Fefe Dobson

Infobox musical artist
Name = Fefe Dobson
Background = solo_singer


Img_capt = Fefe Dobson Live
Birth_name = Felicia Dobson
Born = birth date and age|1985|2|28
Origin = Scarborough, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
Years_active = 2003–present
Label = Zomba, Island, Universal
Website = [http://www.fefedobson.com/ FefeDobson.com]

Felicia "Fefe" Dobson (born February 28, 1985) is a Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter.

Early life

Dobson was born in Scarborough, Ontario. Dobson's mother is white and her father, who left the family when she was a child, is black. [http://www.fefedobson.com/ Artist bio] , FefeDobson.com.]

Music career

Debut album

In 2000, she was discovered and signed by Zomba Records Canada. The record label wanted to give her a traditional pop star image. Dobson, however, wanted more guitar and to include some of her own written songs. After a showcase in a Toronto bar, Lyor Cohen signed her to the Island Def Jam Music Group, once Dobson was extracted from her contract with Zomba.

Dobson's first album, "Fefe Dobson", was released December 9, 2003 by Island Records and sold 307,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002274276&inp=true "Dobson Celebrates 'Sunday' On Sophomore CD"] "Billboard". Accessed March 29 2006.] Four singles were released from the album; "Bye Bye Boyfriend," "Take Me Away," "Everything," and "Don't Go (Girls and Boys). "Take Me Away" and "Everything" were used in the film "The Perfect Score."

During much of 2004, Dobson promoted her debut album, appearing for a live performance on "TRL" and numerous magazine covers and articles. She was also the opening act on Justin Timberlake's European tour. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484252/20040109/dobson_fefe.jhtml "Fefe Dobson's Jacko, Mermaid Dreams Didn't Work Out, But Justin Comes Through"] , Shaheem Reid, MTV.com, January 9, 2004.] That July, she released a new single, "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)", which was also featured in a Tommy Hilfiger commercial starring the singer. [ [http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=8003&string=Fefe "Music's newest stars featured in new fall 2004 Tommy Jeans ad campaign"] , Tommy Hillfiger Co. press release, Top40-charts.com.] The album was later reissued with that single added. Dobson also had a new song, "If You Walk Away", on the soundtrack of "Raising Helen".

In 2005, Dobson released "Truth Anthem", on the "Much Dance 2005 CD" compilation, a benefit for Canadian branch of "War Child". In April 2005, Dobson was nominated for two Juno Awards, Pop Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year; both categories were won by Avril Lavigne. [http://www.chartattack.com/news/37969/juno-nominations-announced-lavigne-leads-the-pack Juno Nominations Announced: Lavigne Leads The Pack] " "Chart Attack". Accessed February 7, 2005.] In the summer of 2005, Dobson was in a public service ad "Make Poverty History", which brings awareness to child poverty worldwide. Dobson is devoted to this campaign, due in part to her having grown up in a poor family.Fact|date=September 2008

"Sunday Love"

By 2006, Dobson returned to the studio to add some finishing touches to her second album "Sunday Love". Musicians and songwriters she collaborated with during the recording process include Nina Gordon, Kay Hanley, John 5, Billy Steinberg, Matthew Wilder, Cyndi Lauper, Courtney Love, Joan Jett, and Rancid's Tim Armstrong.

In February 2006 Dobson sang "O Canada" at All-Star Saturday Night, part of the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, Texas. In spring 2006, Dobson performed several shows around the United States, and began promoting "Sunday Love" in anticipation of its release. The first single, "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" did not chart. An online-only video for the song was released three months after the single itself.Fact|date=September 2008 The second single, "This is My Life" was edited by her label to make it sound more pop but had virtually no promotion, which led to its failure.Fact|date=September 2008

"Sunday Love" was never released because Dobson was dropped from Island Records. A "Sunday Love" promo CD sold on eBay for over $1,000.Fact|date=September 2008 "Sunday Love" will not be released due to Dobson being unable to obtain rights to the album.Fact|date=September 2008 The album was reviewed in both "Spin" and "Vibe",Fact|date=September 2008 receiving 4/5 from "Vibe" who loved the new sarcastic rocker approach Fefe adopted for this album.Fact|date=September 2008 Her label didn't like the image switch and made her re-record songs for "Sunday Love" before dropping her, days before the album was due to be released.Fact|date=September 2008 "My real good fans, my hardcore fans, have it, so that's most important," Dobson says. "At least it got out there to a few hands, and now it's time to make a record on my own terms." [http://www.chartattack.com/news/43428/fefe-dobson-donates-her-talents-to-two-benefit-shows "Fefe Dobson Donates Her Talents To Two Benefit Shows"] , Josh Finkelman, Chart Attack, April 19, 2007.] "It was sad," says Dobson. "But instead of sitting there and being depressed and begging people for the record, I went back to the studio, got people that I knew, friends that I knew, and I started again."

One song from the unreleased album, "Be Strong", appeared on the soundtrack for the film "It's a Boy Girl Thing".

Going independent

After being dropped by Island Records, Dobson decided to go back to her roots and create a new album on her own terms. Dobson says her new efforts are coming along nicely and should see the light of day sooner than later. She has been writing new songs with Jon Levine, whose brother, Jay Levine, worked with her on her first album. She has described the songs as cool and different. Several songs have surfaced from her upcoming album: "I'm a Lady", "Catch Me", "He Smiled", and "Set Me Free".Fact|date=September 2008

The song "Watch Me Move" is the first single off of her upcoming album and was played in promotional advertising for the TV series "Lipstick Jungle".Fact|date=October 2008

In an interview with MTV Canada, Dobson stated that her album would likely be out in July 2008, and she will be shooting a video in the near future. [ [http://www.mtv.ca/?vid=218374 MTV Canada] ] Failed verification|date=September 2008 After nearly a 5 month break from album updates, Fefe introduced her new website, which contains the full version of "Watch Me Move", and a video blog of updates, in which she confirmed she will once again travel to Los Angeles to do some finishing touches to her untitled third album.Fact|date=September 2008 Dobson also confirmed that "Watch Me Move" will be on the album and that it will be used as the theme song for comedian Margaret Cho's new show on VH1, "The Cho Show".Fact|date=September 2008 "Watch Me Move" was officially released as a digital download. "Watch Me Move" has also been used to promote "Dancing with the Stars".Fact|date=October 2008

She sang "I'm a Lady", "Set Me Free", and "Everything" in Toronto for Earth Hour.Fact|date=October 2008 The 5-foot-1-inch-tall Dobson recently hosted a segment for E! Canada's "E! News Weekend" which talked about fashion for petite women. [ [http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/detail.jsp?contentId=bff49738-f5a3-42f3-be9b-311a819612c0 E! Online] ] Failed verification|date=September 2008

Currently, as Dobson tries to find a new label and tours independently, she continues to write new material and stays optimistic about new opportunities.Fact|date=September 2008 A recent photo shoot has been posted on her MySpace page, and she wrote a song for Miley Cyrus' album "" called "Start All Over".

Awards and nominations

Discography

* "Fefe Dobson" (Island, 2003)
* "Sunday Love" (unreleased)

References

External links

* [http://www.fefedobson.com Official website]
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