JbDubs - Style, Sass, and Stilettos
By: Jase Peeples
5.27.2012
JbDubs first caught our attention when his fabulous music video, “I Hate My Job,” stormed YouTube – and probably your Facebook page – late last year. Not many men could take the bar set by Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and high-kick it into the stratosphere, but JbDubs did it with style, sass, and a pair of sickening red stilettos.
However, if you assumed this dancing queen was simply another internet sensation sashaying his way through 15 minutes of fame you’d have to add a checkmark on the list of epic fails.
In addition to recording entertaining pop music as an openly gay artist, (check out his two albums on iTunes), James Whiteside – the not-so-secret identity of JbDubs – is also a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet. He’s performed leading roles in classics such as The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Don Quixote, and many more.
Gay.net had the chance to chat with this multitalented performer and found out all about his inspirations, his experience as an openly gay artist, and the artist he’d kill a “whole box of puppies” to sing a duet with.
Gay.net: You are currently a principle dancer with the Boston Ballet, how (and why) did you decide to tackle a career in music as well?
James Whiteside/JbDubs: Music is the reason I dance. I grew up watching amazing pop/dance acts like Britney Spears, *Nsync, Janet Jackson, etc. They truly inspired me to break into pop music while sticking to my dance roots. Classical ballet has given me the drive and discipline to do anything and everything I want to with my life. My current mantra is: Do everything you want.
You’re songs and videos have a decidedly gay angle- is there a political aspect to your music?
I never sat down and said to myself "I'm going to make gay music". Yes, I sing about men, but it's still just music. I look forward to the day in the distant future when music is just music, TV is just TV, and people are just people.
Who are your inspirations/role models?
I think Robyn has had a huge influence on my work. She's a "F*** ‘Em All" kinda girl and I respect her brand of pop music. I like smart people.
The music business can be somewhat homophobic... Has that ever been an issue for you? Have you experienced any backlash or negative feedback?
I haven't been very involved in the "music industry". I am an unsigned artist and everything I've done has been self-perpetuated. In the future I'd love to get in there and rock the boat!
Do you ever perform your music live? Or do you consider yourself more of a recording artist?
I love performing my music live! Sometimes, the venues I perform at are a bit too nightclubby to have a proper "Hey! Come over here and listen to me wail!" kind of show.
Have you considered writing a modern day ballet? Written, sung and performed by you?
That sounds like a wonderful project. I'd like to make a ballet in the form of a long edit music video... more like a short film. But the girl needs a budget! I have so many ideas floating around in my crazy person's brain. They need to come out or I'll explode.
Since you are already wildly successful in the Ballet part of your life, what’s the big dream for the music part of your life?
Here is my Jdubs to do list:
- Make music and videos independently
- Gain the interest of the general public
- Get signed to a label
- Make more music and inspire the world to dance
- Take over the world
- Eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's and go to bed
Who would you kill to do a duet with?
I would kill a whole box of puppies to do a duet with Ariel from "The Little Mermaid". Ha! Just kidding (not really). The living person I'd love to do a song with is Dolly Parton. I think a dance pop country genre-f*ck is exactly what America needs right now.
