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23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012
HOLLYOAKS STAR
Aaron Fontaine joins soap
GLOBAL ICON
Rihanna bags coveted award
Bobby V
Ready to battle Britain
youngvoicesmagazine
@youngvoicesmag
DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013 THE VOICE ! 25
www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment
R&B singer Bobby V talks to YV’s Michelle Martin about his love of the UK, living up to past glory and making a musical comeback
I
T’S VERY rare you have an interview with an American star and they start the conversation trying to speak
English. “Hullo, I just love the way you talk, I want to talk like you yah,’ is singer Bobby V’s poor attempt at my cockney accent. I assure the US star, who was recently in London to perform at the sold-out R&B concert, The Show Tour, that his American drawl is far more appealing. “Ok, so you love my accent and I love the UK. We should just switch places then and we’d both be happy,” he suggests. “Let’s make it happen”. The Georgia native admits that despite a long hiatus from these shores, the UK holds a “special” place in his heart. “You guys have given me one of my biggest fanbases in the whole world, I got the most
love in the UK,” the singer says. He explains: “But I kinda disconnected with the UK once I changed record labels. I’m trying to rebuild that momentum and reach out to the fans again because the UK are like the best fans I ever had.” Bobby V, previously known as Bobby Valentino, rose to worldwide prominence with debut single Slow Down in 2004. The hit song, produced by Tim & Bob, spent four consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/HipHip songs chart and has since been certified Gold. In early 2008, following the poor sales of his second album, Special Occasion, Bobby V confirmed that he was no longer signed to either Def Jam or rapper Ludacris’ Disturbing The Peace (DTP) label. During an interview with DJBooth.net, he said:
“The decision to leave [the label] was totally mine. I sat down with Ludacris and [DTP co-founder] Chaka Zulu, and I explained to them that it was time for me to venture out on my own. They had no problem with it; they are cool with it, no beef at all.” He later signed with EMI, which houses his imprint Blu Kolla Dreams, and released follow-up album, The Rebirth. He has since released two albums, Fly On The Wall and Dusk Till Dawn. His recent stint at the Wembley Arena alongside fellow R&B stars Faith Evans, Ginuwine and Donell Jones, was his reintroduction to the British music scene. “Doing The Show Tour was my way of saying thanks to all the fans that supported me when Slow Down was out and then the release of Tell Me and Pimping All Over the World,” he
explains. “I wanted to let the fans know what I had been up to and let them know that I am still making music, which I want to promote in the UK and let y’all know, I’m back and I’m here to stay.” Clearly this is a man displaying a love for all things British, so to see if he really is a true Anglophile I test his knowledge on the British music scene. “Adele and Tinie Tempah are definitely hot and Emeli Sandé she is massive over here,” he fires back. “Do you know them?” When I answer no, he pushes: “Well, if you meet them, please call them up on my behalf. I would love to work with them. I will personally go to all of their houses and record a song.” Readily admitting that he fell out of love with music and the industry for a while, Bobby saw The Show Tour as a great way to reconnect with his true love, and to showcase his new album Peach Moon. “It kinda tells the story of how I lost the love, my love for music over the years. “In this industry you have to keep up with a certain sound and you have to keep up with a certain trend and I was chasing the trends and I was chasing the sound and I stopped loving it. So I said forget that, I am going back to what I love and back to what I know, back to the Slow Down days, where I created my own
sound.” He goes on: “The music on the album is very soulful. I’m a singer, that’s what I do. I sing songs to show my range, to show my versatility and I also play piano. Piano gives me a chance to showcase my skills. Learning and playing the piano is pretty much the new thing I am working on at the moment.” Even though Bobby feels he has been under the musical radar of late, he says the résumé of artists he has worked with, ranging from Ludacris to R Kelly, withstand any hiatus. “R Kelly is like the king of R&B,” he states matter-of-factly. “I worked with him on the remix of [my single] Words and it was such a privilege to be able to work with him because he is a musical genius, he is very professional. He doesn’t need a pen or paper, he just goes in
AARON FONTAINE:
The UK actor had cause for celebration last week after landing a part in TV soap Hollyoaks
and gets with the vibe. I mean, he elevated that song to another level.” He adds: “Ludacris is a great guy. Even though I’m not signed to his label anymore, we are still friends. I’m definitely going to try and get him on the Peach Moon project.” As we reluctantly wrap up the interview, Bobby states there is something he wants his fans to know. “I’m really from the UK,” he laughs. “Nah, I want my fans to know that Bobby Valentino was my previous name and Bobby V is the name that I now go by. I found out that someone from the UK already had that name so I had to change it. It’s Bobby V from now on!” Peach Moon will be released on December 12. For more information, visit www.bobbyvmusic.com or follow @Bobbyv on Twitter
RIHANNA:
The US singer was presented with the ‘Icon ’ gong at the recent American Music Awards
BUFF OR BUSTED?
Dear Kat, I recently found out I’m pregnant, but my boyfriend and I are no longer together. He broke up with me a few weeks before I found out I was expecting and we haven’t spoken since. I don’t want people saying I trapped him, so I’ve decided to keep my news to myself, but I really don’t know what to do. My friends are threatening to tell him for me because they say it’s his right to know, but he has a new girlfriend and I don’t want people to assume I’m using this baby to break them up. I don’t want him back, but it’s as much his responsibility as it is mine. Please help! Anon
DAPPY:
The former N Dubz star was hospitalised after a horse kicked him in the face while riding at his home
Hi Anon,
Your friends are right, your ex boyfriend has a right to know that you’re carrying his child. I understand where your apprehension comes from, but your priority shouldn’t be about what people think or whether your exboyfriend’s new relationship suffers as a result, it should be about what’s best for you and your unborn child. My advice to you is to contact your ex-boyfriend and tell him that you are pregnant with his child and work on how you will tackle this situation TOGETHER. You should not have to be dealing with this alone. You both made this child, so you must both shoulder the responsibility of what you do next. He may take some time coming around to the idea, but at least he is armed with the information he needs to push forward. Be strong, be patient and use the support system you have around you to get through this one.
BUFF
BUFF
TYRESE:
The US singer/actor was pictured in tears following the death of his Fast & Furious costar Paul Walker at the weekend
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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CIARA:
“I need a manager for the next 5 years … if you know how to make money like i do holla me ....this ain't a 1 way train. ”
Sizzling Wiley
ATTLE POSTER B REBECCA
FERGUSON
and LEONA
ROUGH COPY
26 ! THE VOICE DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013
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