“Before 2006, I had never heard of YouTube,” says the Texas native, who was introduced to the site by a friend. “I went up there to watch a fight that had happened at my school. I didn’t know people were singing on it.”
On a whim, Dondria bought a webcam and decided to upload a singing video of her own. Her choice: an a cappella version of Musiq Soulchild’s “Love.” Within two weeks, the video earned over 1,000 views and garnered tons of encouragement from visitors. Inspired, Dondria began searching for instrumentals that she could videotape herself singing along to. At the request of her rapidly growing online fan base, she posted various clips of herself covering songs from “Diary” by Alicia Keys to Rihanna’s “Unfaithful.”
However, it was her stirring rendition of Ciara’s “Promise” – which received over a million views – that took the budding singer from homebound diva to a complete Internet sensation.
“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, I really have something here,’” remembers Dondria of the overwhelming response to the video. “I didn’t get on YouTube to get a record deal. I was just having fun. But when I saw the feedback I was getting, I realized that a lot of people really liked my voice.”
One of those people happened to be So So Def CEO Jermaine Dupri, who tried for several weeks to connect with Dondria on both YouTube and MySpace. Thinking Dupri’s messages were from an impostor, Dondria initially ignored them. “I would get emails all the time from people claiming to be this or that. Most of the time, when I’d blow them off, they’d never hit back. But Jermaine persisted, so I called him up one day and the rest is history.”
Dupri flew the singer and her mom to Atlanta for what Dondria thought was a session with Jagged Edge to make a YouTube video. However, Dupri surprised the young artist by offering her a contract.
“JD was so extra cool,” she recalls. “He just walked over to me, and asked if I was ready. My answer was, ‘I was born ready.’” Officially signing with So So Def in 2007, Dondria, then 20 years old, had a record deal.
And to think, merely a year prior, the Southern songbird was just another small town girl from Sachse, Texas who got her start in music at the age of four by singing in church. “My entire family sang, but I didn’t get passionate about singing until middle school when my choir teacher suggested I take voice lessons.” Dondria took voice lessons, competed in talent shows and over the years studied the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Etta James. She even spent a year at Tarleton State University as a music education major.
All of these experiences prepared Dondria for her long-awaited debut album Dondria vs. Phatfffat. Channeling her natural talent and years of training, Dondria pours her heart and soul into her first single, “You’re the One.” Written and produced by Dupri and veteran songwriter/producer Bryan Michael Cox, “You’re the One” is a timeless throwback to classic R&B and the perfect track to showcase Dondria’s range and vocal maturity.
“Dondria is like a young Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey or Alicia Keys,” says Dupri. “There is nothing that the girl can’t sing.”
Longtime Dupri collaborator and singer/songwriter Johnta Austin also sings her praises. “Dondria has a soulfulness that is just crazy,” says Austin, who recorded a duet with Dondria entitled “Crazy About Your Love.” “There hasn’t been a voice like hers since SWV. When we were working together, I was impressed by how natural she was.”
Her debut album released August 17th, 2010, Dondria vs Phatfffat – (“Phatfffat” is a nickname she picked up in college as a contrast between her skinny physique and ravenous appetite for food) – features a diverse mix of soulful ballads, real R&B and straight up dance records.
“I’m so in love with this album,” Dondria gushes. “You can play it from start to finish without stopping. I love the feedback I’ve been getting from my fans.”
If you haven’t purchased your copy of the album yet, you are missing a treat. Dondria updates a number of online pages daily with content – from a cappellas to covers to silly behind-the-scenes moments – and really leverages the power of the Internet to maintain her relevance and grow her million-plus fan base.
Subsequently, Dondria’s keen understanding of social networking coupled with her raw talent and charisma set her apart in the music industry and is a sure sign that this rising star will be around for a long time.
“As an artist, you need to utilize every aspect of putting yourself out there,” says Dondria. “YouTube made it so easy. It allowed me to show the world the ‘real me’ – my real voice, pitch and presence. Now, with So So Def, I have the opportunity to become a real R&B artist and live a dream. And I’m loving every minute of it.”
Lose Myself
Dondria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't wanna lose you
But if I have to
Then Baby oh well
Cuz I'd rather lose you
Than lose myself
So do what you gotta do
cnd I wish you well
Cuz I'd rather lose you
Than lose myself
Verse 1
Sorry for mistakes that I made
Sorry I was tryna find my way
What you've done for me made me this way
I can feel it fade
Wish I didn't but I need a change
& I Fight the way I do because of you
Never thought that I would have to choose
What was best for me over you
Catch 22
God help me thru
Hook
I don't wanna lose you
But if I have to
Then baby oh well
Cuz I'd rather lose you
Than lose myself
So do what you gotta do
I'll do what I gotta do too
cnd I wish you well
Cuz I'd rather lose you
Than lose myself
Verse 2
Sorry time away made me change
Sorry I'm not movin at your pace
But there'll never be a perfect time or place
I've been holding space
But how I'm feeling just won't go away
cnd I know that this may sound extreme
The time away from you has shown me, me
Where we are aint where I wanna be
Hate that what I want might not be what I need
Hook
I don't wanna lose you
But if I have to
Then Baby oh well
Cuz I'd rather lose you
Than lose myself
So do what you gotta do
I'll do what I gotta do too
cnd I wish you well
I'd rather lose you
Than lose myself
In the song "Lose Myself" by Dondria, the lyrics express the struggle of choosing between a relationship and one's own personal identity. The singer begins by acknowledging their fear of losing their partner but ultimately realizes that losing themselves would be even worse. They express a desire for change and growth, apologizing for past mistakes and admitting that the relationship has shaped them. However, they also realize that they need to prioritize their own well-being and happiness. The lyrics suggest that the singer is torn between what is best for themselves and what is best for the relationship, recognizing the difficulty of making such a decision. They seek guidance from a higher power, indicating their hope for divine intervention to help them navigate this challenging situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lose Myself" convey the internal struggle and conflict experienced by the singer as they grapple with the choice between holding onto their partner or prioritizing their own personal growth and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna lose you
I am afraid of losing you
But if I have to
In case it becomes necessary
Then baby oh well
If it happens, then so be it
Cuz I'd rather lose you
I would prefer to let you go
Than lose myself
Instead of losing my true identity and happiness
So do what you gotta do
You should do what you need to do
I'll do what I gotta do too
I will also do what is necessary for myself
And I wish you well
I hope for your happiness
Cuz I'd rather lose you
Because I would rather let you go
Sorry for mistakes that I made
Apologies for the errors I've committed
Sorry I was tryna find my way
Apologies for attempting to discover my own path
What you've done for me made me this way
Your actions have shaped me into who I am now
I can feel it fade
I can sense it diminishing
Wish I didn't but I need a change
Although I wish I didn't, I require a transformation
And I fight the way I do because of you
I struggle in the manner I do because of our relationship
Never thought that I would have to choose
I never expected to have to make a decision
What was best for me over you
Prioritizing my well-being rather than yours
Catch 22
A dilemma with no clear solution
God help me thru
I seek divine assistance to guide me through
Sorry time away made me change
Apologies for the changes caused by our time apart
Sorry I'm not movin at your pace
Apologies for not progressing at the same speed as you
But there'll never be a perfect time or place
There will never be an ideal moment or location
I've been holding space
I have been reserving a place in my heart
But how I'm feeling just won't go away
But my emotions persist and can't be ignored
And I know that this may sound extreme
I understand that this might seem drastic
The time away from you has shown me, me
Being separated from you has revealed my true self to me
Where we are aint where I wanna be
Our current situation is not where I desire to be
Hate that what I want might not be what I need
I dislike that my desires may not align with what is necessary
I'd rather lose you
I would prefer to let you go
Than lose myself
Instead of losing my true identity and happiness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AUGUSTAS VERBUS, BERTRAM JAMES SCOTT, KASPER JABLONSKI, LUKAS KEMESIS, MIKOLAJ MACIEJ TRYBULEC, PAWEL STRACZEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind