Earlier this year, So So Def artist Dondria Nicole (previously known as Dondria) revealed her new stage name. Since then, “You’re the One” singer released “Coat Tail” the latest single off her forthcoming album “The Re-introduction: Dondria Nicole.”
To continue her re-branding process, Dondria Nicole chit-chats with Ebony.com where she talked about her biggest challenge as an artist, songs she’s most proud of and what fans can expect from her new album. She also answered the million dollar question on why she changed her name from Dondria to Dondria Nicole.
Read excerpts from the interview below.
On her biggest challenge as an artist
“The biggest challenge was to prove that I was more than Phatfffat from YouTube. I mean, out of the gate that was the biggest thing. Like, you sing other people songs on YouTube, but can you sing your own? Can you put out an album? Can you hold your own as an artist? So that was the hugest thing. I accomplished it.”
“My influences musically are Whitney Houston, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Destiny’s Child, Tank, Jasmine Sullivan. I have a lot. And on the gospel side, I love Kierra Sheard and Kim Burrell. They all make me and make my sound.”
“The change was to show my growth as a woman, artist and person. I, as Dondria or Phatfffat, was very inexperienced, young and just kind of going with the flow. I had a little bit of say, but I didn’t know what I was saying. So now I am more mature. I have embraced my confidence, sexiness and sassiness. I wanted to add something to show everyone there is a change, a new movement.”
“I’m going to give you a two-part answer. “You’re the One” is my first one, because that was my first single. It got such a great response. You know, that was my second big break. So that is definitely my favorite one. My other one is also on my first album: “Where Did We Go Wrong.” It made the album, and I was excited because I was just kind of trying it out, and that made me more confident in my writing.”
“I’m still going to give authentic R&B, because that is really important to me. But I will give you more attitude, more sass. Just give you a more mature, established sound, because I did a lot of experimenting before trying to figure out where I wanted to go.”
