Dasha
Interview conducted July 29, 2021
By Dan Locke
About Dasha and Her Discovery of Music
What is your upbringing?
– I was born and raised in San Luis Obispo, California. My parents got divorced when I was three and I’m a middle child – I got really good at being intuitive, independent and being very adaptable at a young age which I’m very grateful for.
How did you discover music?
– I was exposed to music before I could talk. My mom has an incredible taste in music (volunteer radio DJ) and my Dad dances and is generally a musical guy. I started dancing when I was three and fell in love with musical theatre at age five. Growing up I was constantly performing in shows and I absolutely fell in love with music and singing and the entertainment side of the industry.
How did you start to write music?
– I started writing songs without even knowing I was writing them when I would poetry for class assignments. I was always a dramatic kid so the poems I would turn in were so extra for an eight-year-old. I ended up winning a county wide contest and that was when I realized I might actually be good at this whole writing thing. I picked up guitar and piano when I was ten and songwriting came very naturally to me.
Do you write a lot of your music with your brother?
– Bardo and I wrote a lot together early on. I think we both viewed each other as assets — I was a topliner/ vocalist and he was a producer. We both needed what the other had. Since then, I’ve developed my artistry and sound. Bardo is still one of my go-to favorite producers to work with. He co-produced “Nervous” as well as my next single coming mid-august called “TALK”.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
– Bardo actually gave me his old mini-Martin guitar for Christmas when I was ten. He signed the back and everything. It’s still at my mom’s house!
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make, and model? And does she have a name?
– The acoustic I have now is named Nash. I got him before I moved to Nashville when I was still dreaming of moving there in high school. He’s a 414 ce Taylor acoustic-electric. I’m obsessed. He’s, my baby.
Dasha’s Music and How the Music Evolves
Describe your music.
– My music is vulnerable, honest and relatable. It’s pop/R&B. My biggest priority is telling a story and portraying what I’m feeling, so the “topline” is king. The production is created around it to supplement that. I’m a big fan of stripped, acoustic songs but also love a good 808 so there’s a nice diversity with my music.
What was your first performance like?
– I used to perform in local coffee shops around SLO when I was in elementary school. I was obsessed with Taylor Swift so I was strictly wearing cowboy boots and sundresses. I’d perform at the talent shows and in music theatre shows before that every year so I can’t even remember the first time I was actually on stage.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
– Yes, I belong to BMI! I love everyone there, especially Sam Cox.
What makes a good songwriter?
– Not being afraid to say it like it is. The more honest the better.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
– My first original song was called “Talk To Me”. For my 12th birthday my Dad gifted me a professional recording session in a local studio. The dramatics I was coming up with as a twelve-year-old is shocking and honestly impressive. It’s been taken down from everywhere and buried, thank God.
What is the process of writing your music?
– Before I start writing, I have to be inspired by something, whether that be a chord progression, song idea/ lyric, or melody. After I find something that makes me want to write, it’s effortless from there, most of the time. I’ve spent years developing my sound so it’s easy to write for my artist project now. I write about relatable things that everyone goes through. It’s very honest and vulnerable.
You started to make videos back in 2015. Tell me about the day you decide to create your first video?
– The first few music videos I did… oh God. I was 15 and had no idea what my vision was. I was just having fun and being theatrical. I grew up doing tons of musical theatre and was always inspired by theatre — so that was the first inspiration for my videos. Kind of like a mini movie.
Tell me about the making of your video “Love Me Till August”?
– The day we shot “Love Me Till August” was a dream. I had the best team absolutely supporting the vision. Onset it was almost all females and there was this electric, creative and excitement throughout the entire day. It was my first video to have a hair and make-up specialist on set which made me feel very official.
Why the 50s feel?
– “Grease” is my favorite musical. It’s what got me into performing. With each song I release, I get to show a little bit more of myself.
- another part of my childhood,
- inspiration,
- emotions,
- and so much more.
I thought “Love Me Till August” was the perfect time to bring in my obsession with the 50’s.
Why did you pick Acacia Evans to direct it?
– I needed some genius female energy, and she fit the bill. Acacia was recommended to me by my friend and fellow creative Talia Stewart. We met up for coffee, ended up having the same birthday and had so much in common. It felt like the very obvious choice almost like the universe put her in my life for a reason.
Tell me about your new single “Nervous” which came out July 1st.
– “Nervous” is definitely the most vulnerable and personal song I’ve ever released. It’s absolutely terrifying singing about such a vulnerable situation. This song is about my first intimate experience. It’s about letting my guard down for the first time and letting someone know me better than I’ve ever let anyone. l was so in love and it was a really special experience.
What is your favorite track on your EP?
– “Make It Work with You”. I wrote it by myself, crying on my bedroom floor. It was the first time I was writing a song for the sake of therapy. It was 2am and I couldn’t stop crying.
Do you prefer digital of vinyl music.
– Digital is obviously much more convenient but there’s something so satisfying about playing music from something physical.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
– It’s been a total blessing in disguise. For the first time ever, the pressure of doing live shows and touring was lifted off our shoulders. Us artists and songwriters had the perfect excuse to actually focus on the musicality of our crafts.
Quarantine and the Level of Normal
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
– Writing A LOT. Working out. Getting to hang out with my sister. Watching New Girl for the 8th time.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
– I’ve always kind of been a health nut so quarantine just gave me more time that I didn’t have before to cook healthier food, workout, and work on my mental health.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
– I’m a very crafty person so I’ve been jewelry making, sewing/ designing clothes, and painting a ton.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
– Social media is the best way to connect with fans. The more honest and authentic you are online the more people will be attracted to you.
In the past if a musician stopped doing music, they found a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 (six) years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
– I’ve been dancing since I was three and did a couple years of film acting but if music wasn’t an option, I’d be acting and dancing full time.
What is your happy place?
– I could be anywhere in the world as long as it’s raining and cloudy with warm air. I’ve always loved the rain… couldn’t tell you why.
Your lister ship has grown from 1000 to 150,000 in six months. How did you do it?
– It still blows my mind to see how fast the fan base grew. In short, the answer is Tik Tok. But the real answer is almost ten years of developing myself as an artist and songwriter so I’d be ready when my first project/video goes viral. That’s exactly what happened.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are adding new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time. What do you think that could mean to independent artists?
– I think it means that it’s going to be more difficult to float to the top. With a higher volume of “competition” it’s going to be more difficult to get those playlist placements and such. It’s going to come down to how loyal your fan base is.
Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenge and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.
TikTok has become a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners. In which it has become a place for music artists to earn revenue when people use their music. In many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to huge boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.
TikTok does this with the Therefore, algorithmically generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch.
Because a song can go viral because of this.
Sony Music and Warner Music Group-, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
– I use Tik Tok almost every day — it’s the greatest tool to reach a broader fan base. Knowing it is licensed I will continue to use it!
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer. The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music?
– Absolutely! I love that this is happening. So much incredible music is leaked on TikTok every day before it goes to streaming. I think it’ll be the best way to discover new talent.
With more and more live music happening. And the virus is still here. Are you willing to play large concerts and festivals and what precautions would you like to have in place?
– I am fully vaccinated and more than ready to start playing shows! I have two coming up in August at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, and playing at the High Watt with Brooke Alexx October 15th! Follow me on Instagram @dashamusic and on tik tok @itsdashabitch so you don’t miss anything!
Anything you would like to say in closing.
– Thank you to my day one fans and supporters. I wouldn’t get to be doing what I love every day if it weren’t for you. It’s only up from here.
