A new year means a new chapter for Dasha.
The rising songstress and clever songwriter is ready to show the world who she’s grown to be through her first-ever country album titled What Happens Now, set for release on music streaming platforms Friday, February 16th.
Something that she says is “so genuine and right,” Dasha tells Celeb Secrets Country that the latest project not only reflects her and what she loves in music, but also tells the stories about where she’s at in her current stage of life, making it relatable for listeners of all ages.
“Country music is something that once I decided to go full force into it, it felt so genuine and right,” she explains in an exclusive interview. “This whole project is the most proud I’ve been of a body of work. It reflects me and what I love in music, and what I wish I had on my Spotify playlists. This album really tells the stories about where I’m currently at in life and what I’m going through and I think people of all ages will be able to relate to it.”
Amassing over 10 million streams in her short career thus far, the upcoming project, in her words, “could not be more different” from what she’s previously released, as she finds herself using more bluegrass instruments like fiddles, banjos and mandolins as the soundtracks to complement her deep and personal storytelling.
“This album uses way more bluegrass instruments like fiddles, banjos, and mandolins just because I love those instruments. I believe country music right now is missing a lot of these elements and I wanted to play a role in bringing them back to life,” she shares. “I wrote this album with the thought of these songs being sung around a campfire. I wanted to make sure that the project was as real and raw as possible, even down to the instruments. Everything you hear is all real instruments being used.”
To celebrate the announcement, Dasha released her latest single “42,” which takes on a fresh narrative that showcases the complexities of longing and the excitement building towards seeing each other again.
“I wrote ’42’ at my mother’s house in San Luis Obispo, California. I was back home visiting family and was just feeling some type of way. I had just decided that I was moving back to Nashville so I was counting down the days because I was really excited to move back. I received a text the night before from someone asking me how many days until I moved back to Nashville and I typed back ’42’ because that was the answer, and then I woke up in the middle of the night with this melody in my head and wrote it the next day,” she says.
Keep scrolling to learn more about Dasha and her music and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving “42” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry. You can connect with Dasha by giving her a follow on Instagram at @dashamusic.
Celeb Secrets Country: Your new single “42” is officially here. How does it feel to finally have a song that you’ve worked so hard on for people to hear?
Dasha: “It feels great. When I wrote 42, I wasn’t writing it with the intention of it coming out, I was writing it because I needed to write it. I was feeling inspired by the ideas in my head and needed an outlet. After I listened back, I ended up really loving the song and wanted to share it with people. Now that it’s out in the world it’s not only mine, but everyone’s, so I hope it strikes a chord with everyone who listens just like it did for me.”
CSC: For those who haven’t had the chance to take a listen yet, can you tell us more about its sound and concept?
D: “Originally when I wrote the song, I was using writing as a therapy outlet. I was about to move back to Nashville and was feeling many different types of ways about many different types of people and was feeling very confused. This is one of the most intimate songs I’ve put out so having people see that side of me is a little scary but I love getting to share that part of me.”
CSC: When dissecting the lyrics for “42,” they sound pretty deep. Can you detail more about the writing process for “42?” Was it based on personal experiences/relationships?
D: “I wrote ’42’ at my mother’s house in San Luis Obispo, California. I was back home visiting family and was just feeling some type of way. I had just decided that I was moving back to Nashville so I was counting down the days because I was really excited to move back. I received a text the night before from someone asking me how many days until I moved back to Nashville and I typed back ’42’ because that was the answer, and then I woke up in the middle of the night with this melody in my head and wrote it the next day.”
CSC: What’s the overall message you are trying to portray with songs like “42” and ones you previously released?
D: “42 is just super real and raw. There is no sugar coating, there is no made-up story in it, it’s just the truth. I know 42 doesn’t sound as ‘country’ as most of the songs from my upcoming album, but people say country music is three chords and the truth, and ’42’ is the epitome of three chords and the truth.”
CSC: In addition to releasing a new song, you also shared that your debut country album is dropping on February 16. How excited are you to get a full-length project out that details your newest venture?
D: “I could not be more excited! Country music is something that once I decided to go full force into it, it felt so genuine and right. This whole project is the most proud I’ve been of a body of work. It reflects me and what I love in music, and what I wish I had on my Spotify playlists. This album really tells the stories about where I’m currently at in life and what I’m going through and I think people of all ages will be able to relate to it.”
CSC: Can you tell us more about the creative process and how you are finding your sound for this record? Is it similar to what you’ve previously released?
D: “Sonically, this record could not be more different from what I’ve previously released. Song writing wise though, I’ve always been really into storytelling and writing from my own experiences, so nothing there has changed. This album uses way more bluegrass instruments like fiddles, banjos, and mandolins just because I love those instruments. I believe country music right now is missing a lot of these elements and I wanted to play a role in bringing them back to life. I wrote this album with the thought of these songs being sung around a campfire. I wanted to make sure that the project was as real and raw as possible, even down to the instruments. Everything you hear is all real instruments being used.”
CSC: What are some of your proudest moments from making “What Happens Now?”
D: “I think that my proudest moments came during the writing process. I freestyled the chorus of Austin which was really cool and was super proud of. Working with so many different people on a project can be super difficult. With different people (producers, writers, etc.) come different opinions and different ideas, but I’m proud that I was able to stay true to myself, this project turned out exactly how I envisioned!”
CSC: Aside from releasing a project, what else can we expect from you in the coming months?
D: “You can expect a lot of really dope visuals surrounding the music. It’s typical for artists to have to produce social content to promote their music, but I feel like I’m taking it to the next level to where all of my visuals feel like movie scenes and they really help set the scene for the songs.”
CSC: Do you have any specific goals you’d like to achieve in the new year?
D: “I’d like to be on tour this year! I’d like to tour with an amazing artist sometime this year, and potentially even headline my own tour by the end of the year. I’d also really like to start playing more festivals, and hopefully even Stagecoach next year!”
CSC: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, do you have any secrets (fun facts) from making “42” that we wouldn’t know just by listening to it?
D: “Like I said before, this song is very personal to me and my life. So to be completely honest, the first verse of this song is about one person who is no longer in my life, and the second part is about my current boyfriend Arden Jones.”
