ISSUE #28 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Valley m usic u K

tom jones the legendary Welsh heartthrob strips down (musically) for his new set

Tom Jones ready To call iT quiTs? an arrangement, and then go into the studio. How do you stay current? not a chance. “The fire has not gone out,” he and that was it. once the arrangement was i watch talent shows. i’m doing The Voice says, “and to keep that fire burning,i have done, there wasn’t much you could do to now in england, because i love to listen to sing new songs.” Jones, 73, established change it. We did three songs in three to new talent. i’ve been around so long himself in the 1960s and ’70s as a swinging hours because that’s what you had to do. and worked with so many people, i do sex symbol with hits like “What’s new nowadays, you can rent the studio and use have advice to offer, and The Voice is Pussycat?” and “it’s not unusual” before it for as long as you like. it’s a lot easier, a lot a good vehicle that allows me to do returning to the charts with his version of looser. and it’s exciting because you don’t that. and i always want to do new Prince’s “Kiss” in the ’80s and “sex Bomb” know what to expect. things myself. i don’t think you can a decade later. His new album, Spirit in share experience with somebody if you the Room, finds him covering songwriters How were the songs selected? can’t do it yourself. from Paul mccartney and Paul simon to ethan said, “Tell me songwriters you really Bob dylan and Tom Waits. like, those who are interesting to you.” so How do you keep your voice in shape? i started talking about my favorites, like if i feel anything isn’t going properly, What prompted this record? leonard cohen, Paul mccartney and Paul i’ll head straight to the ear, nose and throat i didn’t know what kind of album i wanted to simon. Then there’s Blind Willie Johnson, doctor. and i’ve learned over the years do, so when i met with my producer, ethan which is the blues side of it. so we picked to do things that help: stay hydrated. Johns, he said, “i’d like to do something “soul of a man” from him. and i always liked drink plenty of water. i carry a humidity different. i’d like to get you stripped down. Tom Waits and richard Thompson. We also gauge with me—dry air is a killer for a singer. Tell me what songs you want to do and talked about odetta. We didn’t know much God gave me a voice that’s very adaptable. we’ll just have a couple of musicians.” it about odetta, but i liked a song called “Hit i can sing many different kinds of songs sounded great. When i started in Wales, or miss” that she had done live. that many singers can’t or don’t want to i had a rhythm section and i would sing in do. some singers don’t want to break pubs and clubs with just a few musicians. What still drives you? out because they think, “if i try something it’s the same thing that drove me from day different, people won’t like it.” But i Was it scary being laid bare? one. i want to sing everything that’s inside don’t feel that way. if i want to try something no, it was refreshing. When i first started me. i want to continually express myself, but different, i’ll do it. recording, you’d find the song, set the key, do don’t want to repeat myself. –Lee Zimmerman

‘I want to continually express myself, but don’t want to repeat myself.’

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M mag 28.indd 68 7/2/13 6:19 PM