After a brief hiatus from the spotlight, Fefe Dobson is back with a new album and a new outlook on life. Bossip spoke to the “black rock chick” about rebounding after being dropped from her label, what she was like as a little kid and how we can all find more joy. BOSSIP: What’s up Fefe? Tell us about your new album, why did you call it Joy ? Fefe Dobson: I called it Joy because making the record was a joyful experience, but the reason it was a joyful experience was in the process of making it. I made my first record in 2003 when I was 18. I got the chance to do tons of great things – a tour withe Justin Timberlake , a show with Janet Jackson and there was so much that came out of it and then there was the trials and tribulations, parting ways with my label, which was Island Def Jam at that point. I had like 500 dollars left to my name, no boyfriend and bought a dog and wrote Joy . What joy has brought me is liberation and it was very therapeutic and a turning point in my life, that’s why it’s called Joy . Bossip: You seem to have matured – your style has changed a lot, was it the experience of seeing the “bad side of the industry?” FD: Definitely, being so young, getting all the amazing opportunities and kinda having to scale back and start again with nothing. Learning about myself in general. My dad came back into my life. On my first record there was a song called “Unforgiven” because my dad was never in my life. And now my dad has come back in my life – because of that I’m learning about my Jamaican side. I’m biracial so my mom is white and my dad’s black and I never got to know that side. Realizing I’m related to Donald Quarrie – who is an Olympic national hero in Jamaica – that has helped bring me to this point as well. Life… Naturally you have to go through every day and learn in order to fill in those missing pieces to be the person you need to be. Bossip: What goals have you set for yourself for 2011? FD: A lot of goals. My goal for 2010 was to get my album out and to spread Joy and for 2011 it’s to tour this baby like crazy and line up my own shows and hopefully next year go to the Grammys and do my thing. I really want to play big stadiums and stuff like that and hit the masses and meet more people and gain more followers in my career. Bossip: What kind of kid were you? FD: I was a little female Eddie Murphy. I was really crazy and made fun of everybody and made jokes when I shouldn’t have probably. Bossip: What experience led you to this? FD: Music made me do this. From a musical point of view – The Wizard of Oz and Michael Jackson. Music was my only outlet and escape. Bossip: What would you be doing otherwise? FD: I couldn’t do anything else. I was asked that in elementary school when I was a little kid. You know how they go around – there were kids who wanted to be firemen, there were kids who wanted to be lawyers, and I was like “Uhhh rockstar, singer?” and my teacher looked around and was like “What do you really want to be?” and I said “Uhhh I just told you” I didn’t know I had to have a Plan B. You didn’t ask the fireman if he should have a Plan B. Bossip: What was your scariest moment and how did you get through it? FD: My scariest moment was definitely not being with Island anymore. That was probably my scariest moment because I was signed when I was 18 so I was so used to being signed to a major label. At first not being with a major label was the scariest thing. I’ve come from nothing growing up as a kid to being something to now having to start again. That was scary for me. At the same time it was liberating because it was my chance to recharge and restart and not many people get the opportunity to restart with a clean slate. So I think everything happens for a reason even if it’s scary. Bossip: Is there a public figure that you’ve always admired? I really look up to like, you know, Jimi Hendrix – because I’m a woman of color and my foundation is rock and roll and my energy is rock and roll I’ve always looked up to artists that are like myself. Why? I was on rock radio in Canada and the minute they found out I was touring with Justin Timberlake they took me off rock radio and things like that and then I was told “Black girls can’t rock” so I have to look up to any artist that’s going out of their comfort zone and what people think is not the right way for them. That’s day to day – anyone being told they’re doing what they’re not supposed to do. It takes a lot of strength to break the mold. Bossip: What issue should people be more aware about? FD: One of my heroes was John Lennon and the reason I love him so much is John and Yoko’s motto about peace and that if everyone stayed in bed for the day there’d be peace. Maybe he’s a dreamer but it starts with the dream. I think we as humans if we were just a little more considerate of the person next to us. It starts with the person beside you, it starts with not tossing something on the ground, it starts with breaking the mold. Children are going to make the world. There’s abuse and all those things and it starts with a cycle. We have to start with ourselves and the person next to us and that’s where it starts. Bossip: Do you think race is or isn’t important in the U.S.? FD: That’s everywhere, that’s not just the U.S. Where ever there is someone ignorant that doesn’t realize they’re in 2011. Bossip: If you had a fortune to give away where would your money go to? My little brothers. Bossip: Is there any one book, film or album that changed your life? FD: The Alchemist [by Paulo Coehlo]. It’s amazing. It will change your life. Bossip: What has been the biggest story this year so far? FD: What hit home to me, because I could relate to it, was Kelly Williams-Bolar, the mom who got in trouble for putting her kids in a better school.For me it’s an emotional thing because I grew up with a poor mom who would have done anything to put us in a safer school district. For her to get slapped on the wrist for it? On an emotional level that hit me. Bossip: Do you have a celebrity crush? FD: Aside from Spongebob Squarepants? Kate Moss… She’s awesome. At the moment I’m like, I can’t think of any dudes. I haven’t really kept up with who is sexy, but I know Kate Moss is sexy! Bossip: Anything you are an absolute sucker for? FD: Im a sucker for cowboy boots and leather pants. But not at the same time. Bossip: Best advice you ever received? FD: Mainly just heard it throughout from people I met and that’s “Don’t Blend In.” Don’t conform, don’t try to be something you’re not because I’d rather people, even in school, I’d rather them to laugh at me because I wore something different than to accept me because I was being them. Bossip: What question are you sick of being asked? FD: Nothing really yet. Bossip: Not the Rihanna question? FD: I used to get that, not really anymore. I think people are starting to see that musically we’re very different. I think people used to ask because we’re both women of color who are edgy and we’re on the same label, I guess it comes into play for that. No one really asks me what my favorite color is… It’s black. Keep clicking to check out shots of Fefe below!
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Bossip Exclusive: Fefe Dobson Talks Joy, Jimi Hendrix And Being A Black Girl That Rocks
