Jules and F.Y.D.I Pay Tribute to the Beauty of Imperfection in Barbie-inspired pop Confection “I’mPerfect”
With the overwhelming popularity of the Barbie movie right now, every woman is reflecting on her own experiences growing up with the doll – both positive and negative – and “I’mPerfect,” the new single by Toronto singer-songwriters Jules and F.Y.D.I, was born of these reflections.
Written by Maria Fidela-Dafnas, director of the TN Management modeling agency, the song came about when she was sitting in her office one day thinking about the exact doll she had tried to resemble in her teenage years.
“As a result, I continued to fit the mold of being the perfect doll and pursued a career in the film and modeling industry, where like the lyrics say… we were encouraged to be 34-24-34,” she remembers. “The superficial unrealistic world of fitting into ‘the perfect body’ led to me noticing the problems stemming from these ideals, such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.”
The resulting song is a chill, electronic, lounge-y pop confection that’s guaranteed to get your head bopping, and your fist pumping – in empowerment!
Don’t have to be a perfect girl
To live in this imperfect world
Learned to love my scars
Accept them for what they are
Girls we are beautiful
For who we are
Don’t need to be no Hollywood superstar
Two sensational talents in the industry, Canadian singer-songwriter Jules, and well-rounded Australian-born Toronto-based musician F.Y.D.I converged to create a pop-absorbed collaboration in “I’mPerfect,” turning Marie’s vision into a vibrant, colorful reality. They recently performed the single at TD Music Hall, to amazing feedback and wonderful audience participation.
“I felt the need to share my message with two amazing artists, Jules and F.Y.D.I, who are both true to the lyrics and want to help make my unspoken words of yesterday, their spoken words today,” said Marie. “‘I’mPerfect’ is a tribute to all the women who inspire me every day. I felt compelled to remind the world that true beauty is in authenticity and that imperfections are what make us perfectly human. Through this song, I hope to encourage ALL women to embrace their true selves, walk confidently in their own narratives, and revel in the beauty of being in a world that often demands.”
Jules, a Canadian singer-songwriter, stands as a testament to the power of musical exploration and evolution. With influences ranging from pop, alternative, EDM, and rock, Jules’ artistic journey is a symphony of creativity that knows no bounds. Born and raised in Vaughan, Ontario, Jules is an artist with a very energetic, pop vibe! As a young girl, her voice was discovered through singing competitions and talent showcases, capturing the attention of those who witnessed her raw talent and innate ability to convey emotions through her voice.
Ernestine Perkins (F.Y.D.I), the oldest of four kids, was born in The Ivory Coast. Her family migrated to South Australia when she was seven years old. She is West African raised and educated in Australia. She attended an all-girls performing arts high school, where she started singing and developing her passion for music. Growing up in Adelaide, South Australia, Ernestine was part of the school choir, rock band, ukulele ensemble, and drama club.
She started writing music after she graduated high school and went to college to study for a double degree in the Bachelor of International Studies and Bachelor of Media. She moved to Toronto, Ontario just over a year ago. She wanted to learn music production, so she began to teach herself. All of her current music is fully self-written and self-produced. She plays guitar, ukulele, a bit of piano, and the drums.
Care to introduce yourselves?
Jules: I’m Jules! A Canadian singer-songwriter, born & raised in Vaughan, Ontario. I’ve been singing ever since I was a little girl. I’ve been around music my whole life. My dad is a drummer, so I come from a very musical family! Singing for me has always been a passion and I’ve always had a love for entertaining. I grew up performing in singing competitions and talent showcases. I also spent a few summers busking in the city which was super fun!
As a singer-songwriter, I have a love for expressing my innermost thoughts through words and melodies. With my lyrics, I want listeners to find not only words that resonate but also the courage to embrace their own unique stories. My music definitely gives off a very energetic, pop vibe, but, also includes influences ranging from alternative, EDM, and rock. My goal as an artist is to create music that moves people, inspires others to appreciate the art and power of music in their lives, and most importantly, have fun doing so!
F.Y.D.I: Hello! My name is Ernestine Perkins I am from Adelaide, South Australia. I am 25 years old, I’m a singer-songwriter. I’m new to Toronto but I am having a great time and I’m glad to be here!
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “I’mPerfect?”
Jules: It was honestly such a fun project to be part of! I was asked to be one of the voices on this track by Marie – director of TN Management agency. She presented me with the idea of a song that she had written. As soon as I read the lyrics, I resonated so much with everything being said! The lyrics were so relatable to things that I’ve been through. Over the past year or so I’ve been struggling with anxiety and feelings of insecurity…feeling like I was never good enough. I feel as a woman there’s a great deal of pressure expected by us. This idea is perfect. These expectations can be linked to feelings of sadness and can result in eating disorders, low confidence, and more, which I’ll admit are struggles that I continue to deal with on a daily basis. These are things that I was never really open about so when Marie first showed me these lyrics, they were so true to me, I didn’t even hesitate! I felt this could be my way of sharing my own story. In a way, her unspoken words were my spoken words today! I can say this song has really helped me heal, reminding me that I don’t have to be perfect. It’s important to embrace your flaws, your insecurities, and love yourself as you are. We hope this song inspires girls and women listening to do the same!
This is also my first collaboration and working with F.Y.D.I has been great! We always have such a good time together and it was a fun experience being in the studio together, collaborating, and bouncing ideas off each other. The fact that this song was written by women for women, makes it so much more meaningful. I’m honoured to be part of it!
F.Y.D.I: I wasn’t a part of the initial stages of writing this song, in fact, I had just returned to Australia to see my family after a year. I was planning on staying until June but then I got an email from Marie asking for a Zoom meeting at 3 am in the morning Australian time. Safe to say I was not expecting Marie to ask me back to Toronto for a song. I was apprehensive at first about the long journey back to Canada, but I thought the idea for an empowering song for women and girls was worth the Trip! So, I made the 48-hour trip back here in May. The writing process was full of late nights and laughter and the entire process was a collaborative effort by everyone involved that yielded amazing results!
What’s it like being a musician in Toronto?
Jules: I feel there’s been so much amazing talent coming out of Toronto in the last few years, especially when it comes to music. I’m definitely proud to be a Canadian artist! There are so many amazing venues showcasing talent. Myself & F.Y.D.I recently performed “ImPerfect” at TD Music Hall, part of Massey Hall, which was super fun! I feel it’s so important to establish connections with other artists and collaborators and to continue networking with those in the industry.
F.Y.D.I: There are a lot of opportunities in Toronto that I would not have encountered had I stayed in Adelaide. It’s a hustle out here as a musician but having ambitious and like-minded people around you makes the music-making process worthwhile and fun. I am enjoying my time here so far and I hope to meet more artists and learn a lot more about music and the industry out here.
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
Jules: I’ve always been a fan of Alessia Cara. Ever since her first hit, I’ve always really resonated with her music and the messages in her songs. Being so close in age, I relate to her in many ways. I’m also a really big fan of Tate McRae! She’s currently blowing up and I love her whole vibe and sound! She’s such a great performer on stage too! I’ve been following her ever since she started posting covers on YouTube and I’ve really enjoyed watching her journey and the heights she’s reached so far. She definitely inspires me in so many ways and also makes me realize the importance of growing your audience through social media.
F.Y.D.I: Celine Dion has always been a favorite artist of mine who just so happens to be Canadian, her sound and talent is and will remain timeless. Canadian rappers like Richie Sosa and Drake have always found their place on a playlist or two. There is a lot of Talent here in Toronto and I am glad to be here in such an amazing creative Hub for music.
You’ve been making music for a short time now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Jules: I would say to just keep going! If you really love it, don’t stop. It’s all about creating new music, being consistent, and keeping your fans and listeners engaged. I’m a firm believer that you can achieve anything you set your mind to! I try not to worry about what other people think. Put yourself out there, and if someone wants to support you, they will. It’s also important to surround yourself with a good team of positive-minded and ambitious people who believe in you. After all, it takes a village…
F.Y.D.I: Be open to new things! A shell is for a turtle, not an artist. Get out, meet people, and experience new places, ideas, and concepts. The world is a great teacher of the creative mind and there is always something new to learn. I am speaking to myself as well.
Connect with Jules:
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Connect with F.Y.D.I:
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