Get to know DREA in Five Minutes or Less
Hey Drea! Give me a little run down on who you are?
Hey! So, Iâm a singer, songwriter and rapper from Perth, Western Australia. Iâm all about creating art that is authentic to me but also relatable to a wider group of people.
Whatâs your origin story?
I grew up singing in church. It was something that came very naturally to me but I hated doing it. All I wanted to do was play with the other kids ha ha! It got to a point where I realised that I was good at music and had a decent ear for it so I might as well do it. I started writing about my journey through life and faith and I found it really fun and people responded well to it. Itâs definitely become a way to express myself without really having to talk about what Iâm learning or going through.
Are you involved in the hip-hop scene a lot in Perth?
Iâm heavily in the hip-hop, R&B and gospel scene in Perth. Itâs definitely coming up now and making waves around Australia which is pretty cool! Iâm blessed to work with a lot of talented people who value my musical opinion but also my craft. Some names are Adrian Dzvuke, Otiuh, Mali Jose and so much more.
Whatâs really influenced your sound over the years?
My music is mostly influenced by gospel/Christian artists as well as R&B with a touch of neo-soul. Growing up I would always be listening to the songs my parents had to learn for their church bands which consisted of artists like Cece Winans, Bebe Winans, Marvin Sapp and so much more.
As I started to develop my own taste for music, I listened to a lot of Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Tori Kelly, Frank Ocean (Channel Orange changed the way I listened to music), and Rachel Lampa.
How would you describe the music you make?
Real. Most of the time I talk about not knowing what Iâm doing but Iâm having fun doing it. Also, fun. Exploring things that we all face but in a way that every person from every walk of life can relate to.
When it comes to writing, are you often a harsh critic?
Iâm my harshest critic. To the max haha! I actually had writerâs block for over a year but I was focusing on performing so I managed that way. Lately, Iâve been getting into journaling as part of my self-care and that has really helped me in writing verses that flow
Now with your live performances are you the same person as you are on and off stage?
Iâm a totally different person on stage than I am off-stage. There is a massive misconception that Iâm a super energetic and loud person when in actual fact I love standing at the back of a room without being noticed. Being on stage with my friends is one of the best things I have gotten to experience in my life so far.
Last but not least - give me some quick facts about yourself!
Iâm Nigerian Jamaican but was born in Singapore.
I have a Chinese name.
My favourite sport is volleyball and I play competitively when I am not singing