*=LadyLove=*

from her official site [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

This wasn't supposed to be the world's first taste of Joss Stone. We just
got lucky. As Joss was preparing to record what was supposed to be her debut
album, she was introduced to some of the legends whose classic records she
loved: The "Clean Up Woman," Miss Betty Wright, Timmy "Why Can't We Live
Together" Thomas, Willie "Little Beaver" Hale, and Latimore, whose single
"Let's Straighten It Out" still ranks as a peak of sultry '70's soul.

Release dates to be damned, Joss put her own songs on hold in favor of spending some time in the studio with those architects of the Miami Soul sound. From there she ended up in Philadelphia with the masterminds of
contemporary soul and R&B, The Roots. What started out as a side project
grew into an obsession for everyone involved.

Completed in only four days, The Soul Sessions is a collection of classics and little-known soul gems alongside some contemporary tracks re-interpreted by Joss and her titanic band of accomplices. We're unveiling her spine-bending take on "Chokin' Kind" to introduce you to her extraordinary voice, but to see just how far she can push a song, hold your breath until you hear her cover of 'The White Stripes' "Fell In Love With A Boy."

The Soul Sessions will be released on September 16, 2003. While you're soul-deep in that disc, Joss will be back at work writing and recording her "other" first album. Later than we expected, but well worth the delay, that "official" debut CD is due in your stereo by early 2004.

i just [img]smilies/love.gif[/img] Fell In Love With a Boy! [img]smilies/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

[ 03-12-2004: Message edited b.e.b.e ]

*=LadyLove=*

i love this MTV article too!

Adding a twist on the adage "good things come in small packages," opera singer Charlotte Church and classical singer Josh Groban have proven that sometimes old things come in young packages. Now soul singer Joss Stone reinforces that fact.

Stone belts out soul and R&B like a seasoned singer despite her years, which total only 16. And just as surprising, she doesn't hail from Memphis, Philly, Motown or any of the other soul centers, and she wasn't reared solely on the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston or even her U.K. predecessor, Dusty Springfield. Instead, she's from a small parish in East Devon, Britain, where she listened to a steady diet of everything.

"My parents used to play a lot of music around the house," Stone said. "And some of it was soul, some of it wasn't. Some of it was rock, some of it pop."

With pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera blooming all around her, why would a 14-year-old settle on soul music, particularly Franklin's classic "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman," for her first foray into a professional singing career, auditioning for the BBC-TV show "Star For a Night"?

"I kind of clicked into soul more than anything else because of the vocals," the powerfully piped singer explained. "You've got to have good vocals to sing soul music, and I always liked it, ever since I was little."

Soon after Stone passed her audition and eventually performed Donna Summer's "On the Radio" on the show, she made her way to New York, where she auditioned for Steve Greenberg, CEO of S-Curve Records. Credited with discovering Hanson, Greenberg knows young talent when he sees it. "MMMBop" aside, he's also no stranger to the breakout blockbuster, proven by another feather in his cap, the Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out."

"When I first heard her sing, I really couldn't believe that this big, soulful, nuanced, precious, wonderful, knowing voice was coming out of this 14-year-old girl," Greenberg said. "It didn't make sense. I almost thought that she had a little tape recorder in the studio with her and that she was miming along with [the music] because it was so unbelievable."

Quick to capitalize, Greenberg signed her and brought in Miami soul pioneer Betty Wright to sharpen Stone's craft. Wright, who placed 27 songs on the R&B chart, including the 1971 #2 hit "Clean Up Woman," became Stone's mentor and helped elevate her talents to new heights.

"She has a pair of drumsticks that she carries around with her — all the time," Stone recalled. "So every time I'd do something wrong, she'd get her sticks out and threaten me with them. It's really funny. She's crazy like that."

"One thing I noted about Joss," Wright said, "the further I push her, the further she will go. We got rid of the 'can't' word straight away because I ain't having it.

"I carry drumsticks, and yes, you will have to call [social services] because, trust me, I get the knuckles," she joked. "She doesn't say 'can't' anymore."

Neither did Wright and host of Miami soul session players, including guitarist Little Beaver, pianist Benny Latimore and organist Timmy Thomas, when invited to play on Stone's debut LP, The Soul Sessions, an album of covers released September 16.

"It was weird because they've worked with so many great, great singers," Stone said of her backing band. "I'm talking the best. I kind of walked in, just like this little girl, and started singing. I felt a bit weird about the whole thing because, 'Should I be here?' I have no experience, I don't know what I'm doing. But it was cool because they made me feel really comfortable. They're not intimidating at all. They're not pretentious, they're just really nice people."

The talented supporting cast doesn't stop there. Neo-soul singer Angie Stone and the Roots also lend a hand on, of all things, the White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl," retitled "Fell in Love With a Boy."

"When I first heard it, I was like, 'I don't know how this is going to be soulful,' " Stone said. "But then Betty put down the scratch vocal, and the Roots kind of messed it up a little bit, which sounded really cool."

"She's really like an oxymoron," Wright said. "She's young but she's old. She could go pop but she's definitely soulful. She has a soul base."

pix:





[ 03-12-2004: Message edited b.e.b.e ]

golden_dust

Thanks for the articles! I hope everyone will go listen to some snippets if they have never heard of her and buy the CD (It's pretty cheap by CD standard prices.) Even Tom Cruise is pimping her CD on talk shows.

Love Joss- I heard about her through a small MTV snippet and got her album after seeing her on some morning show. Her voice is amazing and she brings new life to those songs. My favorites on her album are of course "Fell In Love With A Boy" (I had no idea she was gonna release it and I put it on a CD for all of my friends and they are now hooked), "Dont Be A Victim Of A Foolish Heart" and "I've Fallen In Love With You."

She collaborated with so many amazing artists on this album and did it right here in Philly (I'm from the area) and I really loved seeing Questlove from The Roots and Angie Stone as a contributers.

I hope she releases her new album soon, I am looking forward to it!

Mariael311

[img]smilies/lol.gif[/img] You beat me! i was going to open a thread! I'm glad I'm not the only fan! i finally cave and bought her cd and it so good! I love her voice!

J@NeY

Hey [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img]

My friend sent me a MP3 of "Fell in love with a boy" and I was like Damn that girl is hot. I think her voice is amazing and the song is so catchy. And I really like it.

Dixie1903

I really love joss stone. I loved feel in love with a boy I need to go pick this cd up. just been broke.

*=LadyLove=*

glad to see the other Joss fans here [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img]

always2nl

WOW A Joss thread! Yeah! I'm really glad, i really love her style, but almost no-one knows here [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] So I can't talk with anyone about here. But now i can [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Thanks for the articles and the pics!

aree

brilliant artist!

*=LadyLove=*

another MTV article [img]smilies/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Milt Palacio

She's a hottie. Can't believe she's only 16, looks a lot older.

always2nl

Aguilera Eyes Stone Collaboration
[Singapore - 12 April 2004]

Pop diva Christina Aguilera is desperate to record with British soul sensation Joss Stone - because she's in awe of the teenager's incredible voice.

According to sources close to the singer, Christina is desperate to record a duet with the singer, whose overwhelmed to have such a high-profile fan.

A source says, "Christina's gone absolutely mad for this girl. She loves her voice and all she's talking about is singing with her. She's called Joss a couple of times already and Joss is as excited about it too." (WENN)

Source: Soundbuzz.com

The Daywalker

I think a Chris/Joss collab would be awesome.

Dwen

Holy crap I love this girl's album! How can she be younger than me! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

Intel

I really want to get The Soul Sessions, the songs I've heard so far are brill