Drea Jeann makes soulful, emotive pop music for the modern age. It’s the sound of a survivor — a sound inspired not only by Drea’s diverse influences, but also by her personal battles and hard-fought victories. A lifelong entertainer who began performing in her native Northern California at 6 years old, Drea Jeann brings two hard-won decades of experience to her autobiographical songs, filling them with the challenging lows and charismatic highs of a songwriter who’s unafraid to shine a light on the skeletons in her closet.

Everything began in San Jose. There, somewhere between a blur of choir rehearsals and local theater productions, Drea developed a wide appreciation for blues, jazz, classical, musical theater, and pop. She listened to it all, from Ariana Grande’s R&B singles to Fun’s bombastic pop anthems to her favorite Broadway cast recordings. From a young age, she began writing her own music by jotting down snippets of lyrics and other song ideas in her childhood journal.

“Even in elementary school, I’d make up my own melodies and write my own verses,” she remembers. “I’d start a lot of songs but never knew how to finish them. I always had it in me, even if I didn’t have the guidance yet.”

That said, Drea isn’t acting anymore. Her years as a Bay Area musical-theater powerhouse are behind her. These days, she’s only playing one role: herself.

“I can’t write about something unless I’ve personally felt it,” she says. “I’m just not a good liar. I do my best work when it’s coming from the heart, so all of these songs are based off different experiences I’ve had, whether I’m writing about a long-distance relationship or the sheer insanity of addiction.”

And while some of Jeann’s songs deal with intensely personal topics, she doesn’t shy away from her honest approach, turning those unique experiences into universal pop songs that are once vulnerable and vital.

“I wouldn’t change anything that’s happened to me,” she adds. “Going through something like addiction — and getting help, which was necessary for me get better — has opened me up to talking about real pain and real emotions. It was the worst thing and the best thing that’s ever happened to me, because I’ve learned to be honest. I’ve learned to be me and share who I am through an art form that speaks multitudes more than words ever could.”