Sharon Jones of The Dap-Kings ‘getting back into the swing of things’ after fighting cancer

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Singer Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have been preserving soul music since their debut in 1996.

The ensemble has worked with an eclectic group of musicians over the years including, Michael Buble, Lou Reed, and even Fat Boy Slim. While their 5^th and latest album, Give The People What They Want, drops today, Sharon Jones is celebrating her recent victory over stage 2 pancreatic cancer.

In an interview with NPR, Jones talks about her music, the moment she found out she had cancer, and how her life has changed.

NPR: It sounds like your treatment has been pretty successful. Are you finished with the chemo now?

Sharon Jones: Yeah, my last chemo was New Year’s Eve.

Congratulations!

I know, that was so cool. I wanted to get away faster, but I have to be patient and not go out and overdo things yet, because I’m still in the healing process. The funny part is, I’m going to be out on the road as these changes are going — as my hair is growing, my eyelashes and eyebrows are coming back — I’m going to be working and people are going to be seeing all this stuff happen as I see it. So, I’m nervous. I’m so happy that I’m getting back into the swing of things, but I’m nervous.

I know for a lot of people that have been through chemotherapy, everybody’s got headphones on. A lot of people use music to help them get through it.

And I was the opposite.

No kidding?

Sharon Jones -No music, no headphones. Music is my joy, is my happiness, and that’s what everyone doesn’t seem to understand. They’re like, “What? You didn’t listen to music?” No! I didn’t feel happy with my music. I couldn’t keep it on my mind, because that’s a whole other Sharon. Music is my joy, and since I’ve been sick, I can’t concentrate on the music. I’m just basically concentrating on trying to get well.

What strikes me on the new album right from the first track, “Retreat!“, is that even though the band has been together for a while, it sounds so fresh.

When I recorded that — it’s been, like, a year and a half, the recording was done. When I got sick, “Retreat” had a whole different meaning. No longer was I talking to this guy: That was the cancer. And I’m telling this sickness to retreat.

Click here to read more or listen to the full length interview below.