 During stints in different musical groups , Dawn Richard wanted to develop her musical identity and pursue a solo recording career . In 2011 , Richard was promoting the album Last Train to Paris ( 2010 ) as a member of Sean Combs ' musical project Diddy – Dirty Money and released a free mixtape , The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart , which registered one million downloads within a month . After the group disbanded in 2012 , she worked with producer , manager , and creative partner Andrew " Druski " Scott and released her EP Armor On , which sold 30 @,@ 000 copies . Richard also marketed herself through social media and self @-@ funded music videos on YouTube . Goldenheart is the first of a planned trilogy of albums by Richard about love , loss , and redemption ; it will be followed by BlackHeart and RedemptionHeart . She wrote songs for the albums over the course of six years . Some were written as ten @-@ minute songs and instrumentals , but Richard edited them down to avoid being " long @-@ winded " and " overwhelming " . 
