Fefe Dobson brings eclectic musical mix to Buffalo

by Joshua Maloni
Tribune, May 13, 2004
Sentinel, May 15, 2004
Dispatch, May 21, 2004

Assumptions be damned.

Fefe Dobson is not who you think she is, and she doesn’t sound like you think she does.

For starters, the bi-racial, Toronto-bred singer has had to explain her lineage over and again. Her black father bolted when Fefe was young, leaving her with a white mother and blond, blue-eyed siblings.

“My sister would get teased over it, and my mom couldn’t get into the (housing) complex she wanted because of having a black daughter,” Dobson told USA Today.

Dobson, perhaps subconsciously, perhaps not, learned to embrace differences. Now 18, her music reflects that, combining the best elements of hip-hop with grunge-punk and guitar rock to create a style that defies definition.

“It’s because I like so many types of artists, from Kurt Cobain to Michael Jackson,” Dobson told Niagara Frontier Publications last week during a phone interview.

“I just like to be different. I like to be the oddball.

“I just like being a freak.”

To wit, on “Bye Bye Boyfriend” Dobson comes across punkish-yet-sweet, her sarcastic tone resembling fellow Canadians Avril Lavigne or Simple Plan. But, on “Take Me Away,” she rocks out a high-energy club anthem. Then, on “Everything” Dobson pops out a simple, beautiful ballad over a six-string, ala Nirvana’s “Dumb.” And, it’s back to some Disturbed-style rap-rock with “Unforgiven.” “Give It Up,” meanwhile, offers catchy, early ‘90s rap hooks a la Kris Kross or OPP. Finally, she throws in a mosh-inducing “Stupid Little Love Song,” with traces of Letters to Cleo, for good effect.

In short, her music really has something for everyone. Cliché, yes, but accurate as well.

“There really wasn’t any thought process (creating the album), it was like go with our heart and just go for it,” Dobson said. “I kinda didn’t really want to feel like I was put in a box with it. That’s why it sounds like there’s so many genres into one.

“I felt this kind of music.”

With a repertoire of rock, pop, punk, dance and slow songs, who better to perform at a buffet-style concert like “Kiss the Summer Hello?” The annual WKSE 98.5-FM event features more than a dozen acts ranging from hip-hop (Kanye West, J-Kwon, Mario Winans) to pop-rock (Liz Phair, Switchfoot); boy band (The Calling) to boy-oh-boy (“American Idol” reject William Hung).

“It’s fun because everyone gets a taste of different artists and different music,” Dobson said. “That’s what’s so great; it’s bringing music together. It’s fun.”

Embracing other artists’ styles is what makes Dobson’s music appealing to different types of music listeners. Instead of dividing audiences, she unites them through differences in her own style. She takes what’s important on the inside, that is genuine lyrics, crunching guitars and heartfelt oomph, and brings it to the outside through her well-crafted songs.

Not what you’d expect from a rock star.