Mariah's background vocalist releases album
She first attracted attention on the "Love Jones" soundtrack with her mesmerizing cover of Minnie Riperton's "Inside My Love". That was in 1997. Seven years later, R&B singer/songwriter Trina Broussard is finally realizing a career dream. Universal/Motown Records Group will release her solo set "The Same Girl" June 22.
The journey from buzz-generating album track to full-length project has taken a long time. In fact, this isn't Broussard's first stab at a solo album. The Houston native began pursuing a music career in 1990. She had relocated to Atlanta, where she landed background vocal gigs for Bobby Brown, Babyface, Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton, among others.
Her session work caught the ear of another Atlanta resident, producer/songwriter Jermaine Dupri. He signed her to his then-Columbia-distributed label, So So Def. Following her "Love Jones" acclaim, Broussard co-wrote "Here We Go Again" for Aretha Franklin in 1998. So So Def released Broussard's own single, "Love You So Much", a year later. Her planned self-titled album failed to follow, however. Broussard insists she's glad the record never appeared.
"We got to the threshold," she says, "but the decision to not release the album was divine order. I wasn't ready mentally; I had some growing up to do. I hadn't found my voice." In the interim Broussard sang with Boney James, provided background vocals for Al Jarreau and Kirk Franklin and toured with Rahsaan Patterson. She also joined forces with current manager Bart Phillips, CEO of Atlanta-based Beacon Street Music. The two had worked together when he was at So So Def.
Motown chief Kedar Massenburg signed Broussard in 2002. She and writing partner Ra-Re Valverde set to work on what became the majority of "The Same Girl". Broussard also co-produced the album, working with Gordon "Commissioner" Williams (Lauryn Hill, Santana), Jamey Jaz and Steve Harvey (not the comedian). "This time I dug deep, and feel like I'm singing better than ever," Broussard says. "Not to take anything away from that first album, but to me the vocals were contrived. I grew up on this (new) album."
"The Same Girl" revolves around themes of love, friendship and perseverance reminiscent of music by such Broussard influences as Anita Baker (news) and Donny Hathaway. The lead single, "Losing My Mind", is the sole holdover from Broussard's original So So Def project. Airplay momentum has been slow so far. Phillips says he expected that scenario, given the music industry climate. "Anything organic like this is going to be a slow grind. But we're up for it." (Reuters)
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