RS: Have you been able to apply anything you learn in medical school to the road or to the music, or applying your musical lessons to your medical studies?
Dolce: Everything is hard work and I've basically known that since I was young. Becoming a doctor, that's not an easy task, and it's very much dedication to what you want to do and doing things even when you may not want to do things, it's totally self-discipline. It's sacrificing a lot of stuff. That just goes for trying to become a doctor and also being in the industry, you have to decide what you want to do and if you really want to do it, you'll do whatever it takes. In both respects, I'm just practicing self-discipline and being determined and having that drive to do it, sacrificing what I need to sacrifice in order to accomplish what I want to accomplish.
RS: So, in your professional opinion Dr. Dolce, what do you think are the biggest medical risks of nightclubbing?
Dolce: I would say drinking definitely and drug use. Performing in clubs, I've seen a lot of things in nightclubs from alcohol abuse to drug abuse, both of which lead to promiscuous and unsafe sex which are pretty big dangers.
Another danger is the volume. You can't hear yourself think because the music is so loud, but that's just something I've kind of gotten used to over the years. A few years ago I started thinking that I had tinnitus, ringing in the ears, and I got my ears examined because of the volume in the clubs. It didn't turn out to be tinnitus, but since then I do take precautions, wearing earplugs because the volume just gets out of hand sometimes. But of course, it's a nightclub so they've got to blast the music so we can dance until it ends.
RS: Thank you for saying that. What about emergency medicine excites you so much?
Dolce: I had really chronic asthma when I was younger and I lived very close to King's County Hospital, so I spent a lot of time as a youngster in and out of the emergency room. I was in there maybe once or twice a week as a young child and it got to the point where I knew all the doctors and nurses by name. They always made me feel better and were very nice to me. When I came out of the hospital, I thought they had some magic medicine or magic power that always made me feel better. I was always interested becoming a doctor and emergency medicine was the specialty that I wanted to pursue. I had so much experience in the emergency room as a patient and I wanted to see how it would be on the other side, helping other people and then going home knowing that I helped someone feel better.
RS: You've also worked in the music industry, what lessons did you learn from working in publicity that have helped you in your personal music career?
Dolce: I worked for the VP of Pop Publicity at Universal for about a year and a half and the thing I learned is that artists need to be accessible, do everything they can to market themselves in the best way they can and be nice. I noticed that the artists that got the most attention, who were on magazine covers and that radio stations wanted to interview, were out there and made themselves visible. They were doing quality work and were very nice. They didn't have bad attitudes or chips on their shoulders, they were very personable.
That was a big lesson for me because back in the day it seemed like you had to be a diva and this and that in order to get attention. That got thrown out the window for me because I saw things from the publicity side. People wanted to work with the artists who have respect for people and themselves as well as their craft. At the time 98 Degrees were really big at Universal and I saw the publicity they were getting and they were really nice. So I figured, I'm just going to be me and be nice to everyone and let's see what happens. I've been pretty blessed so far, it's been really great.
RS: You've obviously learned the lesson because you're one of the sweetest, nicest people I've ever spoken to.
Dolce: Oh thank you. <laughing>
RS: Is there anything you want to say to all of your fans out there, all the music, dance music lovers?
Dolce: I want to say thank you so much, it's been such a blessing to be put in this position, to be able to sing and entertain. I'm just so happy that the fans like the music and they're enjoying themselves, dancing and having a good time. I'm very thankful and I feel very blessed. I'll just continue to give my blessings to God and to my fans because without them this all would not be happening. Thanks for the support and thanks for the love and all the great energy that they give me when I go out to perform and when they see me in a magazine and they want an autograph, I mean it's great. I love them and I'd do almost anything for my fans. So thanks again for loving and supporting me and the music.
