New Music: Daniel Caesar - "Do You Like Me?" (Produced by Raphael Saadiq)

Multi-Platinum and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Daniel Caesar returns with his new single "Do You Like Me?" via Republic Records.

Produced by the legendary Raphael Saadiq, Dylan Wiggins and Caesar himself, "Do You Like Me?" follows after Caesar's critically acclaimed 2022 single "Please Do Not Lean" featuring Badbadnotgood and 2019 sophomore album CASE STUDY 01 which features Brandy, Pharrell Williams, John Mayer and more.

RIAA: Rihanna Receives Seven New Platinum & Multi-Platinum Singles Certifications

Rihanna further extends her lead as the highest-certified females singles artist as she receives seven new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for her singles "Work" (9x Platinum), "Needed Me" (8x Platinum), "Love On the Brain" (6x Platinum), "Kiss It Better" (3x Platinum), "Desperado" (2x Platinum), "Same Ol' Mistakes" (Platinum) and "Higher" (Platinum), totaling her sells to 161.5 million units according to Chart Data.

The Grammy Award-winning singer and entrepreneur also earns her first Oscar nomination for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Original Song, "Lift Me Up".

Rihanna is set to perform at the 2023 Superbowl Halftime Show which airs Sunday, February 12th.

New Music: MAJOR. Releases R&B/Soul Single "Baby Will You Love Me"

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter MAJOR. has released his new R&B/Soul single "Baby Will You Love Me" to digital music platforms via MNRK Music Group.

Written by MAJOR., Jon Decuir and Harmony "HMoney" Samuels & Edgar "JV" Etienne (also producers), "Baby Will You Love Me" instantly reminds the listener of a contemporary version of Motown.

MAJOR. is set to perform on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Wednesday, February 1st.

RIAA: Whitney Houston's Self-titled Debut Album Is Certified 14x Platinum + New Singles Certifications

This week the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) updated their sales certifications for artists who've received new Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum and Diamond albums and singles sales in the US.

Among the artists is Whitney Houston for her groundbreaking self-titled debut album for sales of 14 million copies sold, tying her with Britney Spears and Meat Loaf for biggest-selling debut album by a solo artist in the U.S.

Originally released on February 14, 1985, Whitney Houston spent 14 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart, scored three Hot 100 No. 1 singles ("Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love of All") and won a Grammy at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards for "Saving All My Love for You" - Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.

Houston's singles "Greatest Love of All", "So Emotional", "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "I Look to You" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" have also been updated for new Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum sales:

New Music: Smokey Robinson - "If We Don't Have Each Other" (from Upcoming Album "GASMS")

Grammy Award-winning legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Smokey Robinson returns with his smooth new single entitled "If We Don't Have Each Other" on digital music platforms.

"If We Don't Have Each Other" serves as the lead single from Robinson's upcoming album GASMS which arrives April 28th.

In a statement about the song, Robinson says:

"I chose this song as the first single of my new album because it's different musically and has a slide dance feeling to it… which is different from what I've ever done before. It also has a current rhythm of today that I love, and I hope everyone else does too."

In other Smokey Robinson news, on February 3rd, the Motown legend will be honored alongside longtime friend Berry Gordy as the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year. it will mark the first time the prize is ever awarded to two individuals.

"I have supported MusiCares for many years and know what great work they do for our creative community who need our help. Recently, when no one could tour, they were a lifeline to those in the touring industry for monetary help and mental health services. I am honored that they have chosen me and my best friend and Motown founder Berry Gordy to share this beautiful honor and celebrate with you all together." -Smokey Robinson

New Video: Ari Lennox Shares Visual for "Waste My Time"

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Ari Lennox has released the official music video for her latest single "Waste My Time".

Currently a top 10 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart, "Waste My Time" appears on Ari Lennox's sophomore album Age/Sex/Location.

Lennox has also embarked on the Age/Sex/Location Tour. See dates and cities HERE

New Video: Former Death Row Recording Artist DANNY BOY Shares Visual for "This Song"

Former Death Row Recording artist Danny Boy best known for singing the hook on 2Pac's classic "I Ain't Mad at Cha" has released the official music video visual to his single "This Song".

In a statement about the song, the Chicago native says:

“This song reminds me of the '90s and a time when things were so good. When partying was amazing like block club parties, basement parties, and family parties. The lyrics exude partying; but with a peaceful, come togetherness….something that’s missing with today’s R&B. 'This Song’ resonates with me because it matches my movement as the Preacher of R&B. It evokes what’s been missing in R&B and takes me and the listener to so many great places.”

Produced by Fred "Toxic" Taylor and composer Bryson Dorris, the sensual feel-good Chicago-styled stepper's groove is expected to appear on Danny Boy's upcoming album Black Heart alongside singles "Done Me Wrong" and "Crazy" on February 14, 2023 via Chicago Creed Music Group.

“Incredible lyrics, incredible songs. It takes you back to old school R&B where the lyrics make you see the songs, songs that are relatable. It’s a relationship healer. It’s not just love songs and good moments, but the other stuff and how I got through those moments. These songs let you experience my heart.” -Danny Boy

New Music: CultJam Returns with Smooth Groove "What Love Can Do" (from Upcoming Album "CultJam Love")

Legendary and multi-platinum group, CultJam, returns with their new smooth groove "What Love Can Do" available on digital music platforms.

CultJam currently consists of founding members percussionist Mike Hughes and guitar & keyboardist Alex 'Spanador' Mosely and their new lead vocalist, Mystina Sol.

"What Love Can Do" serves as the lead single from CultJam's upcoming album CultJam Love.

One of the biggest names in freestyle and urban contemporary music in the 80's and 90's and best known for a string of massive hits, including "I Wonder If I Take You Home", "Head to Toe", "Can You Feel the Beat" and many others with then lead vocalist Lisa Lisa.

Chlöe Announces Debut Album Release "In Pieces" for March 2023

Grammy nominated R&B sensation Chlöe took to social media to announce her upcoming highly anticipated and long-awaited debut solo album In Pieces for March 2023.

Previously Chlöe released the singles "Have Mercy", "Treat Me", "Surprise", "Freak Like Me", "For the Night" ft. Latto and her latest "Pray It Away".

In Pieces is available for Pre-Save HERE

Ella Mai Announces 34 City North American "Heart On My Sleeve" Tour + Deluxe Edition Album

South London-born singer-songwriter Ella Mai took to social media to announce her upcoming North American tour Heart On My Sleeve in support of her sophomore album of the same-name.

The 34-city tour kicks off March 31st in Wallingford, Connecticut and ends June 1st in Toronto, Ontario.

Pre-sale tickets for Heart On My Sleeve Tour starts Wednesday, January 25th at 10 A.M. with general tickets on sale Friday, January 27th.

The Grammy winner has also announced the deluxe edition to her Heart On My Sleeve album is on the way.

New Music: Tanya Nolan (featuring Raheem DeVaughn) - "Pace Yourself"

Singer-songwriter Tanya Nolan has released her new duet with multi-award winning singer-songwriter Raheem DeVaughn entitled "Pace Yourself" to streaming platforms via ArtsessionZ.

In a statement about the song, Tanya Nolan says:

"It was inspired by a love interest, whose connection was pleasurable, inviting, passionate and loving. A physical connection that runs immeasurably deep."

Written by Nolan and DeVaughn and produced by Cory Mo, "Pace Yourself" follows after Nolan's latest Top 25 Billboard single "My Best" (Remix) featuring Grammy Award-winning artist and producer CeeLo Green.

Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Ari Lennox & More to Perform at 16th Annual Jazz In the Gardens Music Fest

The internationally acclaimed Jazz in The Gardens has announced the line-up performers for it's 16th Annual Music Fest which begins Saturday, March 11th and Sunday, March 12th at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida with performances by Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Ari Lennox, Sean Paul, Jodeci, Keyshia Cole, El DeBarge, Adam Blackstone, Mike Phillips, Chandler Moore, Kierra Sheard and Pastor Mike Jr.

Tickets for the two-day festival are on sale now. See HERE

New Music: Brownstone - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (from "The Brownstone Live Experience")

Grammy nominated R&B trio Brownstone which currently consists of founding member Nicci Gilbert, Arin Jackson and Alexis Jones returns with their cover of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell/Diana Ross classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" available on streaming platforms.

In a statement about the song, Brownstone says:

"We are so honored to share this musical love offering with all of you. This song is a part of our Salute To Legends in The Brownstone Live Experience. THANK YOU QUEEN Diana Ross & The Supremes for your impact and influence on not only BROWNSTONE but your influence on the KING who launched our careers, Michael Jackson. We are so EXCITED to share this tribute with the world."

Legacy Recordings to Release Luther Vandross 'Live Radio City Music Hall 2003' 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition

J Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, are set to release the deluxe digital release of Luther Vandross - Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 - Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition - The Last Concert on Friday, February 10th.

A romantic prelude to Valentine's Day 2023, Luther's Radio City rendition of "I'd Rather" (the second #1 Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart-topper from 2001's Top 10 platinum-selling eponymous album) is released as a single accompanied by an elegant new lyric video (the first-ever created for the song).

J Records released Luther Vandross - Live Radio City Music Hall 2003, an eleven-song edited version of the concert, on October 14, 2003.  On the 20th anniversary of Luther’s final sold-out shows, J/Legacy are releasing an expanded edition featuring the full concert, with the setlist restored to original concert order and Luther’s on-stage banter providing insight into his personality, sense of humor and commitment to his audience and his songs.

Luther Vandross - Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 - Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition - The Last Concert includes the eleven songs from the original release as well as four new tracks "Power of Love/Love Power", "Going Out of My Head",  "Any Day Now", "Say It Now" and more and is available for Pre-order HERE

Luther Vandross - Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 - Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition - The Last Concert

1 Power of Love / Love Power (new track)

2 Happy Valentine’s Day (spoken word)

3 Never Too Much

4 Work It/ Here and Now (spoken word)

5 Here And Now

6 Going Out Of My Head (new track)

7 Stop To Love

8 Love Won’t Let Me Wait

9 Any Day Now (new track)

10 A House Is Not A Home

11 I’d Rather

12 Take You Out

13 Say It Now (new track)

14 Superstar

15 Band Introduction (spoken word and music including :30 of “I Believe”)

16 Intro to “Glow Of Love” (spoken word)

17 Glow Of Love

18 Encore (spoken word)

19 If Only For One Night

20 Creepin’

Coco Jones Releases "What I Didn't Tell You" Deluxe Edition Album

Actress and R&B sensation Coco Jones has released the deluxe edition to her latest EP What I Didn't Tell You to streaming platforms.

The deluxe includes the original seven tracks featuring the singles "Caliber" and "ICU", plus four additional tracks "Fallin", "Put You On", "Plan B" and "Simple" a duet with Babyface.

New Music: Gene Moore (featuring India.Arie) - "Beautiful"

Grammy nominated Motown Gospel recording artist Gene Moore has teamed up with four-time Grammy Award-winning songstress India.Arie for a new single entitled "Beautiful" available on streaming platforms.

Written by Jayshawn Champion and produced by Red Hands, "Beautiful" is set to appear on Moore's upcoming EP.

New Music: Erica Campbell Releases Uplifting Single "Feel Alright (Blessed)"

Multi Stellar, Dove and Grammy Award-winning Gospel/Inspirational singer, songwriter and radio host Erica Campbell has released her uplifting feel-good single "Feel Alright (Blessed)" to streaming platforms via My Block Inc. Records.

Written by Erica Campbell, Marvin L. Winans and Warryn Campbell (also producer), "Feel Alright (Blessed)" serves as the follow-up to Erica's Billboard chart-topping hit single "Positive" from her highly anticipated album arriving March 24th 2023.

"Positive" is nominated for a 2023 Grammy in the category Best Gospel Performance/Song and nominated for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song at the 54th NAACP Image Awards.

K. Michelle Announces "I'm the Problem" 2023 Tour with Special Guest J. Howell

Multi Award-winning and chart-topping singer-songwriter K. Michelle took to social media to announce her 22-city tour I'm the Problem for 2023 with special guest R&B sensation J. Howell.

The tour kicks off February 23rd in Washington, DC at the Howard Theatre and make stops in other major cities in North America and ends April 8th in Atlanta, GA at Center stage.

K. Michelle is also set to release her upcoming sixth studio album I'm the Problem, led by her Billboard No. 1 R&B hit "Scooch".

Bradd Marquis Interview: "The Music of Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come" Tour, New Single & More

Multi-talented singer, writer, producer and actor Bradd Marquis utilizes his soulful tenor to captivate and inspire audiences from the very first note he belts out. Hailing from a time in music when soulful crooners like Marvin Gaye and Teddy Pendergrass monopolized the airwaves, this gifted vocalist, who is often compared to these legends, has honed in on their sounds and given life to today’s music. As a result, Bradd has graced sold out stages all over the country, performing his signature classic tribute dedicated to soul icon, Sam Cooke. Possessing a tone, passion, and purpose that separates him from the legion of today’s male vocalists, Bradd has piqued the interest of all whom witness the magic he brings to the stage.

RnBJunkieOfficial caught up with Bradd Marquis for an exclusive interview to discuss his tour The Music of Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come. A fantastic new show depicting the life and music of one of America’s most iconic and talented performers, the legendary Sam Cooke. As well as, his rendition of the Bob Dylan/Sam Cooke song "Blowin' In the Wind".

TERRANCE: First, give us some background on where you're from originally and when you realized your gift for music.

BRADD MARQUIS: I'm originally from Trenton, NJ and I live in New Jersey now. But I've lived in a lot of different places like the Midwest, New York, all of those spots and down south for a little bit. I've been singing all my life. There wasn't a time I can remember not singing. I come from that traditional Gospel family when folks just threw you in the children's choir when you were four or five years old and you just figured it out. So that was my upbringing until I was about twelve. I took a break from music for a while and did teenage things like sports and things of that nature. In my late teens and early twenties I found my way back to music and decided it was something that I wanted to pursue as a career.

TERRANCE: Who were your musical influences early on?

BRADD MARQUIS: There were a lot, because like I said, I come from a family of musicians. A family of singers from my grandparents down. My grandmother had ten kids and all of them sanged. I was the first born grandchild and so I felt like I got everybody's superpowers *laughs*. My family, aunts and uncles were my favorite singers growing up, honestly, and they introduced me to a lot of the Marvin Gaye's and Luther Vandross', Keith Washington, Teddy P, Glenn Jones and Howard Hewett. It was a gamut of people that they played throughout the home and obviously there was Gospel like Commissioned, The Soul Stirrers and all of those. My grandma had one of those homes that always had the radio on, so everything just came on across the radio.

TERRANCE: Talk about your tour that's going on and what the people could expect.

BRADD MARQUIS: Well, it's the music of Sam Cooke starring Bradd Marquis, me. It came about in 2009, actually that far back. I was coming off of an acting residency and I didn't want to sit around and wait for someone to call me. I didn't want to stand in line and audition. I really wanted to jump right into it and continue with the momentum that I had built at the time. I was sitting at a friend's house and she gave me a book called Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke which is his autobiography story and she was like, oh you look like Sam Cooke. I had heard that through producers previously and they wanted me to record Sam Cooke's songs but things didn't work out in those areas, but she gave me the book, I read the book and I fell in love and when I started doing research, I realized a lot of this stuff, my grandparents were playing in the house, I just didn't know it was Sam Cooke. I just didn't know it was The Soul Stirrers. So, I emerged myself in everything Sam Cooke for three months. Every video I could find, every image, every mannerism, every story I could find and I saw so much of myself in Sam Cooke's story. In the very first show I would sing half of Sam Cooke's songs and half of my songs and just try to bridge and paint the picture of how his life and my life were similar. As the years have gone on, this show has evolved pretty much like the music business every few years. It has evolved into something else and now I just sing his songs. I tell his story and we create and transport you back into the late 1950's, early 60's.

TERRANCE: What do you hope people who attend the show learn about Sam Cooke that they might not know?

BRADD MARQUIS: Interesting. Well, it's so multi-layered because the second biggest joy in the show is when I do meet and greet and see mom and dad have brung grandma and grandpa and their son and daughter. So, three generations of individuals are there watching the show and enjoying it together. Mom and dad probably brought grandma because grandma lived through it and it's nostalgic and now she's feeling like she's seventeen or eighteen again listening to Sam Cooke's music. The son and daughter are there getting a history lesson and getting introduced to a pioneer of not only Soul and R&B music, but he set the template for record labels and how artists move forward, even for indie artists to do this day. He set the template all the way back to the late 50's, early 60's, because he was one of the few, if not the only artist to own his own record label, own his own publishing, own his own music, things of that nature. So, he set the groundwork for Motown and Bad Boy and all these other record labels that we have today and the artist-entrepreneur, you can attribute a lot of that introductory to Sam Cooke as well, in addition to his activism and "A Change Is Gonna Come" which was the backdrop and soundtrack to the Civil Rights Movement. Him championing just self-love like adopting the afro and embracing his blackness versus trying to assimilate in some kind of way. So, it's multi-layered and we touch on all of these things throughout the show just for folks to see and take ownership of our identity and self-love, love and unity towards each other and hopefully set groundworks for just growth in the world.

TERRANCE: Your new single "Blowin' In the Wind" comes is out. What inspired you to record and cover that particular song?

BRADD MARQUIS: It's funny, because we actually did a tour last year and the last show on the tour was in New Jersey, so I took that opportunity to just pull out all of the stops. So, I got my videography team to come in and shoot it. We recorded the audio of the whole show. We didn't have any intention of putting anything out, but when we heard it, we were like, oh sh*t. It's something and I hope the world at some point gets a chance to hear it, but it has a mood, a vibe and an energy around it that needs to be heard. So, "Blowin' In the Wind" was the song that we kind of migrated to. Not to say it was the best song we performed that night, but it is one of my favorite songs and I think it still speaks to this day of what we're experiencing in America and the world. It's something that I felt needed to be heard socially. It's actually a Bob Dylan song, but Sam Cooke covered it because he felt it spoke so closely to the experience black and brown Americans were experiencing during the Civil Rights Movement.

TERRANCE: So, what's next for Bradd Marquis?

BRADD MARQUIS: Hopefully we can get the Sam Cooke stuff out there to the world, so the world can be re-introduced to Sam Cooke and his music and hear his music re-imagined for today. And hopefully we can get this show on Broadway man. As far as my own personal Bradd Marquis music, hopefully after this run and we've exhausted the Sam Cooke stuff for the time-being, I would love to go back in the studio with my team that I have now that helped me put together the Sam Cooke stuff and we could produce a Bradd Marquis album on the same level if not better.

Follow Bradd Marquis:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube @braddmarquis

Usher, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott & More to Headline Las Vegas Second Annual "Lovers & Friends" Festival

Multi-Grammy Award-winning superstar Usher took to social media to announce the lineup for the second annual Lovers & Friends festival on Saturday, May 6th at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds including Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Pitbull and Usher himself.

Presale begins this Friday, January 20th at 10 a.m. local time. See HERE for details.

The first Lovers & Friends festival was scheduled for Spring 2020 but pushed to 2022 due to COVID. Usher, TLC, Ciara, Lauryn Hill, Ludacris and Lil Jon led last year’s lineup.

Dondria Interview: New EP "Perspective", Launching Health & Wellness Podcast, Poetry Book & More

For R&B singer/songwriter and artist, Dondria, the last two years have been a productive season of metamorphosis and reinvention! After going through a healing, explorative time, she’s back to her first love, music, and steering her career with a renewed purpose, self-awareness, attitude, and direction. To kick off 2023, she has released a new EP, Perspective, on her newly formed company, Awe Me Entertainment, in partnership with 630 Productions.  She pours all her love, joy, trauma, and pain into the eight new songs available on streaming platforms.

TERRANCE: First, congratulations on the release of your new EP Perspective. Talk about the thought process behind it.

DONDRIA: Thank you. So, this project is, I would say, was a very inclusive one. Every song is written by myself and my co-writer and executive producer Josh Bias. We're also really good friends, so I'm grateful that he made space for me to just talk about my personal experiences and maybe even how I was feeling that day. A lot of these songs were written in real time and I was going through a breakup at the time.

TERRANCE: If there's one particular song that speaks to your current state of mind, what would it be?

DONDRIA: That would be "Let It Be". I call that song my re-introduction song. Kind of accepting that yes things have happened with music and the experiences have not all been great, but I still love music. I will never not love music. So, just with the wisdom I have and the knowledge that I have gained over the years, I'm ready to do it again. I'm ready to give it another try, but this time as a different version of myself and just trusting that it will be great and coming to this space of understanding because at the end of the day, music will always be my first love. This is where I live. This is my vehicle to impact, inspire and motivate the people, so we're gonna get to work.

TERRANCE: What do you appreciate the most about what Avery Wilson and Josh Bias brought to the project?

DONDRIA: You know I have yet to do a collaboration with another female and I'm open to it. I have some things in the works, but just up to date, I've yet to do one and I feel like whenever I connect with another male that's talented and great in their own space, it's just always a beautiful marriage, I think. I love duets, male and female in particular. With Avery Wilson, he's just amazing and unique. I don't know what all to say about Avery, but outside of his amazing talent, he's a great person and he's genuine. I remember conversations that we've had earlier on before even thinking about doing a song together, about our experiences in the music industry. He's had moments where he's been let down as well and so that's where we connected and I knew that with "You And I", he would appreciate the essence of the song and that it's a true R&B, soulful record. So, I was excited to present that to him and in fact that was the first record that Josh and I wrote before we even knew there would be an EP. That was the first song we wrote and we were trying to figure out where we wanted to go from there, so that song is pretty special. And then Josh, that's my friend, that's my homie. We've known each other for over ten years and so I thought it would be nice to have something fun and something to share on this EP since we've both put so much work into it. I thought "What I Need" was kind of like our celebratory song like our trophy, like, we did it! And we do the business together because we're business partners on this project, but we're also friends and we're also artists. Like, let's just do it all together on this project.

TERRANCE: What inspired the song "Lose Myself"?

DONDRIA: I was in that space when we wrote that song in real time. There is a dual perspective, but the very first perspective was me kind of reflecting on my previous relationship and just asking myself, have I gotten what I feel like I want from this. Is this relationship still serving me? And facing the hard fact that if I wanted to continue to grow and reach where I know I'm going, I'm sorry I'm going to have to lose you because I can't lose myself again. I've already done that and I found myself and I refuse to go backwards, so that goes for romantic relationships, I've also had to walk away from some friendships and even business relationships. I finally feel like I'm free. I have the people around me to really support me in a way that I haven't been supported before. And, it's also about me leaving behind my younger self, old ways of thinking and old habits and just coming into this new woman too, because I can't operate how I use too either. 

TERRANCE: "Good Company" is one that stands out for its upbeat energy. How did that song come about?

DONDRIA: Josh and I were kind of talking and I like to have fun. I like to turn-up with my girls. I love to dance and twerk especially when music is playing. I really like to enjoy myself, but I've never really shown that in the past to my audience. They may get a little glimpse every now and then, but I've never had a record to express that before and I just wanted to be able to have some fun. Why do I gotta listen to everybody else's songs to turn-up? I wanted at least to have one and Josh was very instrumental on that because I was a little uncomfortable, but he was like, this is you and these lyrics are you and you are these lyrics, so like, I know it's something new that you haven't done before but it's not inauthentic, it's very authentic to who you are. So, that helped me to embrace it and have more fun with my music because that's who I am. I love to have a good time.

TERRANCE: Talk about the visual concept behind the music video for "Him".

DONDRIA: Yes. I had a lot of fun shooting that. The concept behind it, I definitely wanted to show, I guess like a current day situation and what was lacking from it, but also show what I felt was what my dream guy was like. How would he show up for me, how would he show me love. I wanted him to be affectionate and just tall, dark and handsome. We kind of go back and forth between reality and my dream world and it's all set on this TV show we call like a soap opera that I see on the screen with myself as the lady and he's the dream guy. 

TERRANCE: What has it been like navigating your newly formed company, Awe Me Entertainment?

DONDRIA: It's like a bittersweet thing. I definitely am empowered and I am happy to have the freedom to do what I want to do to put myself out in the world in the way I know what's best for me. It's challenging because I come from a culture of just being an artist and showing up and singing the song and wearing this and you got this photoshoot. It's challenging but I'm up for the challenge because it's kind of like the cost of being your own boss and so I'll take it. I'm learning and it's been a great journey.

TERRANCE: There's been talk that you're launching a health and wellness podcast. What can you share with us about that?

DONDRIA: So, with this podcast that's called Detox with Dondria, I wanted to create a space and use my platform to reach the people that listen to me, specifically women, but anybody can listen to it and I want us to just pay more attention to things like the expectations, the habits and the thought processes that we have or around that don't serve us. Detox yourself so that we can add more things that are in alignment with who we are and who we want to be. That's very important to me and I have suffered from depression and anxiety in the past and still sometimes anxiety can creep in and so I wanted to use this podcast to tell my story, because I'm on a journey. I haven't arrived anywhere. I also want to grow with my audience too.

TERRANCE: You're also writing a poetry book?

DONDRIA: Yes. So, this poetry book is called In the Dark. These are poems that I had written actually in the midst of my depression. It was one of the ways that I was coping with it because I didn't have anybody or I thought I didn't have anybody. I was kind of too ashamed to share with people how I was really feeling, so everybody thought that everything was great and butterflies and rainbows, but inside I was really going through it. So, this poetry was my outlet and some of the poems are a little dark and they reflect some of the pain I was in, but some of them are light and kind of my hope to where I would one day want to be. The things that I desire in my life that I hadn't had in that moment. This is a pretty special project and I call it In the Dark, because I wrote these poems in the dark, literally. But the cover is a beautiful landscape which is in connection to the cover of my EP. It's the same sky, the same grass, there are butterflies. Because I feel like sometimes, especially people that are functioning in depression, the outside looks real nice and you probably could never tell they were suffering from depression and that's how it was for me. Like, I did not tell anyone what I was really going through. Maybe one or two people. So yeah, this is really special to me and I hope that it can touch and help people relate to that space and know that they can come out of it too because I've been able to.

TERRANCE: Are there any upcoming shows or events you can tell us about?

DONDRIA: Right now I'm just working to promote. I have a play that I'm in on stage that's coming out in May, on Mother's Day. I'm kind of going with the flow. So far things have been flowing in. I talked to someone earlier about putting the intention and desire out there and then allowing it to flow back to you, so I'm just in a space of flowing and floating like a butterfly, like, we're just going with it.

TERRANCE: Overall, what do you hope listeners take away from the Perspective experience?

DONDRIA: Honestly, me and Josh's goal from the beginning of this project was to make something that people could feel. I wanted people to be able to relate to these emotions and be inspired to do something either scary or possibly end a relationship or connection with someone or something, but also be brave enough to fight for who they love or what they love like their dream. I just want them to have something they can feel and are inspired and motivated by. That's my only goal, everything else is icing on the cake. 

TERRANCE: Any final words you would like to share with your fans, followers and readers?

DONDRIA: I think I just have the attitude of gratitude. It's been quite a journey and my last EP, I dropped in 2017 and one thing about my day one fans, they support and so I'm just really grateful for them and I'm also grateful for the new people that may not have known that I've been out working since I'm independent now in comparison to when I was on a major label and they saw me everywhere, so I'm just grateful to see even those people coming back, like, oh my God I've been waiting, you know? So yeah, I'm just excited and there's so much more to come in 2023.

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www.soundcloud.com/dondria