Biography
Valerie, an Austrian singer, first gained recognition as an independent artist during 2007 when her tracks "Mädchen" and "Regen" achieved significant success. Her involvement in music, however, extends approximately a decade earlier, encompassing periods with the brief girl group C-Bra and the prize-winning downtempo ensemble Saint Privat. Born Valérie Sajdik on April 2, 1978, in Vienna, Austria, her early years unfolded in Moscow due to her father's diplomatic posting and her mother's journalistic work. Fluent in German, French, Russian, and English, she pursued education at a French institution in Moscow up until the age of 13. The family's relocation back to Vienna occurred after the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991. She continued her education with studies in the United States.
Selected in 1998 for membership in C-Bra, Valerie contributed to several successful singles including "Make Up Your Mind!," "Love You Today," and "Papa Chico," culminating in the release of their album Mind Your Make Up! in 1999. Upon the group's dissolution following that sole album, she concentrated on finishing her academic pursuits, earning a law degree in 2000. Afterward, she performed as a jazz vocalist in southern France, an endeavor that led her to choose the name Saint Privat for her subsequent musical venture. The project took its name from a locality close to Montpellier where she resided temporarily and primarily involved producer Klaus Waldeck alongside guitarist Clemens Wabra, bassist Ruediger Kostron, and drummer Erwin Schober.
Echoing the approach of prominent European downtempo outfits like Röyksopp, Zero 7, <>, and Portishead, Saint Privat blended elements of older genres such as bossa nova and cool jazz within relaxed electronic lounge compositions. The group, fronted by Valerie, made its introduction in 2004 via the album Riviera paired with the single "Tous les Jours," both achieving Top 40 status on Austrian charts. Recognition followed in 2005 when Saint Privat received an Amadeus Award as Newcomer des Jahres National. Their second album Superflu arrived in 2006 along with the single "Somebody to Love." This effort proved less impactful, reaching position 40 on the Austrian albums ranking while the single failed to chart.
After the underwhelming performance of Superflu, Valerie departed Saint Privat to pursue a solo path as a jazzy pop/rock performer through a partnership with Ariola under Sony BMG. Her inaugural solo effort came as the single "Mädchen," which attained number 11 in Austria, soon followed by the album Picknick in 2007. The next release "Noch Einmal" saw limited traction, appearing on charts for just a single week at number 73. Success returned with the ballad "Regen," which entered the Top Ten and propelled Picknick upward on the albums charts toward its prior high of number 24. This renewed attention prompted Ariola to issue a refreshed version of the album in 2008, featuring updated artwork, additional tracks, and multimedia elements.
Selected in 1998 for membership in C-Bra, Valerie contributed to several successful singles including "Make Up Your Mind!," "Love You Today," and "Papa Chico," culminating in the release of their album Mind Your Make Up! in 1999. Upon the group's dissolution following that sole album, she concentrated on finishing her academic pursuits, earning a law degree in 2000. Afterward, she performed as a jazz vocalist in southern France, an endeavor that led her to choose the name Saint Privat for her subsequent musical venture. The project took its name from a locality close to Montpellier where she resided temporarily and primarily involved producer Klaus Waldeck alongside guitarist Clemens Wabra, bassist Ruediger Kostron, and drummer Erwin Schober.
Echoing the approach of prominent European downtempo outfits like Röyksopp, Zero 7, <
After the underwhelming performance of Superflu, Valerie departed Saint Privat to pursue a solo path as a jazzy pop/rock performer through a partnership with Ariola under Sony BMG. Her inaugural solo effort came as the single "Mädchen," which attained number 11 in Austria, soon followed by the album Picknick in 2007. The next release "Noch Einmal" saw limited traction, appearing on charts for just a single week at number 73. Success returned with the ballad "Regen," which entered the Top Ten and propelled Picknick upward on the albums charts toward its prior high of number 24. This renewed attention prompted Ariola to issue a refreshed version of the album in 2008, featuring updated artwork, additional tracks, and multimedia elements.
Albums
