Fefe Dobson Island Def Jam artist Fefe Dobson is back making much noise! After touring with Justin Timberlake, portraying Tina Turner on “American Dreams” and the hot new rock influenced “I Want You”, Fefe talks to WHO?MAG about her label situation, performing at the Olympics this year and more!
by Thato Dadson
WHO?MAG: Explain your style of music. FEFE DOBSON: I actually don’t need to explain my style of music. I feel if you put a genre or term for your music you don’t give a person the chance to interpret your music their way. It would be like if me and a friend went to an art studio and I were to say, that’s like Van Gogh. I wouldn’t be giving my friend a chance to understand the piece for their self.
WHO?MAG: How did you get your first deal with Island Def Jam? FEFE DOBSON: I was actually singing karaoke and my parents bought me a karaoke machine. So I started sending my karaoke’s out to different record companies and I got picked up by a company called Zomba. They wanted to develop me into this “Brandy Spears” because I was black and I do pop music, and I wasn’t felling that at all. So I met this producer named Jay Lavene and he told me that I had a rock and roll voice not pop. So when I came to Zomba about it they didn’t like it. So I left Zomba and joined up with Jay and Chris Smith Management. We did a show case with Island Def Jam and they signed me in a week.
WHO?MAG: What’s the biggest difference you noticed between the Canadian audience vs. the US audience? FEFE DOBSON: I don’t think there’s a difference between either audience. I just think everyone has a different outlook on music. But they’re great and they’re both super.
WHO?MAG: How was it touring with Justin Timberlake? FEFE DOBSON: It was great touring with Justin. He was very charming and he took me under his wing and he really gave me the opportunity to really break through.
WHO?MAG: How did you get the song “Start All Over” place with Miley Cyrus? FEFE DOBSON: The “Start All Over” thing happened because basically I wrote the song for my album Summer Love and I wasn’t feeling it for me and she heard it. So we pitched it to her and she sang it.
WHO?MAG: How was it playing Tina Turner in “American Dreams”? FEFE DOBSON: It was a great opportunity. I had such a blast even though the wig wasn’t fun. I was very honored to represent an icon like her.
WHO?MAG: How did you feel getting nominated for two Juno’s? FEFE DOBSON: It was cool to be nominated for two Juno’s. I mean who wouldn’t want to be nominated for two Juno’s. It was really rad and it felt good.
WHO?MAG: How did you feel when Jordin Sparks redid your “Don’t let it Go To Your Head” song? FEFE DOBSON: It was very cool to have my song covered by someone who is close to my own age. I mean who wouldn’t want their song covered?
WHO?MAG: Tell me about the single “I Want You”. FEFE DOBSON: It’s my new single. I’m really excited about. It’s an under 2 min song. It wasn’t intended for that but it’s still great. It’s about really desiring after someone so bad.
WHO?MAG: Tell me about the success of the single. FEFE DOBSON: Um, well it’s still in its early phases but the song is doing well. After we promote it some more, we plan on it being a big success.
WHO?MAG: Tell me about the new album Joy. FEFE DOBSON: It’s going to be a great album. It has 13 great rock and roll songs on it and I can’t wait for it to be done so we can play it over and over and over again.
WHO?MAG: What words of wisdom can you pass to some one trying to break into this industry? FEFE DOBSON: I would say don’t get discourage. Make sure you stay focused and don’t forget to make time for yourself.
WHO?MAG: What’s next for Fefe Dobson? FEFE DOBSON: We’ll we’re here now at the McCain Embassy, which is the town for the next Olympics 2010, and we are very excited and honored to be able to play here. And then we’ll be promoting the album and so much more to come.
