Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dria Danielle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Being happy is very momentary but I find being an artist some thing I enjoy and at the end of the day I am proud of the work I create. Sometimes I do wonder what it would be like if it would be easier working a regular 9-5 , but there is no fun in that if you aren’t doing something you enjoy and are building someone else’s business when you could build your own. Being a creative has its moments but I feel the good out way the bad- I get to be free and in my element when I am writing music or making art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Alexandria Danielle Lusk as known as my stage name Dria Danielle. I started making music when I was 7 years old – started out by writing poems and performing my work in the courtyard of my school with my friends. Through out the years I have faced enough heartbreak to write 10000 songs so I started taking my poems and making them lyrics and found beats to match. After having my daughter in 2019, I found myself writing again and then I released my first song “Baddie Alert” May 2023 and music video to go with it , I received 20K views on YouTube after posting . My video had gone viral and I had believed in my self and my craft not just because of the reassurance of my fans but hearing my song play in clubs or the radio was inspiring to create more. I am most proud of my self from being a girl who comes from Iowa, a place that is not well known on the map for music – I am one of the first female artists doing hip hop music that is making it and taking my craft outside of Iowa. What really separates me from other artist is my creative and determination, I am not like the regular rapper/ R&B artist I could call my self alternative and that is why I strive to be unique.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most fulfilling aspect of being an artist or being a creative lies in being able to show your creation to the others and see the emotion / reaction they what they see or hear. While growing up, I often concealed my talents to fit in at school but at home I turned to music, art, and dance, embracing my true self. Being a creator granted me the freedom to be unique and authentic. My aspiration is to pursue my passion without fear of the “what ifs”. Despite being an emerging artist, the gratification stems not just from financial gain, but from witnessing my creations come to life. The vision I hold for my music is exclusive to me, as it stems from the depths of my creativity. There is a certain joy when bringing smiles to people’s faces or observing their reactions and that is the ultimate reward.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Honestly , I think the biggest struggle for being a non-creative is the lack of understanding for art in any format. Or the livelihood of a creative – a lot of society wants you to focus on a regular 9-5 and forgot the thing that isn’t making you money at the moment. Or they feel the thing you want to do is just a dream, Also non creative’s struggle with the fact of knowing a creative and automatically feeling inferior or less than. I’ve had a lot of experiences with friends being jealous or dumbfounded on why I would choose the path of being a musician after having my child. But I wouldn’t have chose it any other way. I am a mom but I also have a dream for me to do what I love and to be able to provide for my family. And that doesn’t mean that I can’t still be successful in a 9-5 but it doesn’t support what I love , I am supporting someone else’s dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.driadaniellemusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/driadanielle?igsh=MTlwMXBubGdncjRidA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092585798196&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@DriaDanielle?si=MvJ37AXjMoIkw9fO
• Other: https://linktr.ee/driadanielle

Image Credits
Connor Botts, Focus Media LLC, Nemo, Royale studios.