Soul is the most vital, yet indefinable, ingredient in pop music.
You can have the drums,the guitars, the horns and the voice – but if it ain’t got soul then it ain’t worth a dime. Emerging from New York, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings most definitely have soul.
A veteran singer, Sharon Jones initially missed her chance. However within the hot house environment of the Dap Tone label the soul diva flowered, with her gutsy voice backed by lusting horns.
The band’s latest album ‘I Learned The Hard Way’ is their most successful to date. Storming into the Stateside charts, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings have established themselves as a band out of time.
Concessions towards modern pop are not for them. Recording on vintage equipment, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings have been able to do things on their own terms – winning over countless fans in the process.
Due to return to the UK for a short burst of tour dates, ClashMusic has grabbed a special download ahead of the shows. ‘I Learned The Hard Way’ is the title track of their new album, and suits mornings like a massive mug of coffee and a couple of bagels.
Listen to it now… Grab it HERE.
November
3 London Roundhouse
4 Manchester Ritz
5 Edinburgh Queens Hall
6 Dublin Tripod
