Interview: Fefe Dobson – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 07/22/2010

When Fefe Dobson hit the music scene in 2003, Island Records knew that they were engaging in risky business.  Considering Dobson’s chart-topping contemporaries, like Beyonce (“Crazy in Love”), Ashanti (“Rock Wit’ U”) and Mya (“My Love Is Like…Wo”), one central question loomed in the air: “How would the market respond to a black female rock singer, who was also Canadian?” Putting the uncertainty to the test, Fefe Dobson made the music industry go into a state of shock – partly out of excitement, and equally out of confusion.

Like many other artists before her, Fefe was a musical visionary who came way before her time. In a musical arena that expected her to sing R&B ballads or hip-hop hooks, she has always been acutely aware of the up-hill battle that she has to climb.  Now that seven years have passed since her debut, Dobson hopes that now, with the release of Joy, she will no longer be viewed as a musical “anomaly,” but musical reality instead.

Following the release of “Ghost,” Joy’s guitar-driven lead single, Fefe Dobson squeezed some time out her busy schedule to settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on her songwriting partnership with Kevin Rudolf, her love of Tina Turner, and the legacy of rock and roll.

Interview: Michael Bearden – Musical Director, Keyboardist and Composer

Date of Interview: 07/16/2010

As a musical director, keyboardist, and composer, Michael Bearden has been fortunate enough to work with some of the industry’s biggest icons. From Madonna and Whitney Houston to Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder, Bearden has earned the respect of his peers and developed a reputation for the professionalism and excellence that he brings to every project.

In 2008, Bearden prepared to showcase his largest project to date: This Is It – a 50 concert run in London with the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson. Shortly before the concert’s opening, however, Bearden and the world received the devastating news of Jackson’s untimely death.

After a year of mourning and celebration, Michael Bearden has announced a special tribute to his beloved musical partner: “One Last Goodbye” – featuring the vocals of Ayanna Irish. Upon the release of the charity single, Michael Bearden managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on his early years in the “South Side” of Chicago, the lasting impact of his Howard University experience, and Michael Jackson’s undying love of music, life, and the globe.

Interview: Tank – Singer, Songwriter and Producer

Date of Interview: 07/14/2010

In the world of R&B, Tank is the ultimate triple-threat. As one of the genre’s leading male vocalists, he has also developed a tremendous reputation for his songwriting and production talents. To date, his discography includes credits on four film soundtracks (Dreamgirls, The Fast and the Furious, More Than a Game, and The Brothers), as well as a smorgasbord of male and female artists, who cover a wide spectrum ranging from veteran acts, like Dave Hollister, Monica and Joe, to up-and-coming singers, like Jennifer Hudson, Chris Brown, and Keri Hilson. Outside of the music arena, he has also tried his hand at acting – serving as the co-star of his most-recent film – Preacher’s Kid (2010) – alongside LeToya Luckett.

Even though Tank has left his “musical fingerprints” on countless projects this past decade, relatively little information about his personal life and musical background has ever been shared with the public.  Keeping this in mind, Atlantic Records made certain that Tank squeezed some time out of his busy schedule, in order to settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting upon his music scholarship to Howard University, Ginuwine’s career-defining mentorship, and the inspiration behind his fourth album, Now or Never.

Interview: Cecil Murphey – Best-Selling Author and Esteemed Pastor

Date of Interview: 07/07/2010

Cecil Murphey is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than 100 books and 700 articles. Although best-known for his collaborative projects with notable individuals, like Franklin Graham (Rebel With a Cause) and Ben Carson (Gifted Hands), Murphey also spends a considerable amount of time ministering to the public as a full-time pastor and public speaker. His topics of interest include: faith, spiritual balance and strategies to cope with tragedy, trauma and abuse.

Since October 2006, Cecil Murphey has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times bestseller list, due to the massive success of 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life, which has sold more than 5 million copies and been printed in 40 languages. His most personal project, however, would come four years later. Bearing his heart and soul in an honest, therapeutic text, Murphey offers guidance and solace with the Kregel publication of When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman’s Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation.

In the midst of a promotional campaign for this forthright book, Cecil Murphey squeezed some time out of his busy schedule and settled down for an interview with Clayton Perry – reflecting on the challenges he faced with Christian publishers, the barriers to productive conversations about male sexual abuse, and the steps that must be taken to create a national dialogue both inside and outside of the church.

Interview: Naughty by Nature – Hip-Hop’s Iconic Trio

Date of Interview: 07/07/2010

There are only a handful of recording acts, whose voices, personae and imagery will always be attached to the memory and legacy of hip-hop.  Naughty by Nature is one of the celebrated few.

The very mention of “O.P.P.” and “Hip Hop Hooray” will generate an instant reaction – even in the midst of a diverse crowd.  And although the group is known for their catalog of massive party anthems, Naughty by Nature was able to strike a delicate balance in achieving mainstream popularity without losing an ounce of their street credibility.

As Naughty by Nature celebrates its second decade in the music business, Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee managed to squeeze some time of their busy schedules and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry — reflecting on industry politics, the globalization of hip-hop and transitioning into the digital musical era.