Fefe Dobson Says Courtney Love Is Like Her Mom

10/20/05 3:00pm

by Sarah Kurchak (CHARTattack)

When Fefe Dobson started to work on a follow-up to her self-titled debut, she discovered that she had some friends and fans in high places. Whether they were giving her advice or working with her, a number of respected musicians were eager to help the singer develop what would become Sunday Love. Fefe seems genuinely thrilled about the experience.

"I got to meet a lot of cool people," she enthuses.

Those cool people included two of Fefe's own musical heroes. Early on in the writing process for her new album, the singer had a chance to collaborate with icons Joan Jett and Cyndi Lauper.

"I met Joan Jett and got to write with her and her manager and... love her so much. She's amazing. She does not take crap, that woman," she says. "And then Cyndi Lauper, who I love and admire, I got to hang out with her and write with her and she was so motherly and amazing and crazy."

She also got to work with Rancid member Tim Armstrong.

"He's phenomenal," she raves. "He's so amazing and we've become friends and he's punk, that guy. That guy is true punk right there."

When it came time to record Sunday Love, Fefe found a new musical hero in her backup singer Nina Gordon (of Veruca Salt fame).

"I hadn't really known much of Veruca Salt," she admits. "I was more of a Courtney Love fan. I didn't know much of [Nina] and then when I met her, she was so bubbly. She's so cute. But then she gave me her album to listen to and I was like, damn this stuff rocks! Like, I loved it so much."

But the most exciting thing of all was a meeting with Miss Love herself. Taking Fefe under her wing, Courtney gave her an inspiring pep talk about being a strong woman and not taking any shit in the music industry. The discussion had a huge effect on Fefe — and even reminded her of another one of her role models.

"She's so passionate and intense and I think I see my mom in her and that's why I'm very mesmerized."