How a Pittsburgh teenager turned a local music camp into a global pop career
In short: Grace Martine Tandon, known as Daya, transformed from a high school student in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, into a Grammy-winning artist. Her journey began at a local music conservatory, leading to a chance encounter that launched her debut single and a rapid ascent to the top of the global music charts.
Born in Pittsburgh on October 24, 1998, Grace Martine Tandon grew up in the suburb of Mt. Lebanon. Her musical foundation was built early; she began piano lessons at age three and eventually mastered the guitar, ukulele, saxophone, and flute. By age 11, she was studying at the Accelerando Music Conservatory in Pittsburgh, where she met songwriter and producer Gino Barletta. This connection proved pivotal, as Barletta and his colleague Christina Chirumbolo invited her to Los Angeles in February 2015 to record original material.
During these sessions at Paramount Recording Studios, the team wrote and recorded her debut single, "Hide Away." The song gained traction online through support from influential bloggers and a feature by Billboard. Following this momentum, she released a self-titled EP in September 2015. Her career trajectory accelerated significantly when she provided vocals for The Chainsmokers' track "Don't Let Me Down." The song became a worldwide top-ten hit, eventually earning her a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in February 2017.
Daya's professional path has remained diverse, spanning multiple EPs and collaborations. Beyond her early success, she has released projects like The Difference in 2021 and In Between Dreams in 2022. Her work has appeared on soundtracks for Netflix series and films, while her live performances have reached audiences at university events like Princeton's lawnparty and Cornell's Slope Day. Throughout her rise, she has maintained a connection to her roots while navigating the complexities of the music industry, including her public coming out in 2018.
The name Daya, which means compassion or kindness in Sanskrit, reflects her heritage as the granddaughter of a Punjabi Indian immigrant. Her story illustrates the intersection of early formal training and the serendipitous nature of the modern music business, where a junior in high school can transition from a local conservatory to international stages in a matter of months.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Daya (singer)
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