Joss Stone Interview

Soul Diva Joss Stone first achieved success at the tender age of 14 with her massive voice. She sounded like a tortured siren from the Deep South rather than an angelic Devon teenager.

Soon enough she released her first album of covers The Soul Sessions which included the White Stripes approved Fell In Love With A Boy. For her second album Joss co-wrote the songs and won two Brit awards for her work in 2005.

However the star- who at the age of twenty has sold 7 Million- records-told MTV she was never completely happy with earlier work. I actually refused to sing the tracks I didnt like. If Im gonna go out and sing a song I dont like it how am I gonna do my job properly?

But she feels happy about her most recent album Introducing Joss Stone: Im usually quite critical but this time Ive had a chance to create something without people telling me what to do.

I did what I wanted which was refreshing. I feel like its better because every single note is something I enjoy listening to, Joss explained.

Its clear the young star feels burnt by former advisors and the press. In February she was widely ridiculed after appearing at The Brits. On stage she spoke in an American accent and sang lines from Amy Winehouses Rehab to send love to Robbie Williams.

But shes typically unapologetic about the performance: In a way I wasnt surprised. Ive learnt that the W**ker newspapers dont build you up to be nice they do it to knock you down so theres nothing I can do.

They (the label) said dont do anything in the UK because everybody hates you, Stone revealed to MTV. I wasnt allowed to speak but Im totally not shutting up any time soon- I never have and never will.

Given the hostility from the press we asked if being successful in Britain was still important to Joss: It is because its my home, she said but on the other hand if I dont have success I can come home and not get followed around.

The purple haired singer- famed for being barefoot on stage- has collaborated with rapper Common on her rather great new single Tell Me What Were Gonna Do Now.

Its about finding your first love, she told us. Common is a very cool guy so its nice to be involved with him. Working with Lauryn Hill on the new album was amazing too.

When MTV asked what advice Joss would give to her younger self the star was candid- given her public falling out with ex-boyfriend Beau Dozier and producer Dallas Austin:

Id say stay away from this guy and that guy. Its a painful process to figure out who to love and trust. People want certain things but I didnt think that they had agendas. Its shocking but you have to move on.

Tom Thorogood

Tell Me What Were Gonna Do Now is out July 23 (Relentless)