joss-stone

I’ve been quietly watching Joss Stone battle her record label since last May, around the time when she started to perform “Free Me” live. Understand that this isn’t The Warlocks Vs. Puffy. Joss offered to pay back $1.2 million to EMI in order to be released, claiming the label seemed to be in disarray after being acquired by Terra Firma. And, Stone has three albums & eleven million records sold, all at the young age of twenty-two, so we’ll assume she’s got the fanbase to recoup whatever she might have paid. She’s always pushed her music to be soulful, yet challenging. Like her voice, her statements are bold – reference the “free me, free me, free me, E-M-I…” in the chorus of “Free Me.”

Judging by the first two leaked tracks, her fourth studio album, Colour Me Free, sounds deeper and edgier. All the while, they’re still even more soulful, as Stone keeps the focus on her signature sassy sound by working with stripped down live instrumentation and production. Both tracks work with a funky, defiant tone that leave one anticipating how such a sweet songbird can provide even more spunk. But, she will. Aside from the Nas collabo, Colour Me Free will also feature Jeff Beck and frequent collaborator Raphael Saadiq.

Below, check out a live performance on The Jimmy Kimmel Show as well as the audio for “Governmentalist” featuring Nasir.

Download — Joss Stone – “Free Me”

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Download — Joss Stone Feat. Nas – “Governmentalist” via Y2K