Dawn Richard: Putting on for New Orleans

Dawn Richard has made waves all over the world, but the New Orleans native is HOME and is putting on for the city in a major way. Growing up in New Orleans, the Richard name definitely rings bells, but Dawn went on to make a name for herself.

We all remember her from Making the Band, then as a member of Danity Kane before she joined alongside Diddy with Dirty Money. Now Dawn is a solo artist and wants you to love her art for what it is on its own. Coming from a well known band, Dawn says she was always accepted as the black girl in a group, but not so readily received when it was just her. The art didn’t change, and she’ll let you know, “I wrote those songs!” Yet somehow, once the other girls were no longer a part, things were different. At the height of her career, she says she lost the essence of what her art truly was, but she’s getting back to her roots now. She’s been known to collaborate with and prominently feature New Orleans artists all throughout her work.

These days, she’s wearing many hats. Much more than just an artist, Dawn is running her vegan sensory experience Papa Ted’s (named after her late grandfather). She’s also a creative consultant for Adult Swim where she’s fighting to create a space for black and brown people. She’s working to highlight other black artists and bring them to the forefront. This is seemingly a dream come true for Dawn as a child who grew up on anime and loved to draw. “I wanted to be a part of that,” Dawn said. “I want to create a space for the ‘other’ people who may not have a home.” Keep your eyes on Dawn because she’s got some things in the works. For now, check out some photos from her live performance at House of Blues.