You may know Daya from her chart topping single "Hide Away." Maybe you know her from "Don't Let Me Down," her recent collaboration with the electronic dance duo The Chainsmokers. But, if you haven’t heard of her yet, I can guarantee you will... very soon. This teen singer is a star on the rise.

Daya is very new to the music industry, but ever since she started recording her propulsive dance/pop, she has been conquering the music world. With the success of her debut single, Daya has started a musical pulse breaking over radios, Pandora and the net. Not bad for such a young singer.  In fact, Daya is an inspiration for young girls interested in the music work. Her catchy lyrics and melodic voice promise a long string of hits.

We recently sat down with Daya, before she opened for internet sensations Jack and Jack at their sold out show at the Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia. We learned so much about our new friend. It is safe to say Daya will have a lot more success in the very near future!  

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Basically I’m just a seventeen year old girl from Pittsburgh, which isn’t too far from here since we are in Philadelphia. I really just grew up loving music and singing. Now I’m here on tour and doing shows and stuff. It really is a lot of fun. I love it.

You didn’t have the same start as most different artists in the industry. How did your journey come about?

I actually kind of did it backwards I guess, because my song "Hide Away" went to radio first. A lot of radio stations picked it up. I kept promoting it and going to the stations across the country. Then, after that, [I] got my social media following. It's kind of the reverse of artists like the Jacks, where Jack and Jack had a huge social media following and now they're just trying to get their music out there.

Where do you think your creativity stems from?

I really think it stems from just everyday things. I tend to write things down and keep a journal when I go on tour. I try to draw inspiration from things that I normally wouldn't look at in an inspirational way.

You released your new EP in September. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Definitely! My EP has six songs on it, including "Hide Away." We’re about to push the next single from it, which is called "Still Look Pretty." A lot of the songs are just fun and upbeat so you can jam to them, but there is also one ballad on it called "Back to Me."

What was your reaction when you heard "Hide Away" on the radio for the first time?

I was freaking out. I had just gotten my license. I was driving by myself doing some errands and I just started freaking out. I had to pull over! I was just thinking to myself: "What is this? What is life?"

What do you think contributes to the song's success?

I really just feel that people love the positive message of it. I feel that a lot of people can relate, old or young. Little girls can be like, "This is a cool song," and think that it's catchy. All the moms think this is such a good song with a good message. I've had a lot of people tell me it is just relatable to them.

Did you always know you wanted to pursue music?

Pretty much. I mean I started piano at a really young age. I think I was three. My older sister was taking lessons and she didn't want to go alone. We went there and she ended up quitting, but I stuck with it for years!  I always loved music. It was always my thing growing up. I just always knew I wanted to do this. It is my dream.

Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

I would have to probably say Adele, because I started doing covers of her super early on! I just love her voice, just the passion and rawness you can hear in it when she sings.

So you're on tour with Jack and Jack. What's it like being on tour with them and opening for them ever night?

It's crazy! Hearing screaming girls constantly has basically been my past month. The Jacks are just so much fun. Fun to hang out with and they're just really crazy. I love doing shows with them, because their crowds always bring the energy without fail. That's really cool.

What can your fans expect from you in 2016?

I'm in the process of working on album! The full length should probably be out in like June or sometime early summer. I'm really excited about some of the songs on there! It's going to be great.

Do you have a message for all of your supporters?

Thank you guys so much for supporting me. Stay tuned because more exciting things are coming your way!