Daily Inspiration: Meet Dana (Cara-Mel) Lawrence

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana (Cara-Mel) Lawrence.

Hi Dana (Cara-Mel), it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My name is Dana Lawrence, and I go by the artist Cara-Mel. I am a female Hip Hop/Inspirational Singer-Songwriter representing the Baltimore/Washington D.C. Metropolitan area known as the DMV. My style can be best described as a blend of R&B, Hip Hop, Down South, and Dance meets Trap with a Social Justice aspect. At the tender age of seven, listening to inspirational Oldies But Goodies; is where my interest in R&B artists such as Stevie Wonder and Al Green led to writing full R&B/Soul ballads and playful up-tempo tunes by the age of eleven. Deeply into jazz artists such as Kenny G and Najee, I began playing the saxophone in the sixth grade and was invited during the first year of playing to the All-City Band, where I was ranked the third chair overall in my hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia. Listening to Miami Bass, Down South, and Hip Hop music with influences such as Luke, Salt-N-Pepa, Tupac, Lauryn Hill, Slick Rick, A Tribe Called Quest, and 69 Boyz; is where my style of rhythmical writing took off around the age of fourteen.

However, after years of struggling to get on with a major label, I made the mistake of giving up the pursuit of such musical dreams and stopped creating and producing music. Once hanging up the microphone, I spent several years working as a special education teacher and within the fitness industry as a certified personal trainer/group exercise instructor/nutritional coach. In 2008, I started a health and wellness business, which became very successful throughout the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area for five years. However, cutbacks forced our family business to close during the mid-2013 economic slowdown and the federal government’s sequestration. The sudden loss of income led to my home’s foreclosure and bankruptcy.

Attempting to get back on my feet, I was hit with another blow, being diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS), considered the earliest form of breast cancer. Once given this devastating news, I began to reflect on life and felt some forms of regret. It was during this time I vowed to go back to one of my greatest past loves, which was music. This motivated the recording of “Broke,” my first hip-hop song in years. The street promo song “Broke” was placed on the map when it caught the attention of DJ SIDEREAL from Minnesota and landed a spot on the “Stamp of Approval” mixtape song bangers of the year in 2015. This song was written and recorded to reflect the frustrations of living check to check, which everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. Following my return to the music scene, I released “Back To The Grind,” a sneak peek of what was to come from the highly anticipated debut mixtape “Racial Profile,” which was released in September of 2016. Since then, my music has been placed on several mixtapes, such as “Never Falling Off,” hosted by the On By Society Movement, and DMV vs. EVERYBODY 3, a popular DMV Music Plug local artist’s series.

With 2018 ending on a great note, I was looking forward to collaborations with various artists as my career began expanding into 2019. However, excited about new opportunities ahead, and while recording new works, I was hit with unexpected news. After a routine exam, I was diagnosed again with breast cancer (DCIS) in April of 2019. But, with discipline and perseverance, I worked hard to return to my music career and live cancer-free in a little over nine months, becoming a two-time pink survivor.

Since I resumed my musical journey in 2015, I have landed magazine spreads from Mr. Dreamz to Poze Magazine and become an award winner. receiving recognition in Chicago, Illinois, in the category for “Best Hip Hop Album Of The Year” at the X-Poze-ing Music Awards in 2018 for my album “Racial Profile.” In addition, after a little over a year off from my cancer recovery, I returned with a vengeance by dropping the catchy tune “Maybelline,” which made the AVA Live Radio Top 20 “Best of Summer Indie Music” charts of 2020. With no thoughts of slowing down, I have been nominated for quite a few musical awards throughout 2021-2022, including the “Regional Artist Choice 2021 Awards. It was hosted by the Gospel Industry Network for her track “Reflections,” “Hip Hop Artist of The Year (Gospel Choice Music Awards 2022),” and the Kingdom Image Awards 2022, to name a few. In May of 2021, I expanded my entertainment resume by starring/hosting my television show, “LYV,” on the “All Nations TV Network.” Since airing, the show has recently landed a television nomination by the Prayze Factor Awards and S & M Gospel Indie Awards in 2022, in the category of “Best TV Host/TV Show of The Year (Nationally/Internationally).”

But the man upstairs has no intentions of my journey stopping, as I have expanded my career by entering the music scene recently during the Objective #22 Sessions held in Nashville, Tennessee, in May of 2022. During this Extreme Tour weekend, I had an opportunity to perform at Trevecca Nazarene University and The Fox Locke. This being my first visit to the Nashville area, I immediately fell in love with the area, people, and music scene. And I can see Nashville being my home away from home shortly as more opportunities to perform and collaborations with musicians from various genres begin to open.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
It has not been an easy road to get to where I am at. Several obstacles came my way over the years, from losing the family business, dealing with foreclosure, bankruptcy, breast cancer twice, unemployment due to the pandemic, and a few other things. Honestly, I should be in the corner somewhere out of my mind, but my faith kept me sane support of my loved ones/friends, and I committed to myself to not quit and keep pushing no matter what.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I consider myself a songwriter first and foremost before an artist. I began writing songs early on, like, around eleven, with love for R&B/Soul. I enjoyed listening to how the Oldies But Goodies my parents played told a form of a story, and I think that is where the foundation of storytelling in my music began. My writing has expanded to various genres from Pop, Hip Hop, Gospel/Inspirational, Rock, and Country. I truly enjoy collaborating in the writing process with musicians from all walks of life and look forward to expanding on this side down in Nashville and beyond as the opportunities arrive. Honestly, I tried to remain behind the scenes initially, but God had other plans for me to become an artist early on. I would find myself recording and performing my songs that expanded into a Hip Hop/Rap career over time and have been rhyming since the age of fourteen. But it takes time to develop and grow as an artist. Which I have been working hard at since my return to the music scene in 2015. Though my music speaks on various topics from love, faith, social justice, and positive inspiration; however I am led to write on a particular track I do so. I do not believe in just putting anything out in the universe regarding my music. And as 2022 moves along, I feel good about the musical team I am surrounded by, which I have to shout out to my new recording studio home (Beat Bakery) in Richmond, Virginia. They have recorded various major artists within the music scene, and it is an honor to be among the artists to have an opportunity to record there.

I’m most proud when I receive a DM, comment, and email from a music supporter that tells me how one of my songs resonated with them and the passion they feel in my vocals. Recently one of my music supporters touched my spirit when they left a comment saying how everyone goes through problems in life but that my struggles have made my music better and inspired others. The comment later continues to say how I’m like one of the only few artists who can make them smile and cry. Hearing and reading comments like this speaks volumes and motivates me to know that I am making a difference through my voice and my music side. I am a television host on my show called LYV (Pronounced Live) on the All Nations Television Network and the Co-Host of Pozitive Talk Podcast with my sister-in-law Connie Holmes (registered nurse and business owner of Divine Compass Life Coach). We bring a little laughter but keep it real while sharing the word and a bit of wisdom to allow others to reflect on their daily lives (listen on Spotify/Anchor.FM).

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I believe in creating a vision board annually, and I look at it every morning before I start my day as a reminder of what I am working towards. As Habakkuk 2:2 states: And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it (King James Version).

Pricing:

• Gratitude Journal (HardBack) $37.00 (Pre-order Your Copy Starting July 1, 2022/On Cara-Mel’s Official Website)
• Cara-Mel Music $.99 (On Cara-Mel’s Official Website)
• Cara-Mel Tribe Membership-Starting July 1, 2022 (Price Various)
• Cara-Mel Couture Clothing Line (www.caramelcouture.net)-Price Varies
• Cara-Mel Music Song Writing/Artist Feature-Prices Various (Inquiry On Cara-Mel’s Official Website)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.iamcara-mel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caramel_dmv
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaraMelDMV
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/caramel_DMV
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/CaraMelMusic
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/cara-mel-79
• Other: https://linktr.ee/caramel_dmv

Image Credits
Supreme From Wutang Tom Jackson Dr. Robert “Battle Ax” Ornelas