American DJ duo The Chainsmokers are currently enjoying an incredible run of success. They hold pole position on the US and UK singles chart with Closer, which features New Jersey singer/songwriter Halsey.
But they also have another massive hit with Don’t Let Me Down. The song has so far peaked at number two in Britain and number three in America. It features the vocal talent of Pittsburgh singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daya.
“Andrew (Taggart) and Alex (Pall) reached out to me before I’d had any kind of success,” explained the 17-year-old girl born Grace Tandon. “If they hear a voice they like, it doesn’t matter if the person is famous or not.
“They played me the demo for Don’t Let Me Down and I absolutely loved it. I definitely wanted to provide the vocal. The guys were also so much fun to work with. I’m so happy that the song has become an enormous hit.”
Daya’s initial interest was in music rather than singing.
“I began playing the piano when I was three. But I was also intrigued by other instruments. I enrolled at the Accelerando Music Conservatory in Pittsburgh when I was eleven. By that time, I also played the guitar, ukulele, saxophone and flute.”
She had also found her voice.
“That came when I was ten. I only began singing to accompany myself while I was playing the instruments. I’d had no vocal training but people seemed to like my voice.”
Her direction in life was decided while attending a Sara Bareilles concert with her family.
“I wanted to be up there on stage entertaining people like Sara was doing. I remember turning to my mother and telling her that was what I wanted to do. She realised I really meant what I said because she tells people now that this was when she knew I was serious about singing.”
Daya’s ability was recognised by Accelerando founder Christina Chirumbolo. Her opinion was echoed by Christina’s colleague, Gino Barletta. A highly regarded songwriter and producer, Gino shares Christina’s love for teaching and helping talented youngsters to make their mark in the music business. They lined up other skilled writers to work with Daya on a three-day songwriting session in Los Angeles.
“We came up with six really good songs. One of these was Hide Away which became my debut single.”
Gino introduced Daya to Steve Zap of Z Entertainment. He was so impressed that he signed her to his company and co-founded, with Gino, the Artbeatz label on which to release Hide Away.
“I intended to use Grace as my stage name. I changed it when I heard about the Australian singer/songwriter, Grace. My grandfather is Indian. I chose Daya because it means mercy, compassion or grace in the Hindi language.”
Originally issued in April 2015, Hide Away made a slow start initially gaining popularity only in Daya’s home city. But word gradually spread. Even the blogger Perez Hilton expressed a positive view.
The result was a steady climb of Billboard’s Hot 100 which culminated at number 23 last March. The song also became an international hit with the number six spot in Australia being the highest chart placing.
“It was difficult to keep my feet on the ground. I’d achieved so much of what I wanted with my first single. I was touring, appearing on television, it was amazing. But I was brought down to earth by my parents and sisters, plus still having to do school work.”
Daya’s six-song self-titled debut EP also fared well. It reached number 61 on the Billboard 200. Her debut album, Sit Still, Look Pretty, is set for release on October 7. Meanwhile, the title-track has given Daya another big hit single. It currently sits at number 28 on the Hot 100.
“Something I particularly like about getting this success is having young girls listen to the lyrics of my songs. There is always a message. I want people to never be afraid to chase their dreams. But I especially want young girls to value themselves.
“For example, Hide Away is all about waiting for a person who is respectful rather than one of those guys who expect you to get undressed before the second date. I really believe so many girls need to hear and heed that message.
“Sit Still, Look Pretty is about pursuing your own dreams, fighting for what you want and not letting anyone get in the way of that. You don’t have to be some guy’s accessory and depend on him for your happiness. It’s important for young girls to realise that. Everything can come from within themselves.”


IN BRIEF
Zayn

Zayn Malik fans will soon have the opportunity to read the former One Direction singer’s autobiography.
Published world-wide on November 1, Zayn is a lavishly illustrated photographic journey through his life from a normal childhood in Bradford to the intense fame of One Direction and on to his current status as a solo star.
But the book is by no means just a collection of photographs. Zayn also shares his inspirations, personal stories, notes and drawings as well as his thoughts on fame, success and music. He says of the book: “I’m going to show you as much as I can so that you can judge me on my own terms, not what the press or anyone else says.”

Teddy Mac

An 80-year-old man with Alzheimer’s Disease has become an Internet sensation and landed a deal with Decca Records.
Teddy Mac, real name Ted McDermott, found online fame after his son, Simon, posted car karaoke videos of them singing classic songs as they drove around central Lancashire. Taken from a dashboard camera, the videos were initially posted on Simon’s Facebook page for friends to enjoy. But he was encouraged to post them on YouTube where his dad’s performances have gone viral.
Ted’s dementia sometimes makes it difficult for him to recognise his son. But he has no trouble remembering the lyrics of songs he sung decades ago as an entertainer in Butlin’s holiday camps.
There was so much interest in Ted’s online videos that Decca offered him a contract. He recorded a number of songs in London’s famous Abbey Road studios. The first of these, You Make Me Feel So Young, has just been released.
Details, plus a 30-second clip from Ted’s record, can be found at www.songaminuteman.com
Many more of Ted’s performances can be seen at www.youtube.com/channel/UC6tmams7km6i0O9m9m3MP0Q/videos
Generous viewers of the videos have already contributed over 125,000 GBP to the Alzheimer’s Society at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/songaminute. The cause will be further boosted by royalties from Ted’s record.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

The last 14 months have been a terrible time for Nick Cave and his wife, the fashion designer Susie Bick. Their 15-year-old son, Arthur, fell to his death from a cliff at Ovingdean, near Brighton, in July 2015.
Nick had already begun working on the songs for Skeleton Tree, his 16th studio album with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. But critics have described the eight tracks as an exercise in controlled desperation as Nick and his family have tried to come to terms with their loss.
The album can be heard in full at www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0d8h3nWLcA
The official video for lead single, Jesus Alone, is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iGxoJnygW8
Skeleton Tree is accompanied by a documentary film, One More Time With Feeling. It premiered on September 5 at the Venice Film Festival and was originally scheduled for a one-night-only worldwide release on September 8. This was extended by up to four days in some areas.
The film should be made available on DVD in due course. A trailer can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=svru1jNLIK8

TK Kravitz

Some music fans may wonder if TK Kravitz might be the son of American rocker Lenny Kravitz. But Kravitz is TK’s stage name, he was born Tevin Thompson.
He found fame with Darien Townsend as the Atlanta-based pop-rap duo TK-N-Ca$h. But TK is currently making some noise as a solo artist with his recently released self-titled mixtape.
All eleven tracks can be heard and downloaded for free at www.datpiff.com/TK-Kravitz-TK-Kravitz-mixtape.801079.html


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