eSpot’s JoJo Meets So So Def Music Sensation Dondria

Introducing Dondria By JoJo

I attended a press conference for Jermaine Dupri’s newest artist on So So Def Records Dondria a/k/a Phatffatt.  Music mogul Jermaine always has his ear to the streets and never fails to bring us the best in music.  Well, he has done it again!  Dondria is poised to be the first R&B star plucked straight off of YouTube.  Dondria’s voice is fresh, soulful and simply beautiful. 

 

Hailing from the small town of Sachse Texas, Dondria is on the verge of what a lot of young girls from big and small towns alike dream of – music stardom.  Her story sounds a bit like a fairytale but it’s all true.  Dondria says she didn’t even know about YouTube until a friend asked her to watch a video on it.  Thereafter, she put a video on YouTube of her singing.  She got responses.  Then she put another video on, then another, and another until girlfriend reached one million hits and created a big buzz.  One million hits!  Word was spreading about this young singer with a great voice.  Music man JD saw Dondria’s videos on Youtube, loved her voice and personality and set out to get in contact with her. 

 

But getting in touch with Dondria was not an easy task.  JD kept calling her cell phone but, like me, she does not answer her cell if she doesn’t recognize the number.  So she simply ignored the calls.  JD was leaving her voicemails but she didn’t believe it was the “real” Jermaine Dupri – music mogul.    Something struck a cord because Dondria finally believed it was the real JD.  They met, he signed her, and now we are about to get blessed with the voice of an angel.

 

When I arrived at the press conference Dondria had already been working for a couple of hours but she was still excited and very gracious to the many music journalists that wanted a moment of her time.  Dressed in jeans, t-shirt, flip-flops and a baseball cap, Dondria is a very pretty, petite young woman.  She said she’s a size zero!  Most women would look like a whale standing next to her!  LOL!!   During the press conference a few journalists asked her to drop a few verses on us which she did with grace.  Luvs, sista’ needed no music, back-up singers or fancy outfits – this girl can SANG ya’ll!  J   

 

I had a chance to chat with the young star-in-the-making and found her to be down-to-earth, friendly, sweet and determined.  Here’s a bit of what we talked about.

 

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Dondria, I absolutely love your voice!  Your diction is excellent.  That stands out to me because a lot of young singers don’t realize how important diction is but it seems to be important to you.  Where did you get that from?

Definitely my high school and college vocal teachers.  All of them were great teachers and taught me a lot about diction, control and breathing. 

 

What are you looking forward to most in your budding career?

I love being in the studio creating the music.  I just love it.  That’s my favorite part.  Getting in there singing the songs, creating the songs.

 

Are there any artists that you would like to work with?

Of course Beyonce!  And Chris Brown because he’s my age and he has a great voice. 

 

(To say Dondria loves Beyonce is an understatement.  She mentioned Ms. B several times throughout the conference.  I certainly hope her dream of doing a duet with Ms. B comes true.)

 

What’s on your CD player or IPOD right now?

Chris Brown, Beyonce of course, Christina Aguilera.

 

Fashion is such a big part of the music industry.  Do you have a vision for your look?

I’m the type of girl that wears Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale – stuff like that.  So there you go. 

 

Dondria’s CD – Dondria vs. Phatffatt – drops July 29 but if you can’t wait until then to hear her beautiful voice, go to YouTube, put Dondria in the search line and take a listen.  But still buy the CD when it drops.  J

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