Daya (singer)

Daya

Daya performing in Chicago in 2015
Background information
Birth name Grace Martine Tandon
Born (1998-10-24) October 24, 1998
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active 2015–present
Labels
Website theofficialdaya.com

Grace Martine Tandon (born October 24, 1998), professionally known as Daya (pronounced /ˈdeɪ.ə/), is an American singer and songwriter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1][2] She is signed to Artbeatz, Z Entertainment, and RED Distribution, and released her self-titled debut extended play (EP), Daya, on September 4, 2015, which includes the song "Hide Away", which has peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3][4] She released her debut studio album Sit Still, Look Pretty on October 7, 2016.

Early life

Daya was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in the suburb of Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Her grandfather is Indian American, and her stage name Daya (Hindustani pronunciation: [d̪əjɑː]) is the word for "compassion" or "kindness".[5] In grade school she attended St. Bernard School, later she attended Mt. Lebanon High School,[6] where she graduated in June 2016.[7] At the age of 3, Daya began to learn the piano, eventually converting to jazz piano at the age of eleven. By this time, she had also learned to play the guitar, ukulele, saxophone, and flute.[6]

At eleven, Daya enrolled as a student at the Accelerando Music Conservatory, owned by Christina Chirumbolo,[8] in Pittsburgh. There, she met songwriter and producer Gino Barletta,[1] a colleague of Chirumbolo who visited the school as a lecturer. Chirumbolo and Barletta founded INSIDE ACCESS, a music camp, the two worked with Daya eventually inviting her to Los Angeles in February 2015 to work on her original material.

Music career

Daya's professional career began when her parents accompanied her to Los Angeles to work with Christina Chirumbolo and Gino Barletta, founders of INSIDE ACCESS by Accelerando, Brett McLaughlin, Britten Newbill and Noisecastle III at Paramount Recording Studios. It was during one of these writing sessions that her debut single "Hide Away" was written and recorded, and Barletta consequently introduced Daya to Steve Zap of Z Entertainment. Daya, who was a junior at the time, said she didn't think anything would happen for a while, and went back to high school the next day.[7] A radio promotions veteran, Zap liked the song and was interested in helping to promote the singer, leading to forming an independent label with Barletta called Artbeatz.

Daya released her song "Hide Away" on April 22, 2015.[9] The song was well-received online, enjoyed support from a number of notable bloggers including Tyler Oakley and Perez Hilton, the latter commenting "There is something very special about Daya's voice".[10] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard also featured the single on their official website, labelling it "a gorgeous debut".[11]

Daya made her television debut performing "Hide Away" on Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda on August 21, 2015 as Elvis Duran's "Artist to Watch".[12] She returned to Today for their summer concert series on June 28, 2016.[13]

Following a successful debut, Daya released her self-titled EP, Daya, which features six songs, including "Hide Away", on September 4, 2015.[4] The EP was premiered in full a day early by Billboard, and debuted at number 161 on the Billboard 200, propelling "Hide Away" to number 40 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart.[14][15][16]

On October 30, 2015, Daya released the physical version of her debut EP through Target.[17]

In 2016, Daya was the opening act for American pop-rap duo Jack & Jack's US tour.[18]

In February 2016, she featured on The Chainsmokers' song "Don't Let Me Down", which eventually peaked at number 3 on the Hot 100, becoming her second top 40 entry and her first top 10. She also released the second single from her self-titled EP, "Sit Still, Look Pretty", which debuted at number 100 and peaked at number 28, her third top 40.

Daya was invited to perform at the 2016 White House Easter Egg Roll, where she and her family met President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama.[7]

On November 15, 2016, Daya released her song "Words" as her third single from her debut album Sit Still, Look Pretty.

Discography

Main article: Daya discography

Filmography

Television roles
Year Title Role Note
2016 School of Rock[19] Herself "I Put a Spell
on You"
(Season 2: episode 5)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2016 Radio Disney Music Awards Best New Artist Herself Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Electronic Video "Don't Let Me Down"
Latin American Music Awards Favorite Dance Song
American Music Awards Collaboration of the Year

References

  1. 1 2 "Daya 106.9 The Q". 106.9 The Q. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Daya – Hide Away – CBS Pittsburgh". CBS Pittsburgh. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Z Entertainment Management". Z Entertainment Management. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "iTunes (U.S.) – Music – Daya – Daya – EP". iTunes (U.S.). September 4, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ Mervis, Scott (October 29, 2015). "Music preview: Mt. Lebanon singer Daya has shot at pop fame". post-gazette.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "A Lebo Pop Princess". Lebo Mag. June 4, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Kelly Washere (September 20, 2016). "Mt. Lebanon's Daya is a rising pop star who remains grounded". South Hills Living. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Accelerando :". www.accelerandopittsburgh.com. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Daya's 'Hide Away' on iTunes! www.theofficialdaya.com - YouTube". YouTube. April 22, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Listen To This: Fly As A Mother – Perez Hilton". Perez Hilton. June 5, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Pop Playlist Summer 2015: 15 Awesome Songs You Might Have Missed – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Daya Performing "Hide Away" on The Today Show". YouTube. September 11, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Daya - Sit Still, Look Pretty - Live on Today Show". YouTube. June 28, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Daya EP Premiere: Stream – Billboard". Billboard. September 3, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Billboard – Daya – Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Daya's "Hide Away" Debut On Billboard". Headline Planet. September 9, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Daya – Daya (Only at Target)". Target. October 30, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Q92". facebook. November 13, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Daya Studies Up for 'School of Rock' Acting Debut: Exclusive".

External links

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