ARTIST

Vitamin C

The pop process has spawned as many artists as pop music itself. Once upon a time, singers started out trying to emulate a particular star, fashion, or sound. These days, the excitable process of constant change and reinvention spearheaded by the always image-conscious Madonna has become the fountain of inspiration. Seeing who you can becomes next is now an important part of the game.

Take Vitamin C. Colleen Fitzpatrick first came to nationwide attention playing uppity socialite Amber Von Tussle in the John Waters flick Hairspray, which also starred future talk show queen Ricki Lake. Next she became the lead singer for Eve's Plum, an alternative rock band that seemed to be a perfect case of right place, right time.

With alternative's sudden wilt and after two albums with the Plum, Fitzpatrick stepped back and recharged, and with the help of some well-picked collaborators (Elektra Senior VP Josh Deutsch, Trevor Horn accomplice Garry Hughes, and Matthew Sweet producer Fred Maher), she crafted a spunky pop album that reflects the modern Internet age (much of the album was recorded in true futuristic fashion, directly onto a computer). The mechanical beats were meshed with Fitzpatrick's sense of pop: dollops of Madonna, Blondie, Split Enz (whose "I Got You" received an updated cover), and even harder-edged white-boy funk courtesy of The Clash's "Magnificent Seven" (which was sampled).

The self-titled debut album challenges dance music with a serious pop-rock attack. The first single "Smile" sports a reggae groove that sounds like the perfect soundtrack for a sunny day at the beach, soaking up the sunshine and getting some Vitamin C.

Written by Rob O'Connor