And you thought you knew Joss Stone

While it might seem odd for a musician to title a third album

Introducing

. . ., Joss Stone is just taking after one of her heroes on more than one account.

After all, the young Brit already named her dog after Dusty Springfield. And Stone's prickly purr is reminiscent of Springfield's smoky voice. Why shouldn't Stone then pick up on Springfield's 1970 idea of A Brand New Me to enter her brassiest phase?

"I've always wanted to take what Dusty did and what Aretha did and update that," says Stone, 20. "But make it mine. That's what I wanted to do when I signed up for this - this sound. That's been my goal."

Stone made it her thing by choosing producer Raphael Saadiq as collaborator on Introducing Joss Stone. Together, they placed a hip-hop stamp on the Motown-y "Put Your Hands on Me" and the retro R&B of "Baby Baby Baby," with Stone's gritty howl on top.

Stone's not angry about her smoother albums, The Soul Sessions and Mind, Body & Soul, which brought her musical attention from production collaborators such as funk mistress Betty Wright and the Roots' Ahmir Thompson. ("Such a sweet man," Stone says of the Philadelphia drummer.)

Ultimately, Stone wanted something that sounded as sleek and chic as she looks; she has updated her flowing dresses and golden tresses to something sassier, with miniskirts and red streaks.

"I'm not calculated in what I do," she says with a laugh. "There's been lots of luck, too. But no one taught me to sing . . . or move. I just had it."