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Fefe Dobson Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Monday 11th April 2011 | Osh
Right now we’re blessed with a star- a meteoric rise to success. Now signed with Def Jam Records, she has written songs for artists like, Miley Cyrus, Jordon Sparxx, Celena Gomez and toured with Justin Timberlake. I’m talking about Toronto’s finest, singer, song-writer, performer extraordinaire, Fefe Dobson!
You have fitted a lot into a short space of time haven’t you? Three albums in the midst of all your touring.
Yeah it’s been an interesting career. My first record came out in 2003, with everything that was in ‘The Perfect Score’. Then I did the touring with Justin Timberlake which was a dream come true. Now here I am with (my album) Joy, and it’s been a whirl wind really.
Now you’re in the UK on tour?
Yeah I just making the rounds. Meeting old fans, meeting new fans, and just spreading joy to the world.
Was it a musical household that you grew-up in?
Yeah well my mum and my sister loved music. I mean my mum especially, that was her way to clean the house, to everything. She danced all around the house everyday, and it was like, Bob Marley and Micheal Jackson and Marvin Gaye, Lisa Lisa, oh gosh, Phil Collins it goes on! Prince, it goes on! My sister is a few years older than me and she was going through a rebellious stage of like ‘I’m gonna do what I want and cut my jeans into shorts. And was into like, Guns and Roses, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. So literally I was smack bang in the middle of all these amazing artists and different genres so it really influenced me.
You’ve worked with rock chicks like, Cyndi Lauper and Courtney Love, Joan Jetts as well, and you’ve obviously toured with Justin Timberlake. Who have impacted you the most?
Well I didn’t actually get to work with Courtney, I got to sit a room with her and watch her rehearse, which was unbelievable. She gave me a lot of cool advice on being a woman and you know, certain little things. I did get to work with Joan Jetts and Cyndi Lauper- amazing! You know I mean its… you pinch yourself. “Is this really happening” You know I’m sitting here with Cyndi Lauper having a glass of wine and harmonising together. You know, it’s pretty wild, and the advice they have is amazing.
“There are a whole lot of things I will forgive, but I just can’t take a liar”. That’s a line from you’re new single Stuttering. What is the most attractive feature you find in a man?
That’s so funny, you said a liar, I guess a liar would be the negative aspect of that. The opposite. Most attractive thing? Confidence, but not cockiness and loyalty. Also swagger for sure. Someone who can just put on anything and you’ll be like mmm yummy!I don’t know there’s something so hot about a guy who can just where what he wants and look so sexy doing it and I like tattoos!
How do you decide what songs you’re going to keep and what sings you’re going to give away?
For me, some of the songs were actually on a record before Joy and it just so happened that they needed some life so people dug it and they sang it. I mean it really works just like that, in a lot of ways. But with the last Celena Gomez song, Around and Round, I was writing it with Kevin Rudolf. It just so happened that for me and my project, Joy didn’t feel like it worked properly. So Celena’s people and Celena really liked it so we just passed it on and it happens. With a song called Can’t Breath, that song originally when I started writing it, my vision was, I’m going to pitch this song to Leona Lewis but half way through, I was like, I can’t give this song away, it became too close.
How can people get in touch with you and keep up with what’s happening in the crazy world of Fefe Dobson?
You can find me on Twitter at fefedobson or my website fefedobson.com which will let you know where I’ll be, and you want to watch a show and come hang out, that’s a good way of finding out.You should play the song Can’t Breath. Yeah! Play Can’t Breath. I think it’s important.
If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
If I was invisible for a day I would just secretly stare at the person I love and see what they do when I’m not there! I know that’s creepy but…
So you would be a stalker?!
(Laughs) No! No! Well if you’re in a relationship, it’s not really a stalker. It’s more just like, intrigued! Or I might just be completely disgusted, and be like, ugh I don’t want to do this anymore. If I was invisible for a day, I would watch someone I care about for a day. Even if it was my best friend. What if my best friend says mean things about me when I’m not there, I’d want to know!
You seem like you have a sensitive side to yourself. You got involved with the War Child Campaign- against children being forced soldiers. You supported the effort in Haiti and National Breast Cancer Foundation. Do you think artist’s have a responsibility to help worthy causes?
You know what, this is what I truly believe about being a musician that makes money for a living or whatnot. It’s not about the fancy cars, you know, the big homes and feeling secure is amazing, but when you work hard you should be able to see and reap the awards of such things but I think there’s a greater purpose for us you know; to heal, to create awareness, and a lot of times musicians are more powerful than politicians. So with their words and young people listen to them more in a lot of ways. So I think we definitely have a responsibility.
Last question. Finish this sentence, Fefe Dobson is happiest when…
Fefe Dobson is happiest when she’s… on stage!
Check out Fefe’s new single Can’t Breathe, out now. For more information go to www.fefedobson.com
You have fitted a lot into a short space of time haven’t you? Three albums in the midst of all your touring.
Yeah it’s been an interesting career. My first record came out in 2003, with everything that was in ‘The Perfect Score’. Then I did the touring with Justin Timberlake which was a dream come true. Now here I am with (my album) Joy, and it’s been a whirl wind really.
Now you’re in the UK on tour?
Yeah I just making the rounds. Meeting old fans, meeting new fans, and just spreading joy to the world.
Was it a musical household that you grew-up in?
Yeah well my mum and my sister loved music. I mean my mum especially, that was her way to clean the house, to everything. She danced all around the house everyday, and it was like, Bob Marley and Micheal Jackson and Marvin Gaye, Lisa Lisa, oh gosh, Phil Collins it goes on! Prince, it goes on! My sister is a few years older than me and she was going through a rebellious stage of like ‘I’m gonna do what I want and cut my jeans into shorts. And was into like, Guns and Roses, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. So literally I was smack bang in the middle of all these amazing artists and different genres so it really influenced me.
You’ve worked with rock chicks like, Cyndi Lauper and Courtney Love, Joan Jetts as well, and you’ve obviously toured with Justin Timberlake. Who have impacted you the most?
Well I didn’t actually get to work with Courtney, I got to sit a room with her and watch her rehearse, which was unbelievable. She gave me a lot of cool advice on being a woman and you know, certain little things. I did get to work with Joan Jetts and Cyndi Lauper- amazing! You know I mean its… you pinch yourself. “Is this really happening” You know I’m sitting here with Cyndi Lauper having a glass of wine and harmonising together. You know, it’s pretty wild, and the advice they have is amazing.
“There are a whole lot of things I will forgive, but I just can’t take a liar”. That’s a line from you’re new single Stuttering. What is the most attractive feature you find in a man?
That’s so funny, you said a liar, I guess a liar would be the negative aspect of that. The opposite. Most attractive thing? Confidence, but not cockiness and loyalty. Also swagger for sure. Someone who can just put on anything and you’ll be like mmm yummy!I don’t know there’s something so hot about a guy who can just where what he wants and look so sexy doing it and I like tattoos!
How do you decide what songs you’re going to keep and what sings you’re going to give away?
For me, some of the songs were actually on a record before Joy and it just so happened that they needed some life so people dug it and they sang it. I mean it really works just like that, in a lot of ways. But with the last Celena Gomez song, Around and Round, I was writing it with Kevin Rudolf. It just so happened that for me and my project, Joy didn’t feel like it worked properly. So Celena’s people and Celena really liked it so we just passed it on and it happens. With a song called Can’t Breath, that song originally when I started writing it, my vision was, I’m going to pitch this song to Leona Lewis but half way through, I was like, I can’t give this song away, it became too close.
How can people get in touch with you and keep up with what’s happening in the crazy world of Fefe Dobson?
You can find me on Twitter at fefedobson or my website fefedobson.com which will let you know where I’ll be, and you want to watch a show and come hang out, that’s a good way of finding out.You should play the song Can’t Breath. Yeah! Play Can’t Breath. I think it’s important.
If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
If I was invisible for a day I would just secretly stare at the person I love and see what they do when I’m not there! I know that’s creepy but…
So you would be a stalker?!
(Laughs) No! No! Well if you’re in a relationship, it’s not really a stalker. It’s more just like, intrigued! Or I might just be completely disgusted, and be like, ugh I don’t want to do this anymore. If I was invisible for a day, I would watch someone I care about for a day. Even if it was my best friend. What if my best friend says mean things about me when I’m not there, I’d want to know!
You seem like you have a sensitive side to yourself. You got involved with the War Child Campaign- against children being forced soldiers. You supported the effort in Haiti and National Breast Cancer Foundation. Do you think artist’s have a responsibility to help worthy causes?
You know what, this is what I truly believe about being a musician that makes money for a living or whatnot. It’s not about the fancy cars, you know, the big homes and feeling secure is amazing, but when you work hard you should be able to see and reap the awards of such things but I think there’s a greater purpose for us you know; to heal, to create awareness, and a lot of times musicians are more powerful than politicians. So with their words and young people listen to them more in a lot of ways. So I think we definitely have a responsibility.
Last question. Finish this sentence, Fefe Dobson is happiest when…
Fefe Dobson is happiest when she’s… on stage!
Check out Fefe’s new single Can’t Breathe, out now. For more information go to www.fefedobson.com
