Blond, 16, British, but with the soul of Aretha

Soul music can be debased by showy singing that’s more about technique than heart, or elevated by a beautiful voice expressing natural emotion. Its roots are in American black music, but the right conduit can straddle color lines, eras, even oceans, and still sound authentic.

So it was with 16-year-old British soul singer Joss Stone, who made her L.A. headlining debut Thursday at a packed Troubadour in West Hollywood.

Her 40-minute set was introduced by veteran singer-songwriter-producer Betty Wright, best known for her 1971 soul-disco classic “Clean Up Woman.” Wright co-produced the teenager’s debut, “The Soul Sessions,” which mostly features covers of such old-school R&B; tunes as Joe Simon’s “The Chokin’ Kind” and Aretha Franklin’s “All the King’s Horses.” Wright even tapped such Miami soul veterans as Benny Latimore, Timmy Thomas and Little Beaver to play on it, along with contemporary artists the Roots and Angie Stone.

Backed by a mixed-gender and -race sextet, the blond singer wasn’t an overwhelming presence, but more quietly self-assured while singing, and somewhat giddy between songs. She used her sultry voice to more straightforward and low-key effect than in parts of the album.

The material had a slightly languid yet propulsive midtempo sexiness that complemented Stone’s vocal style. The retro feeling was offset by modern touches, such as a stark, funky rendition of the White Stripes’ “Fell in Love With a Girl” (here, a “Boy”). And the upbeat “Super Duper Love” felt like a hit waiting to happen, especially if some enterprising DJ-remixer gets hold of it.