Brisbane singer/songwriter Francesca De Valence has had a mighty win this week. She has been named Songwriter of the Year by the Los Angeles Music Academy.
Francesca tells Undercover that the award was somewhat of a surprise. “In May I was nominated for a Los Angeles Music Award for Female Vocal Performance of the Year for the performance of my song "My Somebody to Love".”“I submitted my music to the board at the LAMA for professional feedback, not actually thinking I would be nominated (let alone win). I submitted a few songs, and when they were considering my nomination they decided to change my nominated to a Songwriting Award based on all my songs that I had submitted - a category I didn't nominate for.”
In November (now), I came to LA for the awards, where I played my song "My Somebody to Love" at and was awarded with International Songwriter of the Year.
Francesca was up against songwriters from all over the world. “I felt honored to be acknowledged for my work in the industry but more so felt a huge sense of encouragement to keep writing - that surely I'm on the right track,” she tells Undercover.
The Los Angeles Music Academy was founded in 1996. It features an intense contemporary music education program.
Francesca released her indie EP ‘From The Outside In’ in May this year.
This year, she has also won the Adult Contemporary Song of the Year at the 2008 Independent Singer Songwriter Awards, was a runner-up at the We Are Listening 2008 Singer Songwriter Awards and was a semi-finalist in the 2008 UK Songwriting Contest.
