Today we’d like to introduce you to Audriya “DRU” Lyles.
Hi Audriya “DRU”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born Audriya Lyles, but my parents nicknamed me Dru. That’s what everyone who knows me calls me. I grew up as a very shy child. People probably wondered what was going on inside my head. Only I knew—and it was a lot of emotions.
In elementary school, I was introduced to poetry, and I instantly connected with it. I would sit in my room and write poem after poem. It became my escape, a way to release every emotion I felt—whether it was happiness, sadness, excitement, or confusion. Writing short poems became my thing.
My mom encouraged me to play sports like softball and soccer, but I always found my way back to music. I’ve always loved creating. I love starting with nothing—or with just one word or sound—and turning it into something beautiful. I would spend hours in my room writing random poems, never realizing where they would eventually lead me.
I also grew up surrounded by music. My parents had very different tastes when it came to what they listened to. My mom played a lot of gospel, R&B, and pop music, while my dad loved smooth R&B. They would literally turn on the TV, mute it, and watch the screen while listening to music instead. To this day, I’m the same way. I don’t really watch TV—I listen to music, even when the TV is on.
That’s where my love for music began. It’s also what contributes to my writing style today. I can’t be boxed into one sound or one genre. I prefer to mix them together. My base is r&b, but you never know what’s coming next.
It was in middle school that I realized I could combine my poems and turn them into songs. I wrote my first song, called Last Night. Remember, I was shy. But somehow, I found the courage to let my family and friends hear it, and they loved it. That’s when I knew I could really do this. I’ve been writing ever since.
It wasn’t until 2017, during my junior year of college, that I decided to take my writing to another level. That’s when I began creating music with the intention of releasing it. Before then, my songs lived on sheets of paper, waiting for the right moment to come to life. I remember getting thirty-thousand streams on my first EP of 3 songs. For a shy girl to get even a stream meant a lot. That’s why till this day I’ll always create. That alone showed me that there are people who want to listen, and I make it my purpose to fulfill that.
Music has carried me through every emotion and every season of my life. Even as an educator, I use music to contribute to my community and connect with others. I’ve always been someone who feels deeply. I can be emotional, but instead of holding everything inside like I did as a child, I choose to create.
Creating is healthy. It’s enjoyable. It’s a beautiful process.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a singer-songwriter has its seasons. It’s an ever-evolving journey. Some seasons are rough, while others are smooth. More than anything, it has been a transformative experience.
I’m willing to endure the challenges that come with it because I believe this is one of the gifts God has given me. People deserve to hear what I create just as much as I deserve to create it for myself.
One moment you’re feeling on top of the world, and the next you’re questioning everything. But through it all, it’s about knowing your identity as an artist and remembering your “why.” I create from the root of my own experiences, emotions, and heart, and that’s what keeps me going through every challenge each season brings. Rather than giving up, I put it into the music.
Through this journey, I’ve been able to discover who I am as an artist. There have been many lessons along the way, and I’m grateful to have learned them now rather than later. I’d rather gain wisdom before fame, before the bigger numbers, collaborations, and attention. Those lessons have helped shape not only my music but also the person I’m becoming.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am DRU, a singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama.
What sets me apart is my ability to create what I call a “new sound.” While the foundation of my music is rooted in R&B, I love blending genres. Pop, neo-soul, and hip-hop are some of my favorite influences to mix together, allowing me to create something fresh and unique. My music is refreshing to the ear—it’s fun, filled with emotion, and always brings something new.
I’m like two artist in one. My sound has two sides. I like to call them the Druicy side vs the DRU side. My Druicy side is more hip and fun, but then there’s the other side. The DRU side that’s more relaxed, pre-meditated.
Some of my proudest moments as an artist include opening for Eric Bellinger during his Around the World Tour in 2025 and releasing my latest single, UBER, which has quickly become a fan favorite.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
There’s a quote that says, “Comfort will keep you entertained, but it will quietly rob you of your calling.” I believe there’s a lot of truth in that.
To reach the next level, risk has to be taken. At its core, it’s really a faith-based concept. You’re choosing to be uncomfortable with the unknown while trusting God with the outcome, regardless of what it looks like.
I know firsthand what taking risks looks like.
Seven days before Eric Bellinger’s concert, I was asked to be one of the opening acts. At the time, I was in one of the darkest seasons of my life. I had a decision to make: either sit in my darkness and let the opportunity pass me by, or take the risk and trust that it could only help me grow. I chose the risk.
I got up and rehearsed for six straight days in my living room. Created how the show would flow from beginning to end. When it was time to perform, I gave it everything I had, and I was proud of myself. The experience increased my engagement, expanded my fan base, and reminded me of my “why.” But more than that, it did something for my soul.
It brought back a light that I desperately needed during that season.
That’s why when I say I create music through every emotion, I truly mean it. Music has carried me through some of my highest highs and some of my lowest lows. It has been my outlet, my therapy, my purpose, and at times, my healing. Every song I create is rooted in a real experience, a real feeling, or a real lesson. That’s what makes the journey worth it.
Sometimes the very thing God uses to pull us out of a dark season is the thing we’re afraid to step into. For me, that was taking the stage.
Contact Info:
- Website: Instagram
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/druicy_?igsh=Z3BkY21iNDFjbTh4&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dru205?si=O-ws4gwUTXIkru1N
- Yelp: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HxkOZ6hqu4lI4G4THd2dh?si=wR74pduZRpeZUgiRL-aNdQ
- Soundcloud: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dru/1493940842
- Other: https://tr.ee/HDfWBv2KJT
