The Raft Talks To Brooke Valentine
When did you start singing?
I've been singing all my life but I didn't go into the studio until early '98. I met Deja the CEO for Subliminal Entertainment (and executive producer of ‘Chain Letter’) in late '97 and he put me into the studio and started to develop me. From there I went and did a girl group but that didn't quite work out so I went back to the studio anyway and kept working on things by myself which led to my deal with Virgin and I started working on the album from there.
At which point did you decide you wanted to do this as a career?
I had never really decided I was just kinda waiting for my shot… I mean I didn't come from a musical family so I didn't have a musical background so I was trying to figure out a lot of things by myself. I would say that it wasn't really until I met Deja that I was like this is really what I want to do. He was actually there to tell me what it was like and to show me what it was all about so I could make that decision.
Who were your influences when you were growing up?
My musical influences growing up were... you know, not to name anybody but it was the radio and music video, just seeing them and knowing the way they made me feel, hearing certain artists like Sade, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Al Green, you know, just hearing their voices and loving the songs on the radio and seeing their videos. I just thought it was wonderful and amazing and I knew I wanted to do that. I was really drawn to them; I couldn’t stop staring at them on TV.
How would you describe your music to somebody who hadn't heard it?
If you don't have it then you should go get it when the album comes out! If you haven’t heard it then I would say I'm very diverse and I have a different type of energy... There is something for everybody on the album and you're guaranteed to find something that you love. Don't be afraid of something different. I’m doing something different, you know, I'm stepping out and putting different genres of music in one and it's for the real music lovers out there. If you're a music lover and you love all kinds of music then you're gonna love 'Chain Letter'. And it’s a reality based album; there's no sugar coating. It's kinda like true stories.
Is that what makes Brooke Valentine stand from her contemporaries?
I would say that. That's definitely the thing that makes me stand out and you know you should get the album and pick it up for anyone who's wondering about it. You see the difference and you'll feel the energy
Have you ever taken part in a Chain Letter?
Yes, definitely!
Is that why you decided to call the album that?
Not really but the meaning of the chain letter is the reason why I decided to call the album that, you know, the way they used to spread and everybody used to have them. Some people look at them like a negative thing but I don't look at them like that - I just saw it as a way to have fun, to play.
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About Petrol Records
About Petrol Records
