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Born Brenda M. Fuentes, Bria Valente, is an American music singer. A protégée of Prince, Valente released her debut album, Elixer, as part of a three-album set with Prince's Lotusflow3r and MPLSOUND on 29 March 2009.
Bria is not credited but rumored to be the background vocalist on Prince's Golden Globe winning "Song of the Heart" from the Happy Feet movie soundtrack. Valente's voice is credited on Prince's "Planet Earth" album, and "LotusFlow3r". "Mr. Goodnight" , "4Ever" and "Colonized Mind" are the tracks she is rumored to be featured. (This cannot be confirmed as there are no specifics in the the aforementioned album tracklisting.)
Bria started her career modeling and starring in two Massari videos. "Real Love" and "Be Easy". She also provided background vocals on Usher's album 8701 with the Time's Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Which is rumored to have been removed and re-recorded with another vocalist.
Born and raised in Minneapolis MN, her ethnic background includes Bolivian heritage. She was allegedly introduced to Prince at the age of 17 yrs by Morris Hayes, his then keyboard player in the NPG band. They were later re-introduced in Los Angeles and began working on the Elixer Project in 2005 & 2006. According to Ms. Valente, her vocals have been compared to those of Chanté Moore and Sade. The Los Angeles Times called her sound "chill, with Valente’s buttery voice melding with beats by Morris Hayes and Prince’s guitar lines." However, this was before official media reviews and later the Los Angeles Times gave the album 2 out of 4 stars and stated that, "the problem is that not enough of "Elixer" sounds strong or fresh".
Unfortunately, most of the major media critics panned her debut album. Cited below are the highlights of their reviews.
NEW YORK TIMES:
“Elixer,” ... presents a palatable but undistinguished batch of slow- to medium-tempo R&B fare
ROLLING STONE:
Valente has a pleasant, if thin, voice — she doesn’t have the chops to elevate this material into anything memorable.
BILLBOARD:
"Elixer," features newcomer Bria Valente, and it's about average for albums from Prince
ASSOCIATED PRESS:
A third CD, entirely sung by new protege Bria Valente, is so lifeless and irrelevant as to hardly merit mention here. "Elixer" is a wholly forgettable trudge through generic R&B plodders that would drag down the most dynamic of singers; and Valente is not one. Her breathy whispers and naughty good looks, for that matter are more reminiscent of Ashley Alexandra Dupre than Apollonia.
ALL MUSIC GUIDE:
This attempt at old-fashioned star-making might have worked if Bria Valente had a smidgeon of star charisma
VIBE:
Her ten tracks are disposable, and redeemed only by Prince’s extraordinary production ear.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:
...her 10 strenuously generic tracks are pure R&B Ambien, and the lady is no Sheila E. (or Vanity, or Apollonia...)
References
- Elixer Overview at Allmusic.
- ^ Bria Valente interview. Tavis Smiley. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- "Elixer Bria Valente!" LA Late. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/valentebria/elixer
External links
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