When New Orleans-born R&B singer Dawn Richard reunited with her P. Diddy-organized reality TV girl group Danity Kane in 2014, it did not go well. Richard reportedly got in a fist fight with a bandmate and the project came to an abrupt halt. At the time, Richard was also dealing with her grandmother’s death and her father’s cancer battle. She eventually turned those dark moments into lyrics on her latest solo album, Blackheart, the second part of a planned trilogy that she’ll release on her own. While 2013’s Goldenheart incorporated subtle electronic influences and verses about knights into straight-ahead R&B, Richard’s 2015 release adds significant programmed elements with lyrics that are largely personal but occasionally reference science fiction or mythology. Beginning with her wailing a cappella intro, “I Thought I Lost It All,” the album moves into cuts that eschew conventional verse-chorus-verse structures. Using chopped-up vocals warped by Auto-Tune, these songs feel grandiose without getting too esoteric. Richard’s solo effort soars much higher than any Danity Kane track. Dawn Richard performs at 8 p.m. at the Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. $17.50–$40. (202) 803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com.