For The People

It's December 23 when we get Sharon Jones on the phone, but it's safe to say this might not be the most pleasant Christmas for the 57-year-old soul singer. While a new record from her group Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Give The People What They Want, is ready for release, she sits in a medical centre in upstate New York awaiting her penultimate chemotherapy treatment. “Next Tuesday, New Year's Eve, that's my final treatment,” she says stoically.

Early last year the music world was saddened to hear the incredible Jones had been struck down by bile duct cancer, a condition that would require intense treatment and, as such, would set back the long-awaited new record. While she laments the loss of her hair and nails and the changing of her body, Jones isn't going to hide; the band has shows booked from February and as long as she's physically capable of being onstage, Jones will be there.

“I want the fans to see what I'm going through,” she says. “This is the first time I've been off the stage for so long; this is the longest I've ever been down and out. So I'm ready to get back out there, even though physically right now I'm not ready. I don't want to wait until my hair grows back, until I look like [I used to] – I just want to get back out there. Once my body gets strong enough then that's what I wanna do.”

There's no false bravado here; Jones makes it clear she is scared. “It's scary, it's a little nerve-wracking. I haven't performed in such a long time and I'm weak and not able to work out and build my muscles and lungs back up; but I'll be able to do that after the 31st. I will start singing probably next week, and then get back on the treadmill – running and singing and getting the air back in my lungs.”

While her return to the stage is not far away, she's maintaining patience and focusing on becoming well before worrying herself too much with her music. “I have to let one thing go. I can't concentrate on my music when I'm sick and taking this medicine and feeling how I feel. But once this medicine is out of me and my body starts coming back then I can concentrate on my music. They took my gallbladder out, the head of my pancreas is gone, a foot and a half of my small intestine…”

The usually highly energetic, sharply dressed Jones is conscious she'll be returning without some trademarks of her onstage appearance, another scary thought. “For one thing me not having hair… it's part of my character and part of what I do on stage. And my dresses; I'm starting out this year without those. I'm a little nervous, I have to admit. I'm very nervous. But in my heart and my faith, I believe God has blessed me and gotten me through this and I don't think he's gonna leave me now. I don't know what's gonna happen until I get out there and do it.”

A documentary film crew have been following Jones through the year as she's battled with the cancer and she's hoping she can give strength to those in a similar situation. “Cabin Creek Films are doing a documentary on me – VH1 is behind it – they've been following me for the last few months. They're gonna be filming my last chemo treatment on New Year's Eve and after the Beacon [the Dap Kings return to New York's Beacon Theatre in early February] show they're going to try and get the film out during the [US] summer.

“They caught me when my hair was falling out, when I went to the barber shop and got it cut off and I'm crying; they got it all… There's so much stuff they've got of me so I have no idea how they're gonna portray it. I've gotta leave it up to them now.”

It's all in the interest of keeping her fans and those in a similar situation aware of what she's going through.

“That's why I chose not to hide out for a-year-and-a-half and then when I come back people are like 'look at her, she doesn't look like she was sick' – I'm just not that kind of person.”

The band are adored by Australian audiences and Jones promises that Australia is already on her calendar as a tour destination in 2014.

“Oh shoot yeah, we got you man!” she exclaims when asked. “We're gonna be coming out there in Fall – it's right here in my calendar – it'll be our summer or your fall or something like that. You're definitely in the calendar.”