journalism degree from Ohio University and began writing for the Dayton Daily News, Hamilton Journal-News, Springfield News-Sun, and Dayton.com in 2019.