Brakes won’t stop this diva

Whoa Nelly should speedily launch the career of the next Canadian pop icon

You’ve probably never heard of her.

But you’re going to hear a lot about her.

Toronto-based diva Nelly Furtado’s album, Whoa Nelly, due out next month, is already one of the most talked-about events of the year among those in the record biz.

She’s going to be big, they say. Very big.

The American media has picked up on Furtado already, after only a smattering of low-key gigs over the past few months.

The L.A. Times recently called her a “real talent” after she played L.A’s Conga Room.

A Rolling Stone reviewer tagged her “an extraordinarily well-developed songwriter” after seeing her perform at Schubas Tavern in Chicago. Entertainment Weekly magazine named her on its annual It List, calling her “the thinking woman’s Christina Aguilera.”

Furtado’s voice has been compared to that of last year’s new name on the scene, Macy Gray.

Her stage presence, according to her producer, is a cross between No Doubt’s hyper Gwen Stefani and earnest poet/songwriter Jewel.

The American media have picked up on Furtado already, after only a smattering of low-key gigs over the past few months. The L.A. Times recently called her a `real talent’ after she played L.A.’s trendy Conga Room

And sex appeal she doesn’t lack. Long black hair, midnight blue eyes, glowing amber skin and abs to rival Britney Spears’ have helped Furtado land photo spreads in Canada’s Elm Street and other fashion mags.
So who is this dynamo, this diva to die for?

Furtado, 21, was born in Victoria, B.C., into a working-class Portuguese family. She first performed at the age of 4 on the stage of a Portuguese festival, and went on to pick up the ukulele and the trombone, dance in musicals and play in a marching band.

After moving to Toronto as a teen, she jumped onstage at a talent show at Lee’s Palace, where she was discovered by Chris Smith, who is now her manager, and Gerald Eaton and Brian West, both of the Toronto band Philosopher Kings. They worked with her on a demo, which shortly landed Furtado a Dreamworks record deal, with Eaton and West acting as producers under the name Track and Field.

That was less than two years ago, but Eaton says Furtado has come a long way, after having played a few dates during last year’s Lilith Fair festival.

“She’s incredible,” he says. “We started writing songs together and she started developing as a performer and an artist in leaps in bounds.

“The songs she writes on her guitar are simple and innocent and very true to her personality,” he says, describing her as “childlike and grown up at the same time.”

“She’s always discovering the world, but then when she interprets it, she’s got a really mature insight on it. It’s so cool.”

Furtado grew up listening to Portuguese music, she says in a mini autobiography on her Web site, http://www.nellyfurtado.com.

“My mother sings in a church choir and my father also enjoys casual singing and has a deep interest in the Portuguese style of music “fado” or “fate.” These Portuguese elements and influences are very much what I like to call my ‘musical hard drive.’ ”

‘There is an artist in me. I see art everywhere I walk. I believe I was born to sing and create music that emotionally connects. I was born to document the way I see the world and the experiences I’ve had in it’ ~ Nelly Furtado

But since childhood, her influences have widened to include such diverse genres as Brazilian bossa nova, Indian qawwali, African traditionals, plus techno, drum ‘n’ bass, trip hop, hip hop, even candy pop.

The result is a CD with an international, earthy feel and an undeniably catchy hook.

Furtado takes lyrics seriously, too. Before the record deal , she had considered studying creative writing, and mentions literary influences like Leonard Cohen and Jack Kerouac in her autobiography.

“There is an artist in me,” she says. “I see art everywhere I walk. I believe I was born to sing and create music that emotionally connects. I was born to document the way I see the world and the experiences I’ve had in it.”

Local concert promoters SFX Canada have booked Furtado to open for Jacksoul’s show Thursday at the Phoenix Concert Theatre based almost solely on buzz.

“I’ve heard her CD, and I’m excited to see her live,” says Melissa Bub-Clarke, marketing manager at SFX. “We’ve heard really good things about her.”

Bub-Clarke says Furtado has a star quality that will appeal to a global market. “She’s got a really unique, great voice, and she’s certainly got a look. She’s not like any body else out there right now.”

By Daphne Gordon, Toronto Star