Google the name Francesca de Valence and you will be bombarded with pages about the vivacious singer-songwriter who grew up in Logan and now resides in Brisbane. Having performed with the likes of Keith Urban, Michael Buble and Vanessa Amorosi ; de Valence, 29, has had her own fair share of fame here in Australia and overseas.
Releasing her debut EP, From the Outside In, in 2008, de Valence met international success when she was nominated for the Los Angeles Music Academy’s, International Songwriter of the Year Award. Expecting to not get far, she was astonished when she made it to the finals and was eventually named Songwriter of the Year by LAMA.
“Originally I submitted my music to LAMA for professional feedback and critique; I never expected to be nominated let alone win such an award” de Valence says modestly of her accomplishment.
In November 2008, de Valence was invited to LAMA’s red carpet event in Hollywood to receive her award. Performing at a white baby grand piano she closed the ceremony playing “My Somebody to Love” from her debut solo EP, ‘From the Outside In’.
After her well-earned achievements in LA, de Valence went a step further releasing another EP, ‘Oh it’s Simple’, in August 2009. Subsequently the EP’s single, “Something New” was released in February 2010 and has been released as a music video, airing numerous times on ABC’s Rage. The single has also been played on over 70 local radio stations, including airplay on several commercial stations.
Captain of the choir at John Paul College, Daisy Hill , and the lead in the school’s adaptation of “Jesus Christ Superstar” Francesca showed promise and a clear vision towards a burgeoning career in the music industry. Raised in a household where her talent for music was encouraged and supported also played a huge cornerstone on her path to becoming a musician.
“Anyone who grew up with me could have guessed I would end up a musician. It’s just what I always did” she says.
At an early age de Valence was classically trained on violin and piano. Francesca also played in the Queensland Youth Orchestra which led to her studying jazz piano at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.
“Somehow all of that just progressed me to song writing” she says.
Musician hopefuls only have to look at de Valence’s sheer determination and triumphs of “making it” in a competitive industry to see that dreams can come true.
“To be a successful musician you need to be open-minded, have a creative spirit, determination and a little bit of luck,” is her advice to other would-be hopefuls in the industry.
This month Francesca is heading back to the US to attend a music conference and perform in LA, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
More information about Francesca and her music can be found on her website at www.francescadevalence.com
Right-click here and choose 'Save Link As' to download a free track by Francesca.