Dria (recording artist)

Diondria Elaine Thornton (née Thomas) is a singer-songwriter born in Houston, TX.[1]

Dria (recording artist)
Background information
Birth nameDiondria Thomas
Also known asDria
BornHouston, Texas, US
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active2013 - present
LabelsNotting Dale Songs
Associated acts

Early life

Thomas was born October 7, 1981, in Houston, Texas, and raised in Fullerton, CA. Her father was a public transit driver for OCTA (Orange County Transit Authority) and her mother worked for the Human Services dept. She has a younger sister named Brittany Thomas.

She began her artistic endeavours at Huntington Beach Academy for The Performing Arts (APA) in Huntington Beach, Ca. At APA, she studied Musical Theatre, Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra (as a violinist), Show Choir, Actors Repertoire and Improvisational Acting. After graduating High School she attended University of Houston with a major in Psychology and joined a local Houston girls group.

After moving back to California in 2002, she pursued her solo career writing and producing her own songs. She began performing live and singing national anthems for USTA/UWTA tennis matches and NFL football games.

Career

Early career: The Frontrunnaz

In 2008, alongside her then-partner Christopher Thornton, Dria founded the songwriting and production team The Frontrunnaz, which has since collaborated in several pieces for successful hip-hop artists such as Logic, Ray J and Young Thug. As an AFTRA vocalist, Dria's vocals have also been featured on Rick Ross “Money Dance” and “Lamborghini Doors”, Meek Mill's “Shine”[2] and Young Thug's “Wyclef Jean”.

As co-founder of the Frontrunnaz, Dria has co-written records such as Seamus Haji's Remix of "After Midnight"[3] and Logic's "Stainless" and "Till the End".[4]

Solo career: The beginning (2013–2014)

As a solo singer, she has either been featured or provided additional vocals for artists like Rick Ross, Logic, Mobb Deep, Young Thug, Meek Mill, Lecrae, and others.

Dria started her solo career when she was featured in Ray J's single "ATM".[5] The single featured her for the first time under the artistic name of "Dria", and was later used for licensing for the show “Love and Hip Hop Hollywood”.[6] It was initially written by The Frontrunnaz team as a song for Miley Cyrus or Rihanna. Ray j's management team heard Dria's vocal on the song and decided to keep her on the song as a feature. Dria's voice is featured on the Pre-Chorus and the Chorus of the song.[5][6] ATM received generally positive reviews with ThisisRnB describing it as a "bouncy single for his unreleased album"[7] and Sue Robinson (from AXS) commenting on how "the trio [Ray J, Dria and Migos] creates just the right blend to this energized rhythm which contains a multitude of sexual innuendos – possibly a hint to fans on what can be expected in the upcoming studio album"[5]

2015–2016: Logic, Lecrae and Dove nomination

In 2015, Dria's solo career took off. She was a featured artist on the mixtape release: "Frontrunnaz presents Ready, Set, Go ft. Dria, Keme Davis and Dutchess"[8] produced by The Frontrunnaz. That year she also collaborated with Drake in the production of the soundtrack for Serena Williams’ Signature Statement Fall Collection for the HSN with KIA STYLE360.[9]

While working with her writing partner, Thornton in Los Angeles, they were invited to an impromptu recording session with rapper Logic. After being asked to stay another day for more vocals, she would go on to co-write “Till the end” and sing background vocals on 4 songs on his debut album “Under Pressure”.[4][6][10] As the relationship and success with Logic progressed, Dria was hired to compose and sing on Logic's 2nd and 3rd albums. She and Chris were invited to Hawaii to provide vocals on 8 songs on the “Under Pressure” album including one co-write and a featured artist spot on "Stainless".[6]

Logic's successful hip-hop album The Incredible True Story (2015) debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 in the US and sold 135,000 album-equivalent units and 118,000 copies in its first week.[10] The album debuted at number 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, surpassing Under Pressure, which opened at number 2.[4][11]

Dria was featured on Lecrae's Illuminate[12] released in February 2016, where she performed the chorus and background vocals. Illuminate was released as an exclusive pre-download for the people that preordered Lecrae's new book, Unashamed, that was released on May of the same year.

On August 2016 she was featured in Young Thug's new album "No, my name is Jeffery" with additional vocals as well as in Monn's "Not Missin U", on which the Crssbeat critics stated "The sweet vocals of Dria are one of the key elements which flow through the track alongside the melodies which have been made."[13] In September 2016, Dria teased in her Twitter account about a new project to come that was "completely God driven" and she was very excited about.[14]

2017– present: Logic, Meek Mill and solo career

In 2017, Dria worked with Logic on his third album “Everybody” and contributed background and lead vocals to 5 records including the 3x platinum, Grammy nominated, 1-800-273-8255 by Logic ft. Alessia Cara and Khalid. The album has been certified RIAA Gold.[15] While doing vocal work for Lil Wayne's producer Streetrunner, Dria's background vocals were featured on "Shine" by Meek Mill and "Lamborghini Doors" by Rick Ross.

Using vocals created by The Frontrunnaz from a vocal kit with S1 called "Voices" ft. The Frontrunnaz; Producer Jake One embedded Dria's vocals in the track to create "Money Dance" ft. The Dream.[16] Using the same vocal kit, producer Supah Mario created "Wyclef Jean" for Young Thug.[17] As of 2018, Dria is currently working on her own music. She released her first single independently, called "Brand New" on December 28, 2017.[6] Dria was featured as a co-writer on a song called "Ladida" by Japanese Artist Kumi Koda, scheduled to be released in February 2018.

Personal life

Dria is childhood best friends with tennis player Serena Williams.[18] She is married to Christopher Thornton, who's also her business partner in The Frontrunnaz production team.

In late 2017, Dria was bridesmaid at Serena's wedding, along with Venus Williams.[19]

Discography
  • "The Frontrunnaz presents Ready, Set, Go ft. Dria, Keme Davis and Dutchess" [8]
  • Symbolyc One (S1) Kits: Voices Vocal Collection ft. The Frontrunnaz [16][17]

Singles
  • Brand New (2018)[6]

Collaborations
  • "Not Missin U" by Monn ft. Dria (2016)[13]
  • "Illuminate" by Lecrae ft. Dria (2016) Vocals[20]
  • "Stainless" by Logic ft. Dria (2015)[21][22]
  • "ATM" by Ray J ft. The Migos ft. Dria (2014) Vocals[21]

Lead and background vocals

Songwriting

Award nominations

References
  1. "Dria Bio | Dria Career". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  2. "Repertory Search :: SESAC". www.sesac.com. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  3. MrSimplisticBunny (2013-10-06), Seamus Haji & JunkDNA & Olic feat. The Frontrunnaz - After Midnight (Aurora Lights), retrieved 2016-09-22
  4. "Logic: 'Do Something For Yourself'". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  5. "Ray J: New 'ATM' song released featuring Migos and Dria in the mix". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  6. "DriaMusic (Official Page)". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  7. "New Music: Ray J feat. Dria & Migos – ATM | ThisisRnB.com - Hot New R&B Music, Videos, News". www.thisisrnb.com. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  8. "Ft. Dria, Keme Davis, Dutchess and Torsha Lynn - The Frontrunnaz Present: Ready, Set, Go! Hosted by Hosted By Nappy Boy's Slick305". DatPiff. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  9. "Celebuzz". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  10. "Logic's 'Incredible True Story' Crowns Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  11. "Check Out The 15 Best Selling Hip Hop Albums Of The Year". 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  12. Daniels, David. "Music: Lecrae - Illuminate ft. Dria". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  13. "Monn Feat. Dria - Not Missin U - crssbeat". 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  14. "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  15. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  16. ""VOICES" The S1 Vocal Collection Review". 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  17. "VOICES VOCAL COLLECTION (feat. The Frontrunnaz)". S1Kits. Archived from the original on 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  18. "Serena Williams on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  19. "Venus Williams Was a Stunning Bridesmaid at Serena's Wedding". E! Online. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  20. Publishing, Lecrae / B&H. "Pre-Buy Song Download - Unashamed". Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  21. "Diondria Thornton | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  22. The Incredible True Story by Logic, retrieved 2016-09-22
  23. "Everybody - Logic | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  24. Logic – Till the End, retrieved 2016-09-22
  25. "2016 Nominees | The 47th Annual GMA Dove Awards". doveawards.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  26. "2016 Nominees | The 47th Annual GMA Dove Awards". doveawards.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
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