INTERVIEW: DAILLA

Thank you for sitting down and talking to FLEX, can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?

Thank you for having me! Music has always been something I loved, but it became a lifeline during my teens. That was the time I really started feeling things deeply - confusion, sadness, love, anxiety - and I didn’t always know how to talk about it. So I turned to music. I’d sit at the piano for hours, write little songs in my room, or just sing to let something out. It wasn’t even about sounding good—it was about surviving what I was feeling. At some point, I realized making music wasn’t just something I did - it was who I was. I never imagined it could turn into a career until I hit this point where I knew I couldn’t not do it. I was lucky to grow up in a home where my parents always told me anything was possible, and I carry that belief with me. Now I’m chasing what I love most - creating music that helps people feel a little more understood, a little more at peace.

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?

I grew up on classic rock—bands like U2 really shaped the way I think about energy and emotion in music. That fearless, raw kind of sound stuck with me. But I’ve also fallen hard for modern pop—artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Nieve Ella are amazing at blending modern production with old-school influences in a way that feels both fresh and familiar. There’s this emotional grit in their music that still manages to be super catchy, and I really admire that. It’s the kind of balance I’m always chasing in my own sound.

Congratulations on your brand-new single ‘Garden’—what inspired this particular release?

Thank you! Garden is probably the most fragile thing I’ve ever written. It’s about letting yourself fall in love - fully, freely, and without trying to control the outcome. That kind of love that feels both terrifying and beautiful, where you allow yourself to be seen in your softest form. There’s a wildness to it, but also a gentleness - like planting something fragile and hoping it grows. A rose, in this case. Working with Marcell again really helped bring out the vulnerability of the song. We kept the production very natural and organic - there are even singing birds layered in, which felt like the perfect touch. It’s soft, spacious, and intentionally understated. I wanted it to feel like an emotional exhale, where you let yourself feel everything without needing to explain it.

How do you channel personal experiences into your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners gain from connecting with your music?

For me, songwriting is a way to untangle what’s going on in my head and heart. A lot of the time, I don’t even fully understand what I’m feeling until I’ve put it into a song. It’s less about finding answers and more about being in the moment. At the same time, I hope my music gives people a break from whatever they’re dealing with - whether that’s stress, overthinking, or just the troubles of everyday life. If someone can sing along, dance it out, or just feel a little more free for a few minutes, then that’s everything to me. That’s why I love making music that’s emotionally real but still catchy and easy to connect with.

Each aspect of music—writing, recording, practicing, and playing live—offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each?

I still remember writing my first really catchy chorus - it came together so quickly that I didn’t think much of it at the time. But when I played it for the people around me, their reactions made me realise, “Oh… maybe this is actually good.” That was the first time I started to believe in my instincts as a songwriter. Recording was another turning point. The first time I bought a mic and started recording vocals and harmonies into Logic, it was like stepping into a whole new world. Just me, headphones on, layering sounds and following whatever felt right. There was something so freeing about being completely in that space. Rehearsing with a full band before my first show was surreal. Hearing my songs played back in a room, with energy and real people, made it all feel real in a way it hadn’t before. And performing - that’s the part where I feel most like myself. Being on stage is my way of pushing back against the pressure to be perfect all the time. It’s where I get to be present, exactly as I am, without overthinking. One of the most powerful moments was during a show when someone in the crowd sang back to me. That connection reminded me what music is really about.

Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it?

Hide and Seek is definitely one of the most personal songs I’ve written. I wrote it during a time when I was trying to figure out how to sit with my own emotions - especially anxiety - without pushing them away. It’s about that tension between wanting to be seen and also wanting to hide, which is something I’ve felt a lot in my own life. At its core, it’s a song about learning to be okay with not being okay. Letting yourself feel things without needing to explain or fix them. Filming the music video was a huge part of that journey too. I stepped into a version  of myself that felt braver, a little darker, and it helped me see that there’s power in showing up as you are - even in your messiest moments.

What are your goals for the future with your music?

I’ve been writing a lot lately and leaning into sounds and ideas that feel a little braver, a little more layered. There’s definitely more music coming - songs that explore emotional gray areas, but still carry that melodic, catchy energy I love. I’m also really focused on the visual side of things right now - bringing the music into a fuller world through imagery, storytelling, and creative direction. That part of the process has become just as exciting for me as the songwriting itself. Long term, I want to keep building a space where people can connect - whether that’s through a live show, a lyric that hits home, or just dancing around their room to something I’ve made. I still feel like I’m just getting started, and that’s the best part - there’s so much more to explore.

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?

That it’s okay to not have the answers. That it’s okay to sit in the messiness and still

find beauty there. I hope people feel seen, or at least like they’re not alone in whatever

they’re feeling. Music has been that for me so many times - and if mine can offer even a

moment of comfort or connection, then I’m doing what I’m meant to do.

To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I just want to say - I hope you find comfort in my music and that you’ll join me for

the ride, because we’re just getting started. It feels like the magic is starting to happen, and

I’ve got so much I’ve been working on that I think you’re really going to love it. I can’t wait

to share more, and I’m even more excited to keep building this little world together with you.

Stream 'Garden' now: