Trevor Jackson just might be the perfect boyfriend. He’s a movie and TV star, musician, and budding style icon. He’s also back as the dreamily woke Aaron Jackson on Season 2 of Grownish (that just got picked up for Season 3!) and has a new album coming out. When he’s not taking over the small screen you can catch him surfing in California. His current relationship is with the ocean, he says. The star visited ELLE.com just in time for Valentine’s Day to chat best pick-up lines, curate a playlist to jam to tonight, and actually become The Perfect Boyfriend.
Watch the video above to hear Jackson whisper sweet nothings, aka further discuss AOC’s self-care Instagrams, and read below to see if you might just be his perfect girlfriend.
Grownish Season 2 is back! And you have new music coming out soon. Can you let all our readers know what’s going on in your world?
I’m currently working on the release of an album that should be released sometime around April. I just did a remix called Crazy Love, the first single to my album Warning. I’m going to focus on that and I’m also producing some film projects right now. We also got picked up for season three of Grownish so we are excited about that and I’m really just trying to stay focused.
How similar are you to your character, how different are you?
I’m similar in the way that we’re both very ambitious and we don’t like to take “no” for a answer. We just get it done and we want it to be great. I just think that we’re in different fields of the world. He’s very political and I would much rather go on tour and make a song.
Do you think that Grown-ish offers a good example of the modern dating world?
I think the representation is super duper important. I think the one thing that people struggle with is feeling alone. It can feel like you’re the only person going through something but the show provides comfort that it’s not the case. I think kids today need that. To answer your question, yes, I think it is an accurate depiction of dating and I think it’s an accurate depiction of issues that we all have as we grow up.
Do you think you’re the perfect boyfriend?
You can be the perfect boyfriend but to the wrong person and then it just doesn’t work out. You can only be perfect for the person you’re supposed to be with. I would be the perfect boyfriend to the perfect girlfriend. Do you know what I mean? You can be the perfect boyfriend but to the wrong person and then it just doesn’t work out. You can only be perfect for the person you’re supposed to be with.
Describe your dream girl?
They have to be adventurous. They have to be confident but not cocky. They have to love music and I think just a nurturing spirit.
What’s your dream date?
My dream date would be surfing in the morning, get a little bit of breakfast, chill, maybe go see a movie. After the movies go eat at Santana’s, one of my favorite Italian restaurants. And then I think maybe Netflix and chillin’ it out.
What’s your best pick up line?
I don’t use them but when I do it’s, “Hey is your father a thief because he stole you from Heaven, didn’t he?”
Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day?
Probably be chillin’. Probably going surfing. That’s my relationship at the moment.
What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day memory?
I think the coolest Valentine’s Day was when I was a kid I bought a puppy for someone for Valentine’s Day. That was a pretty cool moment.
What would your character Aaron do for Valentine’s day?
He would definitely take her to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. He would probably cook everything himself or at least try.
Trevor Jackson’s curated Valentine’s Day playlist
Jessie Powell – “You”Brian McKnight – “Crazy Love”Joe – “I Wanna Know”Rihanna – “Kiss It Better”Pleasure P – “Under”Prince – “Beautiful Ones”Ready For The World – “Love You Down”Ginuwine – “Differences”
