The story of Cinderella

Joss Stone’s story of life resembles the fairytale about Cinderella. Only yesterday she was unknown ordinary schoolchild from the English province and now her name is in one line with the acknowledged stars of soul culture. She grew up listening to a wide variety of music, including R&B and soul music performed by such artists as Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin; as a result, she developed a soulful style of singing like her idols. Joss Stone was just 16 when she emerged on the pop/rock scene in 2003. Ready to take on the pop domination of Britney and Christina with a sound wise beyond her teenage years, Stone positioned herself among the more established and credible artists (Norah Jones, Jill Scott) reigning adult alternative pop/rock. The combination of naivety and wise philosophical attitude to life helped Joss Stone to conquer the listeners and critics’ hearts, who got tired with the uniformity of the stars. Since releasing her debut album The Soul Session hardly had passed even half a year, when the young singer was named “the future of the soul”. She was invited by Elton John to make the duet with him and the English band Simply Red wanted to see her as a partner during their American tour. And, it was only the beginning…

Introducing Joss Stone: “a very intimate album”

Now is a time when a young diva Joss Stone wants to break free of the limits, shackles and declare herself as a career-controlling woman. So, the 19-year-old singer released her third album Introducing Joss Stone. Stone depicts her new work as “a very intimate album”. "That's why I'm calling it Introducing Joss Stone. These are my words, and this is who I am as an artist". Previously, the singer always resorted to the help of co-writers, and sometimes she was singing the other’s compositions. New album from the British star is marked by the guest collaboration of the sudden personages. First of all, it is the ex-footballer (nowadays he is an actor) Vinnie Jones, who can be heard on the opener of the disc, Change (Vinnie Jones Intro). In the releasing of this record also took part the rapper Common (Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now (Feat. Common)) and the vocalist of the group Fugees Lauryn Hill. The composition Music (Feat. Lauryn Hill) is a refined dreary song until Lauryn turns up to renew the rhythm and to add the piquant to it. Songs like summery Girl They Won’t Believe It and the first single Tell Me ‘Bout It hover between eras, neither the previous century nor the melodies from the modern stars. Introducing Joss Stone has the sound of an artist who is beginning to go places, not of one coming from somewhere or standing still. Perhaps the best thing about this "new" Joss Stone is that she perfectly combines past, present and future of her musical career in one good album.

Creative and emotional changes of Joss Stone

A success story from the start in her home country of England and to some extent on the U.S. R&B charts (her last album even hit #11 on the pop chart), teenage soul sensation Joss Stone has set her sights on coming out anew for her third release Introducing Joss Stone. Not that she has to start anew, but she becomes more skillful and grown-up in comparison with her last work Mind, Body & Soul, which brought the singer British Music Awards and Grammy nominations. Many critics describe Stone’s new album as "an electrifying mix of warm vintage soul, '70s-style R&B, and the modern quick-moving melodies, which are hearing everywhere”. Having listened to this work, we can say that it's extremely qualitative album that values vocal talent and production prowess of the helpers with equal measure - and, for the most part, it succeeds. Although Stone’s only 19, Introducing Joss Stoneis a sincere effort that shows that she has the goods to be a major player in the world of “real” R&B as she ages.

31.03.2007