Joss Stone: Super Duper | Super Heavy

25 August 2011

by Nathan Jolly

"It was slightly strange, not something I had expected at all. I feel like I am stating the obvious, but I have two choices: I can worry and get upset about these things, or I can find the humour in such a ridiculous situation, laugh, and then pop it into the chapters of my so-far quite interesting life. I’ll take the latter.”

The above may read as the sage action- plan of someone who has, as she puts it, had a ‘so-far quite interesting’ journey. But, rather then referring to a relationship breakdown, a career dive or a public shaming, Joss Stone is discussing a little incident that occurred just over two months ago, in which two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and murder her. The men were found with swords, rope, bodybags and aerial shots of the singer’s house, as well as detailed maps. It’s enough to make the skin crawl, or at the very least, to inspire a B-grade telemovie, but it doesn’t seem to have particularly fazed Stone.

Not that she has time to worry about pesky murderers. Aside from being in the middle of promotional duties for her latest album LP1, which was released towards the end of last month, she has two records coming out on the same day - September 23. The first is with SuperHeavy, a ragtag collective featuring Stone, Mick Jagger, Indian musician A. R. Rahman (best known outside his native country for his Slumdog Millionaire score), Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, and Bob Marley’s youngest son, Damian. Stone became involved in the project through Dave Stewart, who calls the 24-year-old singer from time to time with interesting musical offers. One recent proposal saw Stone “come and jam with him and this great band for a week.” The result of these sessions was the album LP1, written and recorded over six days.

“I met him when I was 17 I think,” Stone explains. “He was producing the Alfie soundtrack and had asked if I would sing a couple songs. Ever since then we have worked on all sorts together.” It’s an unusual relationship, but one that doesn’t take much decision-making on Stone’s behalf. “Obviously, the answer should always be yes,” Stone says of these out-of- the-blue offers.

The second September 23 release with Stone’s name affixed to it is a collection of tracks spanning her S-Curve and Virgin Records catalogue, the slightly-reaching Super Duper Hits. Stone isn’t taking the compilation release (or its title) too seriously, refusing to believe that, at 24 years of age, she has reached the point where a hits collection is necessary.

“Let’s be honest, hits? That’s just EMI trying to find a way to keep from going bust,” she cheekily says of her former label, against whom she launched court proceedings in 2008 regarding her record contract. “Good on them I say, but I think ‘best of’ is a better title.” Her dismissal of the collection may suggest an artist eager to forget her past, but Stone simply chooses not to dwell on it. “I’m not really that critical of the old stuff; sometimes I laugh at it,” she admits. “But what’s done is done. It’s interesting to be able to record the changes I have been going through. I have decided the most fun way to live life is to not worry too much about the outcome.”

This attitude carries through to LP1, in both the breakneck speed at which it was recorded, and her disinterest in whatever feedback the album has received to date. Having been signed since she was 14, Stone is long past the stage where she reads her own reviews. Still, after five million record sales, its a surprise to learn that Stone thought the release would slide underneath the radar. Or perhaps she just felt her job was already complete.

“Truth is, I had a feeling nobody would really notice I had an album at all this time round,” she admits. “But it seems people like it, so this is a good sign. My plan is this: have lots of fun making lots of music, then make sure the world can hear it if they so wish. Then I have done my job. As long as everyone is enjoying the process then we have had a success.”

LP1 is out now | SuperHeavy is out Sept. 23 Super Duper Hits is out September 23