Colby Odonis 'Colby O' album

At the age of 19 and signed to Akon’s KonLive label, Colby O'Donis is generating a great deal of excitement with his first single "What You Got". He is about to release his second single plus album. MusicRemedy has the chance to do an exclusive interview!

interview
MusicRemedy (=MR): For people who may not have heard some music from you yet... what can someone who's never heard of you expect from your music?
Colby O'Donis (=COD): When you hear my music you can definitely hear the musicality in it, I love to keep that beat that can be played in the club but at the same time keep that smoothness to it..

MR: Your new CD, "Colby O" is your first album release. Tell us about it.
COD: Well I’m extremely excited about it! I’ve been signed to Akon for a little over 2 1/2 years now and I’m now starting to finally get my shine. This album has alot of effort put into it, I produced and wrote most of the album along side Akon.. so you know its going to hot, im just really excited to be able to start saying "Go buy my album" !!! I've been waiting for this for a long time and now it’s finally happening, I cant wait!

MR: Which song on "Colby O" took the longest to complete? Why?
COD: I would probably have to say my second single "Don't turn back" because it’s not that it was complicating for me to accomplish but just that I wanted it to be right. I really took my time on the whole project from the vocals to the writing..etc to me it was very important that everything felt right and fit into the pocket! And when you hear it you'll see what Im talking about!

MR: Is the meaning behind the album title "Colby O" as simple as I think it is or am I wrong? If so, please explain.
COD: Hahah, well it’s actually funny that you ask cause it’s really a little bit of both, the crazy thing is me and Akon came up with the name live on air on a radio interview we did together in ATL, the reason for the name Colby O is because my whole life all my friends would always call me Colby O and then it started to catch on and all my fans started calling me it too, So I still go by the name Colby O'Donis but I just wanted to leave that option for the fans to be able to call me Colby O also.

MR: When creating a track, do you have a set theme and pre-written lyrics, or do you start with an idea or the music first?
COD: It actually changes with my moods LOL.. sometimes I have lyrics and I make a beat or I have a beat and write lyrics etc..

MR: Tell us how you got signed to Akon's label Kon Live.
COD: Well it was about almost 3 years from now , We actually met through my management with some contacts that they had.. we got in the studio and I played him my demo and he loved it, but the thing was at the time there was alot of people in the room , so he told me that he wanted to set up a studio session with just me and him so that we can vibe. So a few weeks later he set up a session in CA and we got together and just started to work on music together.. The chemistry with me and Akon is unbeleivable , so after that He said to me , I got this label im starting up its called Konvict Muzik and I want you to be apart of it, now this was all before smack that and I wanna luv you. But the thing about Akon was when you looked at him you could tell he had that determination and was NOT gonna fail... So we ran with it and now the rest is what they say "history in the making".

MR: You are signed to Akon's label. He is featured on the album which he also co-produced. What have you learned from him and what do you think you have learned him (on a music aswell personal-level)?
COD: Man soooo much, if I would try to type all the types of things Akon has taught me musically i'd probably have to cancel my entire next week of events just to type it out! lol but to be straight to the point he taught the most important thing as an artist is to never EVER sing or record to something im not feeling no matter how hard someone is trying to push me to do it... Akon has made me pretty hard and stern when it comes to doing something I dont wanna do!

MR: What made you sign with Akon in stead of Babyface? What would have been the difference between being signed to Babyface or Akon?
COD: Lol !! someone has been doing their homework? Well it was pretty crazy cause at the last second Akon got me right before I signed with Babyface. We just felt that Akon was a better look for the kind of stuff that I was trying to do and the direction I was headed.. But God bless Babyface, he is still a very great friend of mine and he's very happy for me and still supportive of what im doing, and He always knows its reciprocal with me! I GOT YA BACK HOMIE!! LoL

MR: You have been in the music business since you were 9. In what way has your years of experience set you apart from other teen artists?
COD: Wow.. That's a really deep question, so many things have happen to me in the past 9 years , if you knew how many dissapointments and let downs ive experienced you probably would cry ! Lol But I can say that Im glad that everything happened the way it did because I feel it made me more aware of the buisness end and gave me a different perspective on life, I feel that everything Ive experienced has made me a better person in general and Since I was as young as I can remember EVERY business meeting my father (who is also my manager) ever had he would ALWAYS take me to everything, so if you ever did buisness with me , you can say I "May" just be a little smart on the buisness end.. haha But I can say that now im FINALLY where I need to be!

MR: As an artist you have managed to do quite a lot (i.e., producer, dancer, etc...). In what way do you experience this as an advantage?
COD: It's a huge advantage, mainly because I dont have to be dependent on just 1 thing.. especially cause I produce and I have my own full blown studio I dont have to sit around and wait for other producers to submit music to me and set up sessions to record it cause I can do it all on my own..

MR: Any other instruments you would like to learn to play on?
COD: Probably the Harp, cause I think that is such a beautiful sounding instrument.. and I think it would be kinda interesting to play on stage haha..

MR: Do you think success and credibility are mutually exclusive?
COD: yes, to obtain success without integrity and maintaining your credibility is truly not success at all! it's like a tire without air in it, Its just not gonna work.

MR: What artists are you listening to at the moment?
COD: Usher and Akon , Its crazy cause I got to hear Akons 3rd album its SOOO crazy.. He's definetly showing the world what he can really do on this one..

MR: Are you living the American dream? Is it anything you hoped for?
COD: Beyond what I’ve hoped for, I just feel soooo blessed to be able to be in this position im in right now, I thank God every day for this blessing and the great team that My manager Freddy assembled around me thank you MOM AKON and INTERSCOPE..

MR: Recently, what is a typical day like for you?
COD: haha nooo not that question!!!! CRAZY, pretty much non stop interviews , shows, recording, rehearsals... etc the list goes on pretty much lol

MR: Final words?
COD: Ya, I just wanted to say thank you to all the fans that have been showing me sooo much love on my single on iTunes.. Because of you guys I made the Billboard Charts, The Rythm Charts, the iTunes Charts and so many others... and it's all because of you guys!! Also don't forget to check out my myspace its www.myspace.com/colbyo and my official website www.colbyodonis.com you can type in colbyo. Dont forget to keep showing love and cop the song on iTunes!! The more records I sell the better chance you'll see me around alot more Lol!! God bless

biography
Colby O’Donis – a young, handsome singer, songwriter, musician, producer, dancer and all-around entertainer – perhaps a child prodigy who didn’t get his break into the big league until now. At the age of 19 and signed to Akon’s KonLive label, Colby is generating a great deal of excitement with club DJs, on the radio and internet with his first single, “What You Got” featuring Akon, taken from his debut titled, Colby O. He is already a hit on the road—performing to packed club venues in Southern California, the Bay Area, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Detroit, and San Jose, Calif. (where he recently performed to a for- women-only audience); while the single has already broken at stations such as the venerable KPWR-FM [Power 106] in Los Angeles.

Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, Colby spent a great deal of time during his childhood living in Orlando, Florida—arguably the country’s haven for breaking teen artists. By the age of 9, he was already working with Platinum producers Full Force [Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Backstreet Boys, N’Sync] who shopped his demos to a circuit of record labels, and produced his song, “Mouse in the House,” featured on the Stuart Little soundtrack.

The initial persistence didn’t quite evolve into the expected success, but that didn’t stop Colby from continuing down his desired path. Both he and his family were committed to making this dream happen. “I remember how hungry I was back then, and I’m even hungrier today,” states Colby. “I’m so thankful to have such supportive parents as well as a sister who helped to pay for my guitar lessons, which is a big part of what I do.”

Colby’s formal music training with the guitar under the tutelage of Johan Oiested, a player in Carlos Santana’s rhythm section, has transformed him into a virtual musical threat. He’s also learned to play the piano, and is a true showman who has strengthened his dancing and stage presentation, and had one-time even considered signing a recording deal with singer-songwriter Babyface—until a career-altering meeting with Akon occurred. Akon was immediately impressed with the young prodigy, and the rest as they say is history in the making.

Colby has been producing music since the age of 12, further allowing his collaborations with Akon to stand out more. His debut album has pretty much been a self-contained effort, with the lion’s share of writing and production done primarily between him and Akon. “We’ve recorded so many songs for this project—maybe forty or so—it was hard to get it down to a manageable number,” says Colby. “The writing process has been so much fun, and it has been great working with Akon. On the real, he is a very humble guy.”

Together the pair has created a collection of songs that Akon says are “beyond definition…we are doing whatever is hot,” says Akon. “Colby is my secret weapon.” Listeners will find those words to ring true after checking out such guaranteed smashes like “Sophisticated Bad Girl,” and “Don’t Turn Back.” Colby would say, though, that the music has elements of R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop, even Latin guitar flavors. “My shows will include all of these styles,” says Colby. “Performing and entertaining is what I live for. I want to be able to show the fans that I’m a ‘real’ musician as well as a singer and dancer. ”

Colby will get that chance sooner than later—with artists such as Michael Jackson, Usher and Justin Timberlake cited as some of his idols, audiences are hungry for a fresh talent who can take up the mantle of those aforementioned superstars.

Colby O’Donis is primed and ready to answer the call!

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