ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Dria

Dria is a twenty-eight year old singer, rapper, songwriter, actress. Inspired by Brandy, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Eve, performing became more of a way of life than a hobby. Born June 12, 1989, the Gemini Picked up the mic at the very young age of seven, she flew fast forward into her music. Being a product of a broken home and living in the harsh realities of Baltimore city she turned to music for her therapy. At ten years old, working with local music groups in her hometown of Baltimore, MD, she began writing and recording her own music. Performing everywhere and anywhere that would allow her show off her sassy lyrics and soulful voice.

In April 2005 Dria competed in the Uplifting Minds Talent Showcase at Coppin State University. Winning first place in the show, she was blessed with the opportunity to open up for Faith Evans and Mint Condition at the African American Heritage Festival that summer. Only fourteen, performing in front of a crowd over 200,000 people, she won them over with her innocent songs and hip dance moves. Working with Sharpeye Ent, Dria landed yet another opportunity to perform alongside Baltimore’s own Lil Mo and Mario on the Baltimore Believe Tour sponsored by former Mayor Martin O’Malley. This summer event allowed her to perform every week at a different location in the city of Baltimore. This event is one she later found herself to be a part of frequently. Most recently sharing the stage with K-Camp and Baltimore’s own Lil Key, (Star on Lifetime’s hit TV show “The Rap Game” with Jermaine Dupri). In 2011 she also appeared on BET’s 106th and Park on their segment of Wild Out Wednesday’s: Female Hip-Hop Edition.

While music is her first love, Dria always had a knack for the art of acting. With that she joined Wombwork Productions. Wombwork is a 501c3 non-profit organization in Baltimore that empowers youth, their families, and communities through the performing arts. She has done stage plays at Howard University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, Medgar Evan College in NYC, Philadelphia Caribbean and many other locations. Some of the plays involve Suicide Prevention, Gang Violence and HIV Prevention. With Wombwork she also appeared on PBS showing off her acting skills as a Dope addict who lost everything from her addiction to heroin. Alongside some of the bigger names in Hollywood, Nadria landed a recurring role on the fourth season of HBO’s “The Wire”. She played a young middle school student who suffers from borderline psychosis. She was blessed to have worked with the likes of directors and actors such as Ernest Dickenson, Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters, Tristan Wilds and Wood Harris just to name a few. Since then Nadria has continued performing in showcases and stage plays all around the east coast. She had a commercial airing on the local televisions stations everyday for four years called “Spread the Word not the disease” campaign. Encouraging Men, Women, and children to get tested and know their status.

Nadria always found herself becoming a lead singer in girl groups. Most recently, after being a part of Lil Mo’s Honeychild entertainment, she was a part of her last girl group, Journee. Not lasting, as all girl groups go, she found her a new sound and a new swag. She is now working on her EP and has honed in, in a major way, with her rapping . With a new brand and her team she is more motivated now to better her craft than ever. The edgy sultry performer simply puts her road to success in her own words, “This for me is not just talent that I have to show off to impress someone. It’s a story I need to tell. It’s a journey in which I’ve learned so much from. I’m ready to touch all through entertaining.”