Fefe Dobson

Profile

Real Name: Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson
Date of Birth: February 28, 1985
Place of Birth: Scarborough, Ontario

Albums

Fefe Dobson (2003)
Sunday Love (Unreleased)
Joy (2010)

Biography

Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter and model. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released due to the album's singles failure to chart, and she was dropped from her record label. During production of Dobson's subsequent studio album Joy, on her manager's record label (21 Music), she was re-signed to her original major record label (Island Records). Both labels continued working on Joy, and after experiencing numerous delays, it is scheduled for release on November 22, 2010 in Canada and November 30, 2010 in the United States. Her music has been covered by other artists and featured in Film, Television, and more.

Dobson was born on February 28, 1985, in Scarborough, Ontario, (now a district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Dobson's mother is of English, Native Canadian, French ancestry and her father is of Jamaican heritage.

Dobson began sending out demo tapes – recorded on a home karaoke machine – to every label in North America when she was 11 years old. Then at the age of 13, she started playing the piano, with influences ranging from Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to Cyndi Lauper and Silverchair. She was originally influenced by her mother's favourite R&B and disco stars, including Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie – and then later by her sister's love of Nirvana. Dobson has said that John Lennon and Judy Garland are her primary musical influences, and that her biggest musical inspiration growing up was Michael Jackson: "I swore I was Michael Jackson. Then I found out I wasn't Michael Jackson and it broke my heart." At the same time, like lots of 13-year-old girls, she went to "every 'N Sync concert there was."

Dobson started writing at the age of 14, and caught the ear of Jive Records a year later. The label loved her voice and set her up with a number of producers, with an eye towards developing a pop star. But she refused the idea and left the label. After that experience, Dobson met Jay Levine and signed with Nelly Furtado’s manager Chris Smith. Smith arranged showcases with several labels. Universal Music Canada president Randy Lennox showed interest in her, and coaxed Island Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen and his head of A&R, Jeff Fenster, to fly to Toronto for another showcase. Dobson played a showcase for Island/Def Jam; about 30 seconds into the first song —- a punk thrash track about longing, titled "Stupid Little Love Song"—-the executives were impressed and signed her. Initially, the executives erroneously believed that the words in the song were "Stupid Little Buzzsaw".

Before Dobson was signed, she admitted to being stereotyped as contemporary R&B or pop singer instead of a rock musician due to her race, often being compared to Brandy and Britney Spears.

Videos

Lyrics

Links

Official Website: http://www.fefedobson.com/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fefe_Dobson