Eddy Fontane: Cee-Lo’s Protégé Aims For Soul Superstardom
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Gnarls Barkley frontman and hip-hop auteur Cee-Lo is known for being musically adventurous and, after founding his own label Radiculture Records; he’s definitely looking to bring more eclectic artists into the spotlight. Eddy Fontane is the first artist to sign to Cee-Lo’s label and one listen to his music and influences, and its easy to see why. “Cee-Lo is straight up and down outside the box, and when he heard my music and saw the blending of genres and how I came at it—it just made sense,” says Fontane. “You can’t really pigeonhole my sound.
Fontane is enjoying the return of soul to the pop charts. “I’m really digging the soul resurgence,” Fontane shares. “And it’s not [just] traditional–people are saying ‘this is my take on soul,’ which is really cool.” Fontane moved from Atlanta to Texas as a youngster, but returned to the ATL to pursue music. He grew inspired by soul and pop singers like Bill Withers, Phil Collins and Marvin Gaye. “I remember growing up and [hearing] the album Here, My Dear when I was eleven,” shares Fontaine. “I busted my father’s speakers listening to that record!”
Fontane has received rave reviews for his early performances and his skills as songwriter having gone unnoticed by the music press. Singles like the anthemic “All My Life” have garnered tremendous online buzz. “I love being able to give people an honest representation of how I feel about something,” the singer-songwriter says. “The biggest joy I get is when somebody feels me.” – todd williams
