Don Philip – Interview

don philip tells us about life, music and his search to bring them together

If you dont know it by now, Jive Records has become a force to be reckoned with. Theyve stockpiled superstars like the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and *NSYNC. Now Jive is banking on a bright new star, Don Philip.

Don Philip isnt from Orlando, he was actually born in Miami, and he isnt a manufactured act like most of todays pop artists. He struggled to make it in an industry that picks you up almost as quickly as they throw you down. He writes his own songs, plays instruments, and he can really sing. His past reads like any great hard luck story. Although he never turned to drugs or squatting in some abandoned building, Philip did struggle. It took him a quarter of his life to fulfill his dream. He strove for success, and finally the hard work paid off.

Philip sang backup for Gloria Estefan. That was exciting, but perhaps the fire that lit the rocket was his duet with Britney Spears called “I Will Still Love You”. Nobody in the world knew at the time, but Britney was destined to be a major pop star. Philip was as surprised as the rest of us. Dont take my word for it: see what Don Philip has to say about Britney and his struggles. We caught up with him one weekend in May.

Whats up?

A lot, actually. (laughs)

Been pretty busy then?

Yeah.

Getting excited for the record release and doing it live?

Yeah. Its going to be crazy.

Have you ever played big shows in the past?

Well, Im going to join the last leg of the Britney tour this summer and Ive never played crowds that big. Im not nervous, but I know I have to really put on a good show.

So the people in the back get their moneys worth.

(laughs) There is a lot of people to appease.

Is the music something you write or is it brought in? How is it done?

It is a little bit of both. What we want is the best songs we can get. Jive is very particular about the songs that go on the album. Most record labels today are concerned about one or two singles and the rest is fillers. Jive is about a real quality album. Ive actually been signed for over a year and a half and Ive probably recorded sixty songs. I always say that if I die Im going out like Tupac, because Jive will have enough songs to release four cds on me. We really picked and chose the best songs. We have a real quality album.

Some of the songs are unique and I was wondering if you felt that was really important because the pop market is so flooded right now.

I was trying to be the male Shania Twain. I kind of think my vibe isnt like everyone elses. Not just because of the music, but my life is just a lot more different than all the pop artists out there right now. One big thing is that Im not from Orlando and Lou Perlman didnt come along and sprinkle fairy dust over me. Ive been doing it all myself.

I thought that “Sugar” and “I Dont Like You Anymore” definitely sound different than most pop tracks.

“I Dont Like You Anymore”, I love that song. Thats my Shania song. It has my white trash family feel to it. (laughs) A lot of my family is from Lynchberg, Virginia, and they are into bluegrass, so it reminds me of a song that we used to do. I wanted to get some country sounding backgrounds in there and do a hoe-down.

It did remind me of some old country movie.

Yeah, of some old hillbillies. My mother is a country singer, and my first concert was Dolly Parton. We actually moved from Miami to Nashville and I got to hang out with some big country artists and Grand Ole Opry.

I grew up on country and classic rock so I know all about it.

I can assure you that the demos of that song are different. A lot of the writers for Zomba are country writers, and to me country writers are the best writers. They go in every day from nine to five and its a real job for them. Some of the best writers in the world are out of Nashville, Tennessee. Fortunately most are with Zomba, which is Jive Records.

And you can take those country songs and give them a pop appeal.

Right. Youd be shocked to hear some of my demos. There are good ears at Jive because they can find good songs even when it is the worst demo.

I was wondering what is the sample on “Sugar”?

Its actually not a sample, but it is similar to “I Want You Back” from Michael Jackson. Of course, we had to give him credit and make him more money.

Do you think that people take shots at pop artists because they are jealous, both in and outside of the industry?

I think it is because everyone tries to come across as so candy-apple-clean, and I tell everyone that I left home at fifteen, running around trying to do this thing, and Im not squeaky clean, Im not the boy next door and Im not a candy red apple. I have done a lot of things. Im not a role model, but Im definitely trying to be a hero. (laughs) There is a big difference.

I think the difference between pop artists today rather than ten or fifteen years ago is that you had guys like Prince.

Yeah, you had that bad boy image. Im just a real person and a lot of these pop artists try to come across like, man, I dont even know. You know? Like Disney channel falloff. Im not that. The only reason Im doing pop is that when I was little I had a lot of hard times and Im ready to be happy. I dont want to sing sad songs no more. That is why I didnt go with R&B. I just dont want to sing about depressing things.

I think you are right that the whole squeaky-clean thing does bother people, because no one is that perfect.

I know. And you know the scary thing? Most of them are that squeaky clean. Most havent been through the laundry once. They are still hanging on the rack. Theyve never got a spot on them. They are just going on their life experience. Im happy for them. Like even Britney, Im glad it happened for her this way and not how it happened for me. Paying dues, I say. If someone would have came along and handed that to me, I would have took it too.

When you recorded the duet with Britney, did you have any idea that album was going to happen like that?

No one did. It is such a great thing for me as far as getting paid. (laughs) No one had no idea, Charlie. Even with me. You cant plan a better setup than I have right now because of that.

Did you exercise your voice and get it to where it is from singing to your favorite groups?

Well, no, not really. I always say when I was growing up that Ive gone through a lot of weird little things at my house and stuff. But I would climb into this giant suitcase and disappear. I was such an emotional little kid that I used to break out in hives if something was wrong in the house. Ive always been emotional, and I think when I sing it all comes out. I was shy growing up and wouldnt talk to anybody. But when I sang, it all came out.

So how did you go from being so shy to performing and being in the spotlight?

We were talking about this last night. You know what happened? I learned that this was my strength and I used it. It changed my life. In high school there was this girl that I really liked and I didnt know what the heck I could do to get her to notice me. I was like, I dont look good, Im this and this, and I just used the voice and it worked. When I started singing, that is when everyone started talking to me. That is messed up, right?

Yeah.

I hated them all. That sucked. I mean, here I was all of that time and they couldnt notice me until they heard my voice. Now I use it to my advantage. I know how to work it. (laughs)

+ charlie craine