Joss Stone at Esplanade Concert Hall

She’s barely 26 but Grammy award winner Joss Stone has participated in more moments of absolute musical wonder than most people can hope for in an entire lifetime. The wunderkind of soul, who at 15 topped global music charts with her worldly, wise-beyond-years trademark vocals, has performed with the likes of James Brown, Gladys Knight, Blondie, and Melissa Etheridge amongst others and collaborated with names such as Mick Jagger and AR Rahman. Stone has sailed the high seas, taken the road less travelled in her decade-long career; and through it all, she has approached her career with a sense of independence and joie de vivre.
Following her record-smashing debut The Soul Sessions in 2003, 2004’s Mind Body & Soul capitalised on its commercial momentum and critical adoration, earning her three Grammy nominations and two Brit Awards (for the self-penned You Had Me). Released in 2007, her third album Introducing Joss Stone further showcased her songwriting abilities, breaking into the US charts at No.2, marking the highest debut ever for a female British solo artist on Billboard charts. The past few years have seen further releases: 2009’s Color Me Free, Joss’ own debut album on her label Stone’d Records, LP1 in2011 and a collaboration project Superheavy featuring Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, AR Rahman, and others.
2012 comes full circle to where it all began. Her follow-up to the stunning multi-million selling debut, The Soul Sessions: Volume 2 is as arresting as ever, an exercise in vocal poise, passion and power that showcases some great songs and an artist at the peak of her vocal powers. Whether she’s dancing barefoot onstage, dyeing her hair various colours or speaking out on issues she’s passionate about, part of what her fans love about her is that she’s a free-spirit, following her own instincts at all times.