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have harmonies, be creative, and come up with ideas. at confidence is there now, and it took a long time to get that. R&C: You've relocated to Tennessee, which is likely vastly different than England. How are you liking life stateside? JS: Tennessee is great. e people are so happy, kind, and nice. We live in a part of Tennessee that's very close to Nashville, so it's very full of all sorts of different music, and lots of different cultures. I really like it when you go into the city and you don't feel like you're in the sticks anymore. But then I love being in the sticks where I'm actually living. Up the road, there are horses and cows, which makes me feel at home. Where I'm from in England has a very country vibe, with cows, pigs, and sheep. I feel very happy in both places, but I do love America. R&C: Where is your favorite place you've ever performed? JS: It's so difficult to answer that. ere was a place in Swaziland that I played called House On Fire and the venue was totally gorgeous. ere were mosaics everywhere and poems written on the wall. It was just stunning and the show was full. ere were so many people in a very small space. ere were maybe 700 or 800 people in there, maybe a thousand. But the energy was great and the band had such a great time. R&C: When artists win awards for their work, bios tend to lead with that info, but if you were writing your own bio, what would you lead with? JS: For me, I would open with "a mom of two." I think that's the thing I'm most proud of. And I know it has nothing to do with my career, but in my life, that's the thing I'm happiest about. I know anyone with a working womb can make a baby. I get that. For me, that's the thing I dreamed of the most. at's the thing that brings me the most joy and helps me to feel like my life hasn't been a waste, because I've got my babies and I gave them life. at's the most special thing that I can do, I just hope I do a good job with it. R&C: Talk about your work on screen. How does that side of your career compare to your music? Was that always a goal to branch into that side of performing or did it develop organically? JS: I find it really fun, and I do think I have a tendency to make mountains into molehills in order to climb them. I've taken the stress out of things by doing that. With music, we go play for a living. ey say, "Are we going to play tonight?" Yes, we're going to play, and it is "a play." When you are acting, sometimes they call it "a play," but really, you are deep. You have to get into the headspace of "I do want to do it, and I'm up for that." I just don't know whether that will come whilst I'm in the "play" head space. I'll give it a bash. Here I am making it small again, but I do love it and I've had so much fun. e fact that actors work Monday to Friday is pretty cool. at's the only time in my life that I ever knew what day of the week it was, was when I was acting. R&C: What is on the horizon for you following the conclusion of this tour? JS: I'll just go home, make some bread, make some cakes, plant some flowers, cuddle my babies, do some fun things with them, ABCs, all that kind of stuff. And then I do more touring. I've got a lot of things going on and I'm always making stuff. I go into my little studio and write a little song. R&C: What do you do when you're not working? JS: Play with my babies. I'm a mom, I'm "Mom." I go from work to momming and it's the best. For the full interview, visit ranchandcoast.com/joss-stone. @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE AUGUST 2024 89