When success comes to you later in life, it is no doubt more satisfying than overnight stardom, but for Sharon Jones it's obvious that the long journey to become the modern-day reigning Queen of Soul will never leave her. Jones and her band, The Dap-Kings, are about to return to Australia to play several gigs over New Year's supporting their album, I Learned The Hard Way, which they've been touring for the past two years. Much has been made of the band, their sound and how they record. Many credit them with being responsible for the last decade's soul obsession. The Dap-Kings played on Amy Winehouse's Back To Black and most recently with Muse. When you record stripped back on analogue equipment and play as many live gigs as these musicians do, there is nowhere to hide and as the front woman, Jones comes across as a perfectionist who does not suffer fools. “I am who I am and I do what I do,” she says.
This year alone they've toured Europe and North America, played multiple festivals, appeared on several American television shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live during Hurricane Sandy (which left them stranded at an airport for almost 24 hours) and now they've got dates right around our sunburnt country. Despite this incredible workload, the first concern Jones has for the tour is her sound.
“It's been two and a half years of touring this album really,” she says. “It's a long time but it's okay, we've been doing it for 18 years now, but it is harder on me when you go somewhere like Australia without your own crew.” Jones says she has seen footage of herself performing during their 2010 Australian tour and didn't like what she saw.
“I saw film of me, I'll never forget it. I was so embarrassed because I kept saying, please get my sound right. The audience doesn't know, they think I sound okay, why is she complaining? They don't know that in my ear I can't hear myself and then I can't sing.”
There is definitely a feeling that after years of trying to make it, Jones cares little about what people think of her and much more about making music which is true to her, the band and the independent label that she refers to her as her family. Daptone Records formed in 2000 and two years later released Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' debut, Dap Dippin', to critical acclaim. It came after Jones worked in jails to pay the bills and faced the likelihood that music would never be her day job.
She is proud of the fact that the “family” have stuck by each other despite soul becoming so commercial at the beginning of the decade. “Some people think we've been around four or five years and don't know about us but every risk we took has paid off,” Jones continues. “Staying independent, not going commercial, not letting anyone buy us out, just doing soul music and saying, 'This is what we are.”
Keeping it real has been important for Jones in appreciating her success. She may talk the talk but she can also walk the walk and is not afraid to share her opinions regarding those in the music industry that flaunt their wealth or try to ride on her coat tails.
“I appreciate that things didn't happen fast for me,” she says. “For 20 years I worked trying to keep a stable job and I had to give that up and take a chance and take gigs which paid $75. Now when people want to come at me I have the right to tell them to step back. If they haven't followed me and my struggle, if they just see me on television and that's the only reason they want to talk to me, I don't need that. I'm not into the paparazzi or fake friends. I'm not a big, flashy person. I used my faith, I took a chance, this is who I am.”
She has also kept her faith in soul music and The Dap-Kings. Many critics have suggested their sound was too old-school and not progressive enough. “Audiences know it is the real music,” she says. “No matter what music you're into it all came from soul. You can call it gospel or R&B, hip hop, but we're keeping it true.” And it is unlikely Jones or The Dap-Kings will be changing their style anytime soon to suit anyone else. “Everyone in this band worked to be here and we've stayed as a family together. This is our livelihood. We're not greedy, that's not what The Dap-Kings are, that's not what we're about.”
Despite her long hard-fought journey, many people would be surprised to learn that Jones is not the band's lyricist. It is a credit to her incredible talent as a performer that she is able to take on the stories as her own through such passionate delivery.
“This music is about telling a story that is part of me,” she says. “I may not write the lyrics, but my job is to tell a story. We don't talk about how many millions we have, the cars we drive or how good we look. I'm just using my gift from God. I'm not competing with young people, I'm keeping it true. This music comes from my heart.”
Many musicians might talk of not wanting to be a self-promoter but will take any opportunity to ensure that their message is heard. Jones is actually the real deal. You can ask her what people will get out of her Australian shows and she is quite clear in her message. “If you haven't heard of us, if you haven't read anything about us but you like soul music then come and check us out. All I'll say is, we just do what we do. It comes from the heart. That's it.”
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings will be playing the following dates:
Saturday 29 December - Tuesday 1 January - Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley NSW
Tuesday 1 January - Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle WA
Wednesday 2 January - Clancy's Fish Pub, Dunsborough WA
Friday 4 January - Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW
Saturday 5 January - The Domain, Sydney NSW
Sunday 6 January - Summmer Of Soul, Mossvale Park, Leongatha VIC
Tuesday 8 January - Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Thursday 10 January - Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
