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Interview - Dailla
- Melodrift Team
- Mar 16
- 7 min read
From early singing competitions to writing diary-like songs in her teens, Dailla has been navigating the world of music with honesty, curiosity, and fierce self-expression. Blending cinematic rock energy with pop immediacy, she creates songs that feel both intimate and anthemic, music that invites listeners to feel deeply and unapologetically. In this conversation with MeloDrift, she opens up about the personal experiences that fuel her songwriting, the lessons learned from industry pressures, and the ways her music becomes a space for connection, vulnerability, and self-trust.
Welcome to MeloDrift. Can you tell us a little bit about your musical background?
Thank you for having me! Singing was actually my very first touch with music. When I was 7, I lost a singing competition - and instead of discouraging me, it lit something up in me. It made me want to practice more, learn more, and prove to myself that I could grow. That’s when I really fell in love with it. After that, I started picking up instruments - piano, guitar, drums - which gave me a whole new way to express what I was feeling. And when I was 13, I wrote my first songs as a way to deal with big feelings. That was the moment music stopped being just “something I do” and became something therapeutic - like a safe place I could always come back to. And that’s where psychology comes in. I’m a psychology student too, and I’ve always been obsessed with how humans feel, connect, cope, and heal. Some people say psychology and music don’t go together, but I genuinely think there’s nothing closer - because both are about expressing what we feel and making sense of what’s happening inside of us.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
That’s a great question! I think, at this moment, it would be “lalalove me.” Since I started making music, I’ve been met with so many opinions from the industry about who I “should” be - how I should look, how I should act, what’s “marketable.” And this song is basically me rebelling against that. It’s my way of saying: I’m not here to be molded into someone else’s idea of an artist. I truly believe being yourself is not only the most important thing - it’s what the world actually wants to see. That’s the story I want to share through my music: you don’t owe anyone a smaller, easier, more polished version of you. “lalalove me” was sparked by a meeting with an agency where they told me I wasn’t interesting enough and suggested I should shave my head or dye my hair red to stand out. They weren’t even really listening - they were scrolling through my Instagram during the meeting and talking about me like I wasn’t in the room. It was frustrating and surreal, but it turned into fuel. So the song asks: “Will you lalalove me when I’m me?” And by the end, it shifts into something freeing - choosing self-trust over validation.
Who or what have been the most impactful influences on your musical style and sound?
I’ve always loved classic rock - and I still do. Bands like U2 shaped the way I feel music: that raw guitar energy, the space, the slow build into something huge. There’s something cinematic about it - like a song can be intimate and massive at the same time, and that really stuck with me. At the same time, I’m a pop girl at heart too. I think Olivia Rodrigo has such an amazing combination of both worlds - gritty guitars and punchy drums, but with lyrics that feel super personal and emotionally direct. That balance is exactly what I’m drawn to: rock attitude + pop confession. And then there’s the diary element. I’m obsessed with songs that feel like you just opened someone’s notebook and they didn’t have time to edit themselves - specific, honest, a little messy, and real. That’s what I try to create: raw guitars and cinematic emotion, with lyrics that feel like a diary entry you can scream along to.
How do your life experiences shape your songwriting, and what emotions or ideas do you hope listeners connect with?
Oh, they shape it so much. For me, songwriting is basically a way of keeping a diary - I write something down while it’s still raw and real, and then I can come back later and reflect on how it actually made me feel. More than anything, I hope listeners connect with what I’m writing about and feel less alone. I want my music to feel like a safe little community - a place where we can say it, scream it, cry it, or dance it out. Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it quietly.
Each phase of music-making has its own unique rewards. Could you share a memorable moment from each stage?
Writing - “lalalove me”
Definitely “lalalove me.” Right after the meeting with the agency, I came home, picked up my guitar, and the riff honestly came on its own. I immediately knew what the song was going to be about. I didn’t even expect I’d end up loving it so much - at first it was simply a way to let out the frustration of how someone can look you in the eye and tell you to literally shave your head, as if you’re not good enough exactly as you are. Turning that moment into a song felt powerful - like taking the narrative back.
Performing - “Middle Stone”
Performing is the reason I do music. One of my most unforgettable moments was a show with thousands of people in front of me - they weren’t just watching, they were interacting with me and the songs. It genuinely felt like one big group therapy session. And especially during “Middle Stone,” the “papadapa” parts we sing together - you can feel the connection so clearly. In that moment it stops being my song and becomes ours, and that kind of closeness is unbeatable.
Music video making - “Hide & Seek” and “lalalove me”
Music videos are another place where I get to explore different sides of myself. Two of my favorite videos I’ve made are “Hide & Seek” and “lalalove me.” In “Hide & Seek,” I stepped into a character for the first time, and I learned a lot about myself through that process. And with “lalalove me,” I got to step into four completely different characters at once - it was intense and so exciting. We spent 13.5 hours on set, which was exhausting, but it was also genuinely so much fun - I’d do it again immediately. I loved empathizing with all four characters, feeling what they feel, discovering who they are - and somehow learning more about myself through them too.
Is there a song of yours that holds particular personal significance?
I feel like all of my music is personal in different ways - there’s always a piece of me in every song. But I’m especially excited for my new work to come out, because I’ve been diving into new themes and topics, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve got to say. “lalalove me” is really the start of that new chapter - it’s the beginning of a bigger era for me, both sonically and emotionally. It started with a very specific experience, but it opened the door to a much wider conversation I want to keep having through my music - about identity, pressure, self-worth, and choosing self-trust over validation.
If you could swap lives with any musician for a day, who would it be and what would you do?
It would probably be Olivia Rodrigo. I saw her last summer at a festival in Madrid in front of a massive crowd, and it genuinely made me think about how surreal that must feel. If I could swap lives with her for a day, I’d love to experience the full emotional rollercoaster of it - the adrenaline, the nerves, the good and the bad. The quiet moments right before you go on, and then stepping on stage and feeling that wave of energy from the audience. Seeing that kind of connection live was really inspiring.
What’s a guilty pleasure song you secretly love but might surprise your fans?
That’s a tough one! I have to say, I don’t really believe guilty pleasures exist - if you love it, own it! But I will admit: give me a super cheesy early-2000s pop anthem and I turn into a completely different person. I grew up on dramatic rock, so blasting sugary pop in my room feels like my secret alter ego coming out.
Looking ahead, what are some goals or dreams you have for your music and career?
My dream is to create a community where we can all be ourselves - where if you have something to share, you can scream it into the world or dance it out. I’d love to connect with people from all around the world and keep making music that feels like something you can truly relate to. For me, success isn’t just numbers - it’s connection. If someone listens to my music and feels understood, that’s already a success to me.
Finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers before we close?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that not every opinion deserves to shape you. I hope my music gives people permission to feel things fully - without editing themselves or pretending they’re fine. If it can be a soundtrack for whatever someone’s going through, that means everything to me. And if you’re still figuring it out - so am I. I’m learning as I go, and I hope the music can make people feel a little less alone in it.
PR: Decent Music PR
