Who will perform at iHeart’s Jingle Ball Village, get mentored by Grammy Winners and Win $10,000? You decide!
DReL7
About DReL7
William Diorel E. Villanueva, known professionally as DReL7, is a Filipino multidisciplinary artist, singer-songwriter, voice actor, writer, and digital media creator based in California. Known for his vibrant, genre-blending, and emotional
Performances & Content from DReL7
Hit and Run
Simpin’ On A Roller Coaster
Auto-tuned Bitch
Lost Without You
Love is A Lie
Learn More About DReL7
What makes you the Next Music Star?
For the past decade, I’ve been writing songs, finding my voice, and turning my real-life experiences into stories through music. What started as a creative outlet has grown into a journey of self-expression, growth, and discovering who I am as an artist.
What do you love about music and performing?
What I love most about making music is the passion behind creating something that comes from within me and turning my experiences into stories that other people can feel. For the past decade, I’ve been writing songs, expressing my emotions, and sharing pieces of my life through music. There’s something incredibly powerful about taking a personal experience, turning it into a song, and knowing that someone somewhere is listening, relating to it, or finding a part of themselves in my story. Music has given me a voice, a way to connect with people, and a way to preserve the moments that shaped me. Every song is another chapter of my journey, and being able to share those chapters with an audience is what keeps me passionate about creating.
Who are your biggest music inspirations and dream collaborators?
My biggest musical inspirations include Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and My Chemical Romance. Each artist has influenced me in different ways—from Michael Jackson’s legendary artistry and ability to create unforgettable performances, to Bruno Mars’ versatility, musicianship, and ability to blend different genres, and My Chemical Romance’s emotional storytelling and powerful approach to rock. My dream collaborators would be Doja Cat, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, and Bruno Mars. I would love the opportunity to collaborate with artists who have such distinctive identities and creative voices. Working with them would be an incredible chance to combine different sounds, perspectives, and storytelling styles while creating something completely unique.
What would you do with the $10,000 Grand Prize?
One of my biggest goals would be to build my own professional home studio, giving me a dedicated space where I can write, record, produce, and experiment freely with my music. I would also invest in promoting my music and expanding my reach so my songs can connect with more listeners. After spending the past decade writing songs and telling my story through music, I want to continue building on that journey. Having my own studio and the resources to properly promote my work would allow me to become even more independent as an artist, create consistently, and share my music with a much wider audience.
Participation supports Musicians On Call, a 501(c)(3) charity, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments.