Cover Joss Stone is set to bring her heartfelt sound to Ombak Festival 2025 (Photo: Thomas Lisle Coe-Brooker/Instagram)
Joss Stone is set to bring her heartfelt sound to Ombak Festival 2025 (Photo: Thomas Lisle Coe-Brooker/Instagram)
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Joss Stone on fearless beginnings, evolving with soul and what she’s bringing to Malaysia’s most anticipated music festival
Few voices in modern music carry the raw power and timeless warmth of Joss Stone. Since her breakthrough with 'The Soul Sessions' in 2003, the Grammy-winning singer has become known for her fearless approach to music. She blends soul with reggae, gospel, funk and more, with such authenticity and heart.
See also: Simply Red, Joss Stone, and more set to perform in Malaysia at Ombak Festival
This September, Stone brings that spirit to Malaysia as part of Ombak Festival 2025. Set against the festival’s celebration of connection, creativity and community, her performance promises both beloved classics and unexpected twists—a journey through her musical world that’s as soulful as it is uplifting. Ahead of the festival, we spoke with Stone to hear about her fearless beginnings, her evolving relationship with soul and what audiences can expect when she takes the stage at Ombak.
You started in the industry at such a young age. How has that shaped your music?
I think starting so young made me a bit fearless, to be honest. I didn’t know enough to be scared yet. 'The Soul Sessions' was just me singing the songs I loved, no big plan, no ego in it—just pure joy. Over the years I’ve learned a lot about writing, producing, and trusting my own instincts. These days, I’m less about chasing perfection and more about capturing a feeling. The process is freer now, less overthinking, more heart.
Soul has always been the core of your music—but you’ve dabbled in reggae, funk, gospel and more. Do you view genre as a boundary or a playground?
Definitely a playground! Music is meant to be played with. I never want to be boxed in—if I feel reggae one day or gospel the next, why not? Soul is the anchor, but I love to travel musically just as much as I do physically.
Looking back at your discography—from The Soul Sessions to Never Forget My Love—is there a project that still feels like your truest voice?
Each one is true to who I was at the time, but Never Forget My Love feels very “me.” It was like coming home—classic soul, love songs, storytelling. But then 'The Soul Sessions' is like my baby, because it’s where it all began. So maybe both for different reasons.
Above Celebrated for her raw, soulful vocals, Joss Stone continues to define authenticity in music (Photo: Joss Stone)
Celebrated for her raw, soulful vocals, Joss Stone continues to define authenticity in music (Photo: Joss Stone)
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What’s something you’ve unlearned recently that’s helped you grow?
That I need to have everything figured out. I’ve unlearned the pressure to control it all. Life is so much better when you let it flow, especially with kids—you’ve just got to laugh when the plan goes out the window.
When you're not making music, where or how do you feel most like yourself?
At home with my kids, in the chaos of family life. Or barefoot in the garden, covered in dirt, chasing the kids around. That’s when I feel the most me—simple, happy, and connected.
How do you stay inspired musically, especially with all the travelling and performing you do?
People inspire me. Every place, every culture, every story I hear—it all feeds the music. Even just sitting in an airport, I’ll hear a rhythm in the background or a conversation that sparks a lyric. Travelling keeps me awake to the world.
You’ve spoken about not being overly attached to fame—how do you stay grounded in such a fast-paced industry?
Fame’s just noise. Real life is what keeps you grounded. My family, my kids, my friends—they don’t care about charts or headlines, they care if I’ve put the kettle on. That’s the stuff that keeps me steady.
Ombak Festival celebrates connection, creativity and community—which feels very aligned with your ethos. How do you hope your music resonates with audiences here?
I hope it feels like a hug. That people walk away lighter than when they came in. Music has this magical way of connecting us, even when we don’t speak the same language. If the crowd feels loved, seen, and lifted—that’s the goal.
What can fans expect from your set at Ombak? Will it be a classic soul showcase, or will you be experimenting with new sounds?
A bit of both! You’ll definitely get the classic soul—because I can’t not sing those songs—but I also like to throw in surprises. I want it to feel like a journey: some old, some new, all with heart.
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As Senior Lifestyle Writer, Aina writes across the lifestyle vertical, covering wellness, travel, arts and entertainment. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she previously worked at CLEO Malaysia, where she headed the lifestyle, culture and entertainment sections.
