Today we’d like to introduce you to Dondria Fields.
Hi Dondria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started singing at a very young age in the children’s choir at church but I would say I discovered I really had a gift in middle school. My parents knew it too and immediately placed me in private voice lessons to allow me the space to hone in on it. From then on, music and singing had been a huge part of my life. I was singing at church, at school, taking lessons, and writing songs and poems in my room when I got home. A pivotal moment was when Destiny’s Child hit the scene. I looked up to them so much. I fell in love with harmonizing, background vocals, adlibbing, and started studying what makes a great song. As the years went on, I continued to grow in my gift and went off to Tarleton State University to major in Music Education on a scholarship. I wasn’t focused enough and eventually dropped out but I learned the fundamentals that I carry with me to this day.
Once back home with my parents, I got a job at a private school where I taught 3-4 year-olds. I had just discovered Youtube and every day on my break, I would go home and post a video of me singing. My students and their parents would come to school in the mornings telling me they saw me singing on the computer and how good I sounded. I started to gain followers and requests for certain songs and a year later, I garnered millions of views and the attention of Sosodef Founder Jermaine Dupri. He reached out, flew me and my mom to Atlanta and expressed his interest in signing me. A few months went by and I was officially a Sosodef Recording Artist. We worked on my debut album, Dondria VS Phatfffat, (which was named by the fans) and released it along with my first single, “You’re The One”. It was then that the ride of my life began. I was moving fast. Flying everywhere, doing press, going on tour, appearing on tv, performing, etc… so much so that I don’t even remember a lot of it.
But there was a point in time when all of that slowed down drastically. I think we were trying to figure out what to do next and we didn’t really have that much support to begin with so we paused for the cause… which ended up being indefinitely. Everything I knew about myself was attached to my career so the shift really hit me hard. I felt like I failed and was back at square one. And I hadn’t even begun to understand adulting so although I was midway into my 20s, I had no idea what the hell was going on in real life. It took me SEVERAL years, therapy, and an amazing support system to come out on the other side but I was able to fully get to know myself, my worth, and my purpose. And, here we are. Still writing, singing, thriving.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the beginning, it was smooth and fast. But the shift came with some bumps and bruises. I think my first struggle was just dealing all the questions about what happened to me and people calling me a one-hit wonder. Like what, how did we get here?
After that initial sting, I really felt alone trying to figure out what was next. I had no contacts or resources of my own, no money for real, and no direction. I learned a lot of hard lessons allowing other people to come in and manage my career. Professionally, they left me worse than they found me. I even moved to L.A. with hopes of getting a new start but everything I had been sheltered from before was coming at me fast and hard. I was pressured in every area of my life: who to date, what to wear, hairstyles, drugs, surgery, who to be friends with, you name it. It was overwhelming. I could go into so much more detail but we’ll save that for a book, lol.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am primarily a singer and songwriter. My genre is classified as R&B but I like to think I just make music… for the people. I’m probably most known for my single, “You’re The One”. What sets me apart is that I’m unapologetically me. No one else can so me like I can. My purpose is to reach, motivate, inspire, and encourage. I’m most proud of the fact that since taking my career into my own hands, I’ve tapped into successes I haven’t seen before. I’m placing my music on tv shows and appearing on them (Amazon Prime’s HARLEM, BET+ First Wives Club, and National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha Franklin), performing at awards shows (Black Music Honors 2022), partnering with the Mayor (ATL Year of the Youth initiative), and there’s so much more to come this year.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honestly, I would attribute my authenticity to my success. Embracing it unapologetically has given me the freedom to break out of the box they place R&B singers. I’ve been able to spread my wings and explore sounds and topics in music that I never have before and I’ve also discovered new ways to express myself outside of music. I have a poetry book, podcast, and city-wide programs all dropping this year because I chose to dig deeper and enjoy the process of getting to know ME.
Contact Info:
- Website: dondria.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dondrianicole/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dondriaxoxo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dondria
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/phatfffat
Image Credits
All Photos: Rious Photography
