Scarborough born and raised Fefe Dobson, whose smash self-titled debut album from December/2003 went Platinum in Canada and is approaching half a million in sales world-wide, went from the arts program at Wexford Collegiate to opening for Justin Timberlake during his 2004 European tour.
“It was a amazing. I remember being in Wexford (Collegiate) and not really paying attention to my classes, like in geography or whatnot, and just be writing in my journal … Justin Timberlake’s going to know me one day,” said Dobson, adding that she had wanted to be “a famous singer” as far back as she can remember.
In Canada, her efforts had her nominated for two Juno Awards in 2005, one for album of the year and the other for the fan choice award, both of which went to Avril Lavigne.
This spring, as she puts the final touches on her very long-awaited sophomore CD release, fans have been able to catch her at two area fundraisers.
This Saturday, May 12, she will headline ‘Siren Sounds’ at the Opera House on Queen Street East, with funds raised for Interval House, a shelter for abused women in Toronto.
In addition to familiar material off her first album, she said she’ll be playing “new songs from the new upcoming record.”
In April, she performed at the Fox and Fiddle in Leaside at an annual event that collects clothing and donations for women and children at shelters around the city.
Her new album, she said, “should be coming out in the fall.”
“I’m going to L.A. in a couple of weeks to finish off the record, and then come back and then produce it and then mix it.”
As to how it will compare with her original blockbuster release, she said “musically it’s still rock-pop” but added that it will have “a different twist.”
“I’m inspired by different musicians now that I’m 22 and not 17, from Depeche Mode to Peaches to The Doors to The Killers, and so I’m very inspired by different types of music.
“As well, emotionally I’m at a different place in my life. I’ve grown up so much.”
Dobson, who turned 22 in February, has to pause before listing all the elementary schools she went to, all in east Scarborough, including Fleming, Heritage Park, Eastview and Tom Longboat public schools.
As is typical for most people, her high school years weren’t entirely smooth, and the angst is apparent on her debut CD, which is laden with grungy power chords but is still melodic, which gives it its charm.
“I have different memories. I was a lot more against Wexford when I was younger, because I was still in it and I was still affected by it.”
The passing years, however, have allowed her to put her high school years more into perspective.
“Now as I’ve gotten older, it was good, like it was a good stepping stone for me.”
Asked to elaborate, she said that, on the down side, some students were “very competitive .. and somewhat mean, so I had some bad experiences in that realm.”
On the good side, she said her teachers “as hard as they were on me, they believed in me.”
If she can follow through on a fall release it will have marked four years since her debut, not something she had counted on.
The delay was caused by a parting of the ways with her label (Island Records) shortly before the slated release last year of her follow-up CD, called Sunday Love, which remains shelved except for internet bootlegs.
“It took me a year and a half to make the second record,” she said. “Hey, everything happens for a reason. The second record was great and it was fun to write and it sucks, it was painful, to see it not have its time. It will have its time, sooner or later … For some reason my fans have it on line so that’s great.
“I’d rather get over it, and move on and make a new record than sit and try to fight for a record and wait for a year and a half. I’m excited about number three (her upcoming CD).”
