[twitter]Carly Rae Jepsen is making headlines around the web this week now that Justin Bieber has signed her to her record label and she’s in LA taking meetings with Interscope.

BUT .. before Carly Rae Jepsen was a big international deal, she was a semi-big Vancouver deal. In 2007 she finished 3rd on Canadian Idol (Brian Melo was the winner). 18 months later, she was out and doing it on her own as an independent artist.

Here’s an interview from January 2009 when Carly Rae Jepsen visited me and KJ in the Virgin Radio Vancouver studios and started things off by doing a cover of the classic Blueberry Hill, then we chatted about her Idol time and how she’s trying to do it on her own before she did another performance of her hit (at the time) Tug of War.

Buzz Bishop, KJ and Carly Rae Jepsen – Vancouver, January 15, 2009

Back in the day I thought Carly Rae had the sweet sound, the honest songwriting, and the hooky production to catch on and be a big deal.

I was about 3 years ahead of the curve.

The song that has catapulted her to stardom, Call Me Maybe, has that spine-tingling Vanessa Carlton string arrangement along with the teen angst perfect lyrics.

The dream come true couldnt happen to a sweeter girl.