Dawn Richard digs in the vault and unleashes “Norma Jeane.” The previously unreleased song was recorded during her Tell Tale Heart mixtape days and was inspired by Marilyn Monroe, whose birth name was Norma Jeane.

“Here is one of my favorite throwback records from the archive… An unreleased song for you all to enjoy!” tweeted Dawn.

On January 15, the former Dirty Money singer will release her long-awaited debut GoldenHeart featuring the single “’86.” Also look out for her Christmas EP in early December.

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As she prepares for the release of her debut album GoldenHeart at the top of next year, Dawn Richard cuts loose on her new song “On a String.” The stripped-down record, produced by longtime collaborator Druski, sees Dawn singing about no longer being a puppet in her lover’s game.

“You gave me a stage but you stole the lead/ Said I would be much better behind the scenes/ Living on your string, I’m off your string,” sings the former Dirty Money member.

To hold fans over until her album arrives on January 15, Dawn is readying a Christmas EP to be released around the first week of December.

“The Hearts asked if we were going to do another record like ‘December Sky’ for Christmas,” said Dawn of her 2011 iTunes release. “Drew and I thought why not do an entire EP? It’ll be Christmas records but don’t expect ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.’ It’s not a traditional Christmas album at all.”

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Dawn Richard showcases some onstage and offstage moments leading up to her big show at S.O.B.’s in New York last week. The former Dirty Money diva rehearses her new single “’86” in a backstage dressing room with her dancers before hitting the stage, where she performs her Armor On singles “Bombs” and “Faith.” She leads her team in a prayer circle and greets her fans, who she calls Hearts.

Dawn recently signed a deal with Altavoz Distribution and moved the release date for her full-length debut GoldenHeart to January 15 to accommodate a physical release.

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Dawn Richard is kicking off the new year with a new album. The former Dirty Money diva has announced a new release date for her full-length debut GoldenHeart.

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Hard work pays off. After parting ways with Diddy and Bad Boy, former Dirty Money member Dawn Richard has signed a distribution deal with Altavoz Distribution to bring her debut album to stores across the globe.

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Dawn Richard weathers the storm on “’86,” the first single off her full-length debut GoldenHeart, the first in a trilogy. The ’80s-inspired synth ballad, produced by Druski, is a sonic departure from the material found on her chart-topping EP Armor On.

“For ”86,’ my producer Drew and I really went back to the basics,” the former Dirty Money member told Interview. “I also grew up listening to Prince, Genesis, Cyndi [Lauper], Peter Gabriel, and Phil Collins, which you hear a lot of in ’86.’ Their sound resonated in my life and my childhood, so, it’s really in a sense the beginning of my story.”

“’86’ is really the most naked single I’ve ever had,” she explained. “’86’ is actually a slang term—it means to get rid of something. For me, I’ve put up so many walls that I forgot if I was going to do this, that I can’t play the victim, I have to play the survivor. The song’s about ridding yourself of all those barriers so that you can be free and fight for love. That’s what everything I do now is about. The fight for love—what I love, and that’s the music.”

GoldenHeart is due October 16. Listen to “’86” below and download it on iTunes.

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Dawn Richard stays on her toes with the release of the dance version of her high-fashion video for “Wild N’ Faith,” the final visual from her EP Armor On. The New Orleans native dances for six minutes while rocking 7-inch heels. Earlier this week, Dawn unveiled the cover art and tracklisting for her debut album GoldenHeart, due October 16. The first single “’86,” will premiere on September 26, but until then, watch her make moves in the video below.

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The queen of the Hearts, Dawn Richard, marches ahead with her solo career on her full-length debut Goldenheart, the first in a trilogy. The former Dirty Money diva strikes a sexy pose against a rock on the black-and-white cover. Following the release of her iTunes-topping EP Armor On, Dawn serves up 15 tracks including the previously released “Pretty Wicked Things” and first single “’86,” which will debut on September 26.

“The last six years have been a battle for people to understand and conform me into what they really want me to be and I’ve kind of had to protect that throughout this whole journey,” said Dawn, who split with Bad Boy Records earlier this year. “It’s kind of the story of me protecting this Goldenheart, which really kind of symbolizes my own heart and my passion for this music thing and really who I am.”

Goldenheart arrives on October 16, with BlackHeart and RedemptionHeart to follow. See the tracklisting below.

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