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May 20, 2012

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Stone set for Shanghai gig, barefoot

KNOWN for her deep throaty voice, soulful renditions and barefoot performances, Joss Stone's first concert in Shanghai will feature a big selection of her songs.

The UK singer says she is excited about the concert and the trip.

"I will play a real mix," she says. "There will be some of my old stuff from right back as far as 'The Soul Sessions' and a good dose of my new songs, too. There will also be some classic soul tracks if there is time."

Born in England in 1987, Stone has loved music as long as she can remember. She sang around the house when she was young.

A school play was probably the first time she sang on stage.

"I cannot remember the first time that I wanted to make music exactly, because I was too young," Stone says. "Hearing all those amazing singers like Melissa Etheridge and Anita Baker was quite inspiring, and as a girl inspired I wanted to be part of it somehow."

She left home for New York in 2002 to pursue her dream and had her first album, "The Soul Sessions," released in 2003. She was only 16 at the time.

"The Soul Sessions" is a collection of covers she produced in four days.

The album reached the top 5 in the UK and the top 40 on the US Billboard Chart. Stone followed it with "Mind, Body & Soul," released in 2004, an original collection of songs.

It produced the single "You Had Me," still her most successful single on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2005, she won two Brit Awards and was nominated for three Grammys.

Her other albums include 2007's "Introducing Joss Stone," 2009's "Colour Me Free!" and "LP1," which was released last year.

Critics have said she is a young musician with an "old soul."

She finds inspiration for her music from almost everything, including her dogs, family, friends and other great musicians.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was her earliest inspiration. Stone also wishes that Ottis Redding was still alive so she could record a track with the legend.

Having eclectic tastes, Stone says her music projects are diverse and change as she ages.

"I guess the main part of me that has changed is my voice, while most of the other parts remain the same," she says. "I am a bit taller, my voice is a bit deeper, and hopefully I am also wiser than I used to be."

Stone cannot figure out the exact moment that she knew she had made it. She says it's hard to define as simply hearing her song playing on the radio doesn't make her think that there may be many others out there listening.

"It is measured differently for different people. I feel I have 'made it' if people turn up to the shows, have a lovely time and feel something from the music. Then we have done the job we had set out to do," the singer says.

Though some people have warned her that her feet might get even dirtier on stage in Shanghai, she doesn't seem too fussed about it, adding light-heartedly that she will pack a good bar of soap.

One of her pre-show rituals includes having a good cup of tea. There's no doubt she can get a nice cup of tea here.



Date: May 23, 8pm

Venue: Shanghai Grand Stage

Address: 1111 Caoxi Rd N.

Tickets: 380鈥980 yuan

Tel: 400-620-6006, 3125-6211


 

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