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Ten years after the release of her debut single, Daya is still full of passion and drive for her art. Daya released her first single of 2025, “Infrared,” in May and has now followed it up with her latest “Demise.” The rising star took the time to answer all our burning questions about the new single, feeling confident in your skin, and Webkinz.  

 OnesToWatch: “Demise” is all about loving someone even though it may not end well and specifically you have the lyrics “I’m going to love you to my detriment” and “Loving you will be my demise.” This is something that a lot of people will be able to relate to, what do you think it is about these less than perfect relationships that draw people in?  

Daya: I’m not really sure, and I think everyone can find their own justification for it. In my experience with relationships, and most things in life, I tend to crave risk. If something doesn’t challenge me, it doesn’t always feel as meaningful, or like the payoff will be as exciting. I also think this song touches on that self-sabotaging kind of obsession—when a crush becomes so all-encompassing that you genuinely start to lose yourself a bit. In the end, most things are just a reflection of the narratives you tell yourself anyway. 

Even though the song is about a less than ideal relationship, the accompanying instrumentation is impossible not to dance to. What led you to have these upbeat, driving beats contrasting the lyrics that focus on a less than upbeat love?  

I didn’t think too hard about it, honestly. But the idea of dancing to your demise does make sense to me as a concept. Whether it’s dealing with obsession in a relationship, substance abuse, or another form of addiction, I think we can all become complacent in our pursuit of those short-term highs. I don’t think anyone is fully immune to that, or goes through life without struggling with it at some point. So there is a kind of dark irony to it, but it feels important to approach most things in life with a bit of that perspective. 

Earlier this year you released your single “Infrared” and you described it as something that immediately made you feel more confident and in your skin. Did you also feel this way with “Demise?” 

Yes, but I think “Demise” felt like a different kind of achievement compared to “Infrared.” It was a fun challenge to write a conventional pop song with a strong hook. In some ways, it’s a throwback to the early days of my professional career, with its big, anthemic chorus, so it felt reassuring to know I could still flex that muscle. But at the time of writing (late 2023), it also felt like a real stretch out of my comfort zone, since it was so different from the kinds of songs I was making then. I wasn’t sure where it would fit for a while, but over time I kept coming back to it, and now it feels like the parts I was second-guessing are the same ones that made me really come to love it. 

Are there any specific moments in your career that helped you find the sound we hear on “Demise?” 

 I can’t think of specific moments in my career, but I can say I’m lucky to work with such talented and creative people who constantly raise the bar. Robin Stjernberg produced the song and came up with the instrumental hook that set the tone for everything else. I have family roots in India, and I immediately loved how it echoed certain traditional melodies there. It also stood out to me as something that would translate really well live. Once we established that as the core, the rest of the song basically wrote itself. 

 Last time we talked to you you mentioned a birthday party where all the guests gifted you Webkinz. If you were to assign a Webkinz to represent “Demise” which one would it be? 

 God I don’t know, maybe a cat? The song feels kind of sinister in the way that cats do. 

 Can you tease anything else that fans can look forward to? 

 I don’t want to reveal too much but things are definitely in motion and it’s all feeling really really good. Keep your eyes out for more to come so soon ;) 

Who are your OnesToWatch? 

 I know they’re pretty big now, but Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso have been the most inspiring discovery within the past few months for me. Their hooks are undeniable and they are putting out some of my favorite content right now— it’s full of attitude and visually so satisfying to watch.