Music has always been a big part of Anna Dasha Novotny’s life. Now simply known as Dasha to her fans, the 25-year-old singer is taking genres like country and pop—ones that she loves—and turning them into her own distinctive style.

She began showing interest in music and theater at a young age. From age 10, she started singing at bookstores and wineries under the guidance of her father, PJ, while her brother, Bardo, who is a guitarist for Beauty School Dropout, helped produce her music. She released her first song at thirteen after PJ gave her a small recording budget.

When she first started writing songs, she recalls how she would randomly open a notebook. “I’d write these dramatic love songs after watching The Notebook or listening to Taylor Swift. I’ve always had a vivid imagination and can put myself into other people’s stories,” she said. For her, those lyrics began as random thoughts on a page that, at first, made no sense. This method has since become a cornerstone of her creative process.

Her musical influences include Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Bazzi, Dominic Fike, Jeremy Zucker, Kacey Musgraves, Pink Sweat$, Role Model, and Tove Styrke. Since then, she has evolved, becoming more nuanced as an artist. According to her, “I think I’ve taken a few detours along the way, but after the past two years of chaos—stepping into the spotlight, dealing with the pressure, and everything that comes with having a globally viral song like ‘Austin’”—(for those who haven’t listened to it, you should).

But at the same time, she’s still figuring out who she is. “I’ve returned to who I was at my core. I’m back to who I was when I just went by Dasha, back to that little kid version of myself,” she said.

When “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” exploded on TikTok, it didn’t just launch her career—it propelled her as a rising star. That moment of virality resulted in the track being played over 1.7 billion streams on Spotify, becoming an unexpected yet defining turning point for Dasha. At such a young age, without any expectations beyond hard work, she found herself in a spotlight that few experience with such intensity.

“It’s hard, because I’m also a people pleaser—I want everyone to like me. But the internet is a wild place, and you can’t rely on strangers’ opinions for confidence. I’ve learned that no matter what you do, someone will criticize it—your outfit, your lyrics, your attitude. So I’ve learned to let go of that and focus on being true to myself. That’s the real beauty of being an artist: you get to be exactly who you want to be, if you’re brave enough to do it.” – Dasha

“It was the most jarring and exciting moment of my life,” she recalls. “Every artist dreams of that first viral breakout, but you never expect it to be as massive and electrifying as mine was.” For more than a month, “Austin” dominated the internet, creating a whirlwind that required immediate action. “It really felt like getting struck by lightning—you just start running.”

However, breaking out in country music isn’t as easy as you might think—Dasha knows there are certain expectations and shoes to be filled. But for her, it’s about remaining true to herself in the middle of all the noise.

“There’s definitely pressure, especially as a woman in country music, to fit into a particular box. But that’s never been me. I like challenging norms,” she says.

And that’s what her music is about: a balancing act between country, folk, and Americana influences. Dasha simply isn’t rooted to one genre; she’s experimental and bold, but at the same time she pays homage to the pillars of country music—instrumentation, storytelling, and emotion. She revealed candidly, “That’s where my country and folk roots live. I grew up on bluegrass, and I love the organic feel of it. My songs might have big, pop-driven choruses, but the bluegrass influence is alive in the arrangements and structure. Storytelling always comes first for me.”

As we mentioned earlier, her brother, Bardo, who happens to be one of the producers she works with has significantly influenced her artistic process. For Dasha, working with her brother is a fortuitous moment in her life. Smiling, she opens up about how he has been the biggest influence on her career. “I’d watch him play in rock bands, write songs, and perform, and it made me want to do the same. When I was around 13 or 14, I joined the Modern Music Academy program he’d been in, and that’s where I recorded my first song,” she says.

And now, she is out to prove that she has what it takes to join the best of country by working with the likes of Hillary Lindsey, Laura Veltz, Emily Weisband, Ben Johnson, Ashley Gorley, Rocky Block, and more.

“He pushes me artistically because he knows me better than anyone. He’s the one person who can critique my work honestly, and I know it always comes from love. Working together feels full-circle—he’s in a rock band but has always loved folk and country, so my music lets him live out that side too.” – On working with Bardo, Dasha

Hillary notably worked with Dasha on her new EP, “ANNA,” and it was a particularly special time for her. She came into the project drained, but it forced her to recalibrate and find that spark of creativity that artists tend to lose from time to time.

Her upcoming song which is due to be released on October 10, “Work On Me,” is a flirty, playful, and humorous tune that Dasha resonated with—the song showcases a cheeky and self-aware approach, and the video plays perfectly into that vibe. Our editorial team certainly had fun listening to it, and we know her fans will be excited to hear this too.

These songs show the two sides of her personality.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Even though she’s only been in the spotlight a short while, but Dasha’s already making serious waves in the industry. 

“I was absolutely terrified,” she says, thinking back to her first major TV performance at the CMT Awards. “My heart was pounding out of my chest.” With artists like Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson watching from the crowd, the pressure was unreal — and she’d only been on the public radar for about a month. “That night taught me how to manage nerves under extreme pressure. And yes,” she adds with a smirk, “I learned what a beta blocker was that day.”

But if you ask her, the real challenge came later — during her first U.S. headline tour. “I pushed myself too hard. I just kept going, kept giving, until there was nothing left.” 

Burnout hit hard, leaving her physically and emotionally drained. “I was a shell of myself,” she says. “That experience taught me that taking care of yourself sometimes means disappointing people. And honestly? That’s okay.”

It’s a tough but necessary truth in an industry that glorifies hustle culture. But despite the grind, there’s a spark in her voice when she talks about life on the road — especially when food is involved. “I’m a massive foodie,” she laughs. “Right now, I’m sitting in a pub in Glasgow, about to have a Sunday roast before soundcheck.” 

And she’s not stopping at music. There’s a growing list of personal dreams she’s chasing: hosting Saturday Night Live, joining Dancing with the Stars, even walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “I want to do more fun, pop-culture things. Stuff that surprises people. Life’s too short to take yourself too seriously.”

Outside the limelight, she is currently obsessed with pickleball, planning a snorkeling getaway, and dipping her toes into acting. “Auditioning has been exciting — it’s pushing me creatively in new ways,” she said. 

Still, at the core of it all is a mission bigger than music. “I want to be seen as real. As someone who inspires — especially women, and anyone who doesn’t feel seen in country music.” For her, authenticity isn’t a brand — it’s a promise. “You don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold. You can show up exactly as you are — loud, soft, bold, messy — and still belong.”

And if her story helps even one person feel brave enough to do just that? “Then I’ve done what I came here to do.”

Editorial Team Credits:  Photographer: Jana Schuessler @janaschuessler Hair & Makeup: Aubrey Hellar @aubreyheller.hmu | @theonly.agency | Nails: Kait Mosh @kaitmoshnails | @theonly.agency | Stylist: Ali Mullin  @alimullin | PR: King Publicity @king_publicity_  Managing Editor/Article by: Cyan Dacasin | Editor-in-Chief: Natalie T Steger @natalietsteger  | Special Thanks to: @vonsuss______