Daya, the Grammy-winning American singer and songwriter, has been a constant presence in the pop music landscape, shading her catchy pop gems with lush electronic elements. She has evolved over the years, gaining control of her image and music, and continues to captivate audiences with her unique sound. Born Grace Martine Tandon, Daya’s musical journey began at a young age in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mount Lebanon. She started taking piano lessons at the age of three and moved on to voice lessons by the age of ten. Songwriting came later, and in 2014, she signed with the Z-Entertainment label based on her demos.
In 2015, her single “Hide Away” took off, becoming a hit across the globe and receiving multi-platinum certification. This success was followed by her debut self-titled EP on Artbeatz, which featured both “Hide Away” and the double-platinum single “Sit Still, Look Pretty.” These tracks rose to the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, with a number 14 debut on the Heatseekers chart. Daya’s breakthrough came in 2016 when she won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording with the Chainsmokers for their enduring smash hit “Don’t Let Me Down.” Later that year, she released her debut album, “Sit Still, Look Pretty,” which peaked in the Top 40 in the U.S. and Canada and was eventually certified gold in the U.S. and silver in the U.K.
In 2017, Daya continued to make waves in the music industry, appearing on Gryffin and Illenium’s track “Feel Good” and releasing her own singles “Safe” and “New,” the latter becoming a modest hit in the U.S. and Australia. This marked the beginning of a multi-year period of standalone single releases, collaborations, and EP releases. Among the notable tracks during this period were 2019’s electronic-dance bop “Insomnia,” “Wanted” with NOTD, and “Keeping It in the Dark” from the “13 Reasons Why” soundtrack.
In 2021, Daya released her second EP, “The Difference,” which included the electro-pop banger “First Time” and the Charlie Puth-assisted hit “Bad Girl.” Also that year, she delivered the non-album single “What If I Told You” and “Evil” from the Blade Runner: Black Lotus anime soundtrack. In June 2022, she released “Love You When You’re Gone,” the first track off her third EP, “In Between Dreams.”
2023 marked a significant milestone in Daya’s career as she became a fully independent artist, gaining complete control over her sound and image. She began a steady rollout of singles, starting with the trip-hop-leaning “Juliene” in June. Her newest single, “Don’t Call,” is an emotive pop ballad that finds her experimenting with electronic production elements. The song showcases Daya’s soulful and ethereal voice as she croons heartfelt and relatable lyrics about trying to get over someone. The instrumental elements start with soft, organic chords and grow into a light drum’n’bass influence during the track’s most powerful moments.
Daya coupled the release of “Don’t Call” with a listening party in Los Angeles on June 27th, a day before its official release. The song is expected to receive heavy radio play this summer. Reflecting on the release, Daya shared, “‘Don’t Call’ has had this magical pull ever since we created it and I’m so excited for it to be out. It feels like a song I’ve always wanted to put into the world and a big emotional release for me; I hope people will feel that in the music.” As she continues to explore new sounds and push boundaries, Daya remains a formidable force in the music industry, captivating fans with her evolving artistry.
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