“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Star Dior Goodjohn Aims to Put 'Words to a Feeling' with Single 'Focus' (Exclusive)
"[Music is] something that I've always wanted to be a part of," Goodjohn tells PEOPLE. "It would be a shame for me to not even try and go for it"
Dior Goodjohn, the actress who recently starred in Percy Jackson and the Olympians as Clarisse, is ready to show fans what her voice can do.
On Friday, Goodjohn gave her Diordom something to jam out to with the release her debut single "Focus." In light of the release, the singer and actress opened up about the track's inspiration and her venture into music.
"["Focus"] is about you finding someone you click with that brings you peace and makes you feel special — so special that you’re willing to do whatever you can to keep things perfect and private," Goodjohn, 17, tells PEOPLE over email. "Hence the lyric 'focus it on me' — don’t focus on the outside noise just focus all your energy on me."
On "Focus," Goodjohn's soulful vocals pair with raw emotion — and she hopes her lyrics can "put words to a feeling."
"I wanna give people an outlet for the emotions that they are unsure of how to fully express themselves," she says.
Related: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Cast: All About the Stars of the New Disney+ Series
For the former Glee star, the most important element in her music is honesty. "Focus" is the first of many to come.
"Any songs that I've written are true stories and derived from real experiences in my life. I hope the Diordom and anyone else who decides to join me on this ride can feel that," she says.
She adds, "The goal is to create a space where people can say 'Hey, I've gone through what she’s singing about' and have a space where they can feel seen, heard, and advocated for."
With several acting credits under her belt, Goodjohn always thought of music as her "safety blanket," "therapy" and "punching bag."
"It’s gone from being something I love, that keeps me safe when things aren’t doing so good, to something I respect and am in awe of as an art form," she says. "It's so diverse and unique, everybody has their niche. It has the ability to hurt, to heal, to protect and to make you feel."
She continues, "I remember watching my very first music video and it just awoke something in me. As an artist, you are a voice for the people and you can make an impact and change lives — that is something that I've always wanted to be a part of. It would be a shame for me to not even try and go for it."
Last month, Percy Jackson and the Olympians was renewed for season 2 after a successful debut. For Goodjohn, seeing fans love the show makes her "happy."
"We have such a loving fan base that wants the show to continue to succeed just as much as all of us on the creative side of things do," she says. "We’re on the same page. That is rare and is such a beautiful thing. The fans are dedicated, loyal and have such big hearts. I just know the love and support they give is so genuine and it puts a smile on my face even talking about it right now."
Stream "Focus" here.
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Read the original article on People.