From Moscow to Los Angeles, Grace Valerie hits the dance floor

Born in Moscow and now living in Los Angeles, Grace Valerie is living the American dream. The singer, a protege of Randy Jackson’s, finds herself with two singles that are quickly becoming mainstays in dance clubs around the nation. She has recently signed a record deal in Europe and is already preparing her third song.

Valerie is living the life of red carpets, glitz and glamor. And she seems to love every minute of it.

“I’m really, really grateful, and I’m really, really blessed to have this opportunity to work with Randy and my whole team,” she said recently during a phone interview. “When I moved to Los Angeles from Russia, I had no idea that, you know, I would get such amazing songs and the music videos, and I was able to travel around the country and do shows and see people. It’s really, really incredible.”

Valerie said she’s always wanted to be a singer, but the opportunity to leave her native Russia for the United States didn’t come until 2010. With her family’s support, she started taking vocal lessons and quickly attracted the interest of DreamMerchant21, Jackson’s label.

“It’s just everything was happening so fast, and I had no idea that I would meet Randy Jackson when I moved here,” she said. “I had no idea that he would sign me to his label. I had no idea that our first single, ‘When the Lights Go Down,’ would be so successful and people would like it. And it’s very humbling to me, and it’s really, really great. So honestly I really had no idea that my career would be the way it is right now, and I would be able to do the things that I really love to do.”

The singer credits several American pop stars as her influences. Whether it was Britney Spears, Mariah Carey or Christina Aguilera, Valerie would listen to the Stateside music while living in Russia. “I love everything about pop culture, and every year I experience more and more,” she said. “It was something so incredible to me that I always looked up to those people.”

Valerie said that when performing her singles (her first one rose to No. 17 on Billboard’s club play chart) it’s almost like she’s on “holiday” or having a “celebration.” Backed by dancers and usually wearing an elaborate dress, Valerie’s songs couple romance with double entendres. Close one’s eyes and it’s not difficult to picture any number of dance hits on the radio.

Valerie’s image and singing success are due in large part to Jackson’s label. For the longtime judge of American Idol, Valerie has nothing but respect and overflowing praise. “I am so blessed that he signed me to his label, and he’s helping me so much with everything, with my career, with my personal issues,” she said. “I respect him so much because he has a great music taste, and he’s done so much through his whole career that he’s definitely I think one of the greatest persons I could have had as a mentor in my life.”

The singer’s focus right now is developing a third single and branching out into Europe with Spinning Records, her label across the Pond. “I will keep working hard, and I will make sure people will not be disappointed in what I’m doing,” she said. “So basically everything that’s going on right now with me is promotion for my single, promotion for my music video and we’re trying to do our best to find a great record to be my third single.”

Valerie said she’ll never sing a song that doesn’t connect with her personally. “Don’t Wanna Be Waiting” and “When the Lights Go Down,” she said, clicked with her the first time she heard them. In particular, “Don’t Wanna Be Waiting” struck the right chord. “I think it has a really powerful meaning,” she said. “I think that people when they go through heartbreak or some issues in (a) relationship, this song can really help them because the meaning of this song is that you should not wait for a person if he doesn’t or she doesn’t deserve you.”

She said the song has received buzz on social media from listeners around the world. Valerie even calls it an “anthem” for people going through hard times in life. “I was remembering the bad relationship I had, and the feeling when you just want to get out of the relationship and forget the person because it’s just (not) worth it,” she said. “You need some strength and some power and of course some time to overcome it. So I really have hope that people will listen to my song, and it will help them at least a little bit.”

The glitzy life of a singer trying to climb the charts comes with both positives and negatives. Valerie said she loves walking the red carpets and meeting new people. It’s work, but she enjoys talking about her “craft.” Other times, the lifestyle can be tiring, and she is living far from Moscow. Luckily for her, she has a family that supports her quest for success.

“My family is very, very supportive,” she said. “They come to Los Angeles to spend some time with me, like a few times a year. And definitely it helps a lot. I think the best thing is that nowadays we can Skype every day. We can talk on the phone every day. We’re friends on Facebook, so they see everything that is going on with me. And I talk to them every morning, and if I cannot talk to them in the morning, I call them in the evening.”

Valerie said she has an unbreakable connection with her family. They respect her need to work and take advantage of this opportunity, and they are always on her mind. “I’m here to be able to grow as an artist and to be able to … show them my message and you know make their lives better and happier,” Valerie said. “So it’s definitely hard to be without my family here, but they help me a lot and they support me a lot.”

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

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