Speaking to You I Know I Got Soul, Trina Braxton offered a recap of her past with The Braxtons, her current plans for her solo career, and revealed plans of a side hustle for the future.
YouKnowIGotSoul: I want to take it back in your music career. As part of The Braxton’s, how did you guys originally sign your deal with Arista, what led to your break?
Trina Braxton: Woooo, we’re gonna have to take it back for this one! Wow that was a long time ago, I was still a teenager, probably about 13 or 14 years old. We had a showcase for LaFace Records and they had already signed the group TLC so they were only looking for a solo act and they chose Toni. So Toni was like “Well can my sisters come with me?” And we ended up being her background singers. L.A. Reid’s brother Bryant Reid left LaFace to go to Atlantic Records and so the four girls went with him to Atlantic Records and that’s when we became The Braxton’s. Then my sister Traci ended up getting pregnant so we ended up forging on with just the three of us.
YouKnowIGotSoul: I know that you guys kinda bounced around a little bit as The Braxton’s; you were on Arista, then moved to LaFace, and then finally to Atlantic where you released the “So Many Ways” album in ’96. What was the journey like and was it discouraging at all?
Trina Braxton: I have to be honest, I think I was too young to appreciate it. Now that I’m doing my new current music and it’s under my own label, I think I took for granted the fact that the record company does everything for you. They give you a publicist, and book tour dates, and pre-approve your budgets. You take it for granted until when have pay for it out of your own pocket! *Laughs* Again I was 13 or 14 years old when we were with Arista. I didn’t have a real appreciation for what was going on in my life.
YouKnowIGotSoul: You’re also working on this EP “Time of my Life”. What can we expect on there?
Trina Braxton: It is set to be released around the same time the third season of “Braxton Family Values” comes on. The new single “Game Time” is coming, you guys will hear that within the next couple of months.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Tell us about “Game Time.”
Trina Braxton: “Game Time” is the woman’s perspective of the football, basketball and baseball season. Women enjoy sports as well, we enjoy having a light beer and watching the game! But you never hear from the female perspective, so it’s a really fun song. There’s a great drum line in there, it’s a really fun song.
YouKnowIGotSoul: Can you talk about some of the ventures you’re now involved in outside of music and the show?
Trina Braxton: We’re opening up a retail and apparel store in Atlanta which will sell clothes, shoes and accessories. It’s called “Braxx” and I’m super excited about it because fashion has always been a passion of mine.
You can read the rest of the interview at You Know I Got Soul.
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