Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings are blowing up and Amie Street is bringin' you the world premiere of their funky new album,

, which features the signature, retro sounds that attracted Amy Winehouse and Kanye West to the band. We're also very excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Ms. Sharon Jones herself! The Queen of Funk told us about her favorite tracks from the new album, her aspirations to collaborate with Justin Timberlake, and what it was like to work on a movie with Denzel Washington.

The Interview

You've been making music for a long time - how is

different from your previous work?

Well, it's different because The Dap kings wrote some stuff - it's more laid back - it's got a real Stax '69 sound.

Why do you think so many young kids are diggin' your sound?

It's big now that Amy [Winehouse] and the Dap Kings have been doing it, but we've been doing this for dozens of years. It's been great to have all the young people and now in the states we've started getting more older crowds, too.

Older crowds?

Yeah, especially down South and at festivals.

You've been blowing up in the "blogosphere" - do you happen to read any blogs?

No, I don't even have the internet or anything [laughs]. The guys tell me I need to get on the website and a laptop ... I'll get one eventually.

It's probable that a ton of artists/producers are gonna wanna sample your records or collaborate with you after hearing your new album. Is there anyone in particular that you'd like to collaborate with/have remix your tunes?

It seems weird, but a lot of producers have wanted the Dap Kings and not me. This summer I did the River to River festival with Booker T and the MG's and we played Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay" and a bunch of other tunes. [Amy Winehouse's producer] Mark Ronson just wanted the band and now we got Al Green and Boyz II Men getting the horn section... so either they're scared of me or they don't want to deal with me, but I'm doin' the movies and the soundtrack to the movies so I'm all right.

Now that you mention it, I would love to collaborate with Justin Timberlake. There's something about his spirit - he seems for real. If we collaborated on a funk thing, if he knew my style, that would be good. He's got something going there. After that, maybe some old timers like Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin - that would be my dream!

What's your favorite party track on the album?

I got quite a few: the theme song 100 Days, 100 Nights , Let Them Knock , Be Easy ... I even like the last one, Answer Me - I'm playing the piano, it's a funky Gospel cover and I like doing that tune. It's good when you got more than one favorite tune to choose from and there's a lot of tunes that I like on this record.

I've gotta ask... what's the best baby making track?

Baby makin'? Let Them Knock - that's the one. "Let them knock upon my door, until their hands are black and blue. I'm not answering for no one until my man and I are through"... that's a baby makin' song!

You just finished working on a new film with Denzel Washington - how was it?

Oh, it was great! I don't know if you saw, but I was in the New York Times and they asked him about me and he said "There's a reality to her... she's honest. I love her." He's just such a humble man - he's so nice and so kind. He's just such a down to earth man, he's Denzel. You gotta say it, Den-zel!

When can we expect to see the movie?

December 25th, Christmas Day. And actually, the week before last they called me up to record three more songs for the soundtrack.

I went to see you play at The Hammerstein Ballroom last Halloween...

When I was Wonder Woman? [laughs]

Yeah! Do yo have a costume planned for this year?

No - I think we gonna be away in Europe, then.

Well, you've got a big show coming up at The Apollo on Saturday - are you excited?

I'm gettin' excited now, tonight was our first rehearsal with the orchestra and the last before the Apollo. Everything is comin' together. We're just goin' over certain songs and working on a dedication to James Brown. Lee Fields is gonna come out... maybe I shouldn't give it away.

I won't tell anybody...

Well, ok then [laughs].

What would you say was your best live show in the past year?

The best we had was in Australia. We'd been in Australia for the first time and we had sold out. Also, Montreal Jazz Fest - I've never played amongst that many people (about 30,000) and now this Apollo- it's something of history! It's a shame we can't film it and maybe in a couple of years we'll have the money to film it.

What would you say was the best live performance you've ever seen?

I didn't really see too many live performances, but in the late 70's early 80's I went to Madison Square Garden and saw Aretha, Stephanie Mills, Ashford and Simpson, Chaka Khan, K.C. and The Sunshine Band, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes featuring Sharon Tate all in one night. And Luther [Vandros] came out with that song "jump jump jump jump to it!" It was a great show.