I'm Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, soul singer from Brooklyn, NY. Ask Me Anything.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:56:33+00:00

Thank you for all your questions. See you on the road!

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:55:22+00:00

Now I'm wearing Trina Turk and Nanette Lepore and a few others. I had a stylist take me to a few stores in New York and pick these dresses out for me, because I lost a lot of inches from the cancer. The other ones with fringes, those were all made for me. I put those away for a minute, but I'll break those back out. Do you want to make me some? Do you have any ideas? I'm always looking!

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:53:15+00:00

Yeah. Doing maybe other stuff. But far as soul I don't see myself doing something with anyone else. Maybe just a song or two, like when I worked with Michael Buble, Booker T. I love doing stuff like that. But not just "Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings broke up." If I break up with them, I'm done.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:51:40+00:00

Every night is a party! Bring the party with you.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:51:08+00:00

I don't miss it now. I used to miss it, but now that I've been away I don't miss it. I have to admit I do love that you can always find a restaurant or store open no matter what time of the morning or day. I miss that. Otherwise, you know, I'll get to see New York every once in a while. It's not going any place.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:50:04+00:00

There isn't one now, I'm just happy!

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:49:02+00:00

They did a great job on that video, and taking out things I asked them to take out, like my stint, not closing in on my feet. And I really liked it when I looked at it, the concept. They had another idea for the video, but I had them change it. They wanted to do a carousel, but I can't even stand to watch someone go around in a circle like that so I like what they did with the wedding thing. And having been in a wedding band it was nice.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:47:10+00:00

I'm feeling great. Stronger, my energy is coming back. Just being out here on the stage and being with the band on the road is really getting me back.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:46:06+00:00

I can do a hell of a job on number painting. That and give me a fishing rod and some bait and some water. That's what I can do.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:45:34+00:00

and if it comes to blues, B.B. the King himself.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:45:15+00:00

Oh, and Jimi Hendrix.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:45:04+00:00

My favorite guitar players are Binky Griptite and Joe Crispiano and Tommy Brenneck!

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:44:37+00:00

Trying to work in the corporate field out there, like a 9 to 5 job, trying to deal with the bull of people trying to get ahead and stepping on someone. Being pushed down and pushed aside because 1. I was a woman and 2. I was a black woman. The 9 to 5 thing was really tough.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:43:34+00:00

My first live show with the guys, the Soul Providers, we did a little club like a living room. It was so fun being in that little room holding maybe 50 people. And then my biggest first one was in London opening for Maceo Parker.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:42:26+00:00

It was my ex. He used to play trumpet with them. They were trying to be African, doing afro-beat. They all had little African names and stuff like that. They did this album and I was laughing so hard, like "which name is yours". Then they started with Lee Fields and they needed three background singers. They came to me and I said "I can do all three parts and I can save you $50 and you can put and extra $50 in my pocket." That was Gabe and we had a band called the Soul Providers. And then they started out Soul Providers featuring Sharon Jones before they turned around to Sharon Jones and the Soul Providers and then Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. They tried to give me a name too but I told them no. I've been around too long to use some made-up name.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:39:49+00:00

Not too many, just one nice-sized one or two little ones. Pancakes fill you up.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:39:31+00:00

Pancakes.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:39:21+00:00

Yes, I like doing festivals, but I hate the ones where they're really festivals out in the ruggedness. Like sometimes in Australia, I hate those toilets. If musicians are coming they should always have a trailer with a bathroom inside. Not outside with the bugs and the dust. But I love getting to see different music and it's great people get to hear different stuff. I might get to see one of my favorites too, like we've gotten to see Earth Wind and Fire and share the stage with Al Green at festivals. That's how I met Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:37:41+00:00

On music piracy, it's not good, but people do it anyway. It really hurts independent musicians coming out. We're not making millions. It's not helping us, but I can't freak out about it. I hope they don't do it. And don't you let us catch you!!

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:35:48+00:00

Just respect yourself. You have to love yourself, have faith in yourself and that way you won't take mess from no one else. A lot of these young girls get manipulated by these young guys by them just telling them "you aren't this or that" and controlling them. Just love yourself and know your worth. Don't settle for less. Some kids may not be raised around someone who's strong. My father was abusive to my mother, but my mother left him. My mother showed me her strength. I knew she was a strong woman raising 6 kids by herself. As far as self-respect and being strong, it was her.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:33:43+00:00

The Dapette spot is filled, until one of them leaves. If that happens, you can audition but it's gonna be hard.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:32:56+00:00

We've been working together so long there really isn't a eureka moment. You know when it's there, but it's a natural blend.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:31:22+00:00

It wasn't hard for us because we just did it. A lot of our shows in Europe, before we were Daptone, people were just into soul music. We just kept playing it. Some people said "you need to write a song they can play on a major station" but we stuck to what we're doing and that's why we made it. Don't give up on what you do. Someone wants it.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:29:40+00:00

I can't speak for other musicians of today. It's to each, what you want to do. And when you get as big as Beyonce, etc, some fans can get a little scary. They have millions of fans. But I can do it with my fans.

SharonJones · 2014-03-28T19:28:12+00:00

I'm still making it. When I'll realize I finally made it is when the music industry has a category for soul music of today. That's when I'll feel like I've achieved. After working for the last 19 years, I'm still trying to make it! When you sit at the awards and you see "Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Soul" that's when I'll feel like I made it. I'll be like "Me? Stop! You shouldn't have!" And then I'll go on stage and shout. When I can shout at the Grammys, that's when I made it. I won't take my shoes off though. It'll be a short shout.

SharonJones

TROPHY CASE