Many East Bay residents are unaware that they have the opportunity to see the next big thing performing in their very own city. Hailing out of Berkeley, CA, the talented self-coined “Urban Pop” songstress, Netta Brielle, is a force to be reckoned with.

Not only is she a triple threat artist, with experience in singing, dancing and acting, but Netta is also a song writer. This is no surprise, considering she has been performing since the age of five years old, and can list Bay Area legends Tupac Shakur and MC Hammer as personal influences who she hung out with in the studio, and on the stage, as a young child. Netta has a degree from San Jose State University in Musical Theater, which shines through in her performances and stage presence. Her lyrics range from thought provoking to whimsical. When she is not in the studio or performing in other cities, you can often catch her at Maxwell’s “Soul Therapy”. Although she has a special place in her heart for the East Bay, she is on her way to becoming the next big thing, so don’t expect her to be playing at intimate venues in the area much longer! East Bay Loop encourages you to see her in at Maxwell’s, before she sells out at the Oakland Coliseum, which is surely in her future.

According to Netta, in the burgeoning East Bay music scene, you sometimes have to believe in yourself before you get noticed. She did just that by producing her own successful mixtape, “Meet me on the Stage”. Soon after, her dedication paid off when she participated in and won, “The Def Jam Mega Star Search”, coordinated by Shakir Stewart, of Def Jam Records in 2008. However, despite her success, things have not always been easy for her in the music industry, or in life. All musicians struggle at some point in time, and in a recent interview with East Bay Loop, Netta jokingly acknowledges that it isn’t always easy for musicians and artists, “…I’m learning that as musicians we all go through the same things at some point. Every artist has forfeited a car note to press up CD’s, or put themselves on a McDonald’s budget to buy an outfit for a performance!” The East Bay community is happy that she has pushed through the inevitable challenges of being a musician and happily claims her as one of our own! Netta has also been affected by personal tragedy along her journey, losing her younger sister to gun violence. However, she draws on her love and appreciation of music, family support, fellow Bay Area producers and musicians, and her fans, to continue excelling in the industry.

Netta is currently hard at work in the studio, perfecting her next album. She is collaborating with talented Bay Area producers and artists, including Erk tha Jerk and Bedrock, among others.

Check out Netta Brielle’s new album Love, Pain and Music due to drop November 2010!

Follow her on myspace, Twitter & Facebook and get updates on her performances and listen to her music:

myspace.com/nettabmusic
twitter.com/nettabrielle
facebook.com/pages/Netta-Brielle/57517962932

Pamela V. Neher
Writer + Editor
lalavalentine.com