by ANDREW WILLIAMS – Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Singer Joss Stone, 21, scored a global hit with her debut album, The Soul Sessions. Her last effort, Introducing Joss Stone, fared less well, due in part to a disastrous appearance at the 2007 Brits where her transatlantic accent was mocked by the media. She is the face of Flake and appears at the soldier-supporting City Salute tomorrow. www.citysalute.org
Why are you doing this event?
It seems like a good thing to do and I do charity events when I can. If I’m in the area and I’m free then why not?
Did you consider a career in the armed forces yourself?
No. I briefly thought about being a vet but I’ve been working as a singer since I was 13. I haven’t had much time to think about doing anything else.
Do you like a man in uniform?
I definitely do. Any uniform will do. Not a McDonald’s uniform though. I think military uniforms are gorgeous.
What are you up to in Britain?
I’m doing a comedy movie called Snappers, about the paparazzi. I play a lesbian red-coat who works on a caravan site. I haven’t found the girl I’m going to kiss. I’m casting it. I’m not going to kiss some random chick.
What are you looking for in a woman?
I don’t know. To be honest I keep looking for a guy. I keep reminding myself I’m supposed to be playing a lesbian. Someone with a nice sense of humour would be good.
What’s your relationship with the paparrazzi like?
If it’s a calm atmosphere they’re generally quite nice to me. It’s the people who write the articles I have to look out for.
You had a lot of bad press last year. Were you bothered?
Yes, I was bothered because it was in Britain, which is my home. Getting bad press is inevitable but there was so much of it. It’s like being at a party and dealing with two different rooms. One room where everyone calls you ugly; the other where they say: ‘It’s great to see you!’
Does that reflect your experience of Britain versus the US?
Forget the US, we’re talking about the rest of the world. I don’t know why people think I spend all my time in the US. Sure, I spend some time there but I’ve got the whole world to cater to. Do you think I’m just chilling in Alabama? I am not.
Was it your transatlantic accent at the Brits that upset everyone?
Probably, yeah, but get ready because it’s coming back (laughs). Everybody’s accent changes. Spend two weeks in Australia and you’ll come back with a twang.
Have you patched up your differences with Russell Brand?
No. He’s a d***head. He looks like a scarecrow and doesn’t seem like a very nice man.
Do you get free Flakes?
Absolutely. That was the most important part of the deal.
What product would you never advertise?
Meat. I’ve been a vegetarian my whole life. I’d advertise a fluorescent pink hair dye. It has to be something I’d use myself. Otherwise you end up with a house full of free s*** you don’t want, which is ridiculous.
So you have never fancied a sausage?
How would I fancy something when I don’t know what it tastes like? I don’t even register it as food, it’s just a dead animal.
You went to Tom Cruise’s house. Were you on his short-list of potential wives?
I don’t know. We got on fine. I don’t know if he had a list of wives, that sounds a bit far-fetched. He didn’t sit me down and tell me to become a Scientologist. We got a takeaway and watched Shrek with his children.
You’re managing yourself these days. How’s that going?
I love it. All you have to do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to things. It’s easy. It’s good to have a manager at the start of your career but it’s silly to give someone 20 per cent of your earnings for making your decisions. They say: ‘Don’t worry about how much you’re earning, what bills you’re paying, who you’re employing, what jobs you’re doing or what you’re going to wear – I’ll decide all that for you.’ If you say you’d like to be involved in those decisions, they just say: ‘You don’t need to know.’ F*** that! Get out of my life you controlling hairy freak! Now I manage myself like any normal person who doesn’t have a singing career.
How did your mother react when you sacked her from being your manager?
She took it well. I didn’t say: ‘Mum – you’re fired.’ I said: ‘Why don’t you be my mother again and I’ll be your daughter?’
You’ve worked with Lauryn Hill. Is she as mad as people say?
I didn’t meet her, she just sent me the track. She is brilliant, though. Those who call her crazy are afraid and ignorant. She’s very intelligent. When she speaks, people should listen. If they’d listen, they’d understand why she’s at where she is. But they don’t. They just say: ‘She’s going off on one again.’ People shut down genius because they’re afraid of the truth. I’ve learned people don’t like the truth. The more honest I am, the more negative people are towards me. We’ll see what happens with Lauryn but I hope she never stops talking.
Source: http://www.Metro.co.uk
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