Written By: Cecilia Smith of Houston TREND

The City of Houston would like to inform the rest of the nation that they are alive and well.

While the music  industry has only recently returned its slumbering eye back to the city it virtually left for dead after their 2005 turn under the national spotlight; its artists have forged on, intent on proving that recognized or not, the city is rife with talent.

Says DeAndre, “There are a lot of people from Houston that have made it big that just don’t live here anymore.” She adds, “If we had more industry people here it’d be a little different, but Houston is a very hip hop oriented city.”

Despite the lack of a large R&B presence in the city, and the inevitable comparisons due to the shadow of hometown diva Beyonce looming high, Houston songstress Deandre Wright is well on her way to showing that instead of emulating the greats, it’s possible to be great as well.

“Beyonce is a phenomenon. She’s one of those artists that only comes around every few generations,” says Deandre.

In essence, in lieu of trying to ride t coattails of another, she’s quite content with creating her own lane.

Although she misses no opportunity to showcase her soft yet powerful voice; her musical ambitions almost didn’t come to fruition, simply because in her youth she hid her talent.

“I started kind of late because nobody knew I could sing,” says Deandre coyly.

Though she spent her youth engaging in various extracurricular activities; including, cheerleading, band, and even choir where she stayed largely in the background, DeAndre managed to fly under the radar. Keeping her true talents to herself.

It would be the unfortunate passing of a beloved aunt from cancer that would become the catalyst behind  Deandre deciding to formally pursue her dream.

With her parents unaware of her musical ambitions, they urged her to consider a career in law, something she had earlier shown interest in.

“I decided to shape my career when I went to college because I was away from everyone; I wanted to sing,” recalls DeAndre.

A trained musician, (she plays both the clarinet as well as the piano) she decided to pursue a degree in creative writing in order to meld her love of music with lyrical composition.

Ready with a plan, it would be a chance campus meeting with reps from Houston’s famed Music World that would serve as a door to the industry. For the next few years she would serve as an intern, cutting her chops and absorbing the game before deciding to head out on her own.

Says DeAndre of her departure, “I learned so much from them. Eventually I wanted to take that knowledge and become my own mogul. I wanted to do things on my own.”

Taking a marketing position at 104.1 KRBE, DeAndre continued to both hone her own craft as well as garner valuable connections.

Perhaps one of her greatest connections would be linking up with current manager Will, affectionately known as “Krang the Brain” throughout the city. The pairing of the two would prove to be a blessing.

“He’s really into Hip Hop and I’m into Pop so his approach is very different from mine but it works. Will is in the trenches and I’m very polished,” advises DeAndre.

Now equipped with a strong foundation and first hand insight into the industry, DeAndre hit the pavement running. Leaving no stone left unturned as it pertained to performances. If there was a mic, she was there.

She soon set herself apart for her love and fusion of pop and R&B. Though her definition of the genre is a bit different than what may initially think.

Pop is an interchangeable word. When I think of pop I think of the 80s, the era that I grew up on. I spent my childhood listening to Prince, to Michael Jackson.

_DeAndre Wright.

To date DeAndre may very well be one of the most accomplished yet hidden jewels in Houston. Though you may not have heard of her…MTV has. With her lead track “Love Thing” making the rotation of MTV.com.

Additionally, she has experienced her first taste of international success with the song. Opening her eyes to the various possibilities that await her.

“Wherever people like my music, that’s where I’m gonna go. I would love to be a touring artist,” says DeAndre. She then adds, “I love Dave Matthews Band. They put out their albums and they sell-out tours whether they’re heard on the radio everyday or not.”

But radio seems to be in her immediate future; with her new single “Pie” already well in rotation on a multitude of underground stations in Houston, the anticipation surrounding her next project, aptly named “Dedicated,” grows greater daily.

With a dazzling work ethic and humbleness that precedes her, Deandre has perched herself as a leader of a new R&B sound emanating from Houston.

Let the songstress soar.