Okay, so y’all, we always get the chance to talk to super cool people, and now we got the chance to talk to daena. daena is a super talented queer indie pop/rock artist who recently released her newest track, ‘Intrusive Thoughts,’ which we will say…we absolutely loved! ‘Intrusive Thoughts’ has such an amazing opening that we still have yet to get over. It also has really good lyrics, which we expected because her other tracks are just as good as this one! We honestly recommend tracks like ‘Karaoke Bar,’ ‘Just the Girl,’ and ‘Alter Ego.’ She has been gaining traction on TikTok, but we really think everyone needs to check her out on every single platform. She really deserves all of your streams and love because, as we said, she is super, super talented, and her track ‘Intrusive Thoughts’ is a must-listen! Which you can stream here.
Now, so you can get to know daena better, we talked to her about ‘Intrusive Thoughts,’ her experiences performing, TikTok, Buffy, and a surprise announcement 👀. You can check out our interview with the star below!
Hey, daena, welcome to The Honey Pop! How are you feeling following the release of ‘Intrusive Thoughts?’
Helloooo, thank you so much for having me! I’m feeling so excited and energized about this song. It’s one of my favorites on the album and it feels so good to finally have it out in the world.
We first wanna say we loved the track! Is there any fun behind-the-scenes moment that, when you listen to it, pops up in your mind?
Aww, thank you!! The funniest part of the making of this song is that it’s fully rooted in (pun intended) my distraught over my favorite plant dying. I’d had it for over 5 years and it had gotten too big for the pot it was in. A friend of mine explained how to repot it and made it sound very simple; of course, I killed it immediately after I tried, LOL! The fact that it died the moment I actually put effort in just felt so ironic, but also something I think a lot of people can relate to when it comes to self-care and mental health.
We honestly really liked how the beginning of the song opened up with just the guitar and your light singing, and then the drums suddenly came in. Who came up with that intro? Whoever it was, tell them we love them.
I love that choice as well! The beginning of the song is pretty much what it sounded like in the writing room, and then the rest of the track just blasts in your face with a wall of sound (similar to how an intrusive thought might feel). Alexander Frieden produced the song, and crushed it for sure!
Can you tell us what’s the first intrusive thought you’ve had today?
“PICK AT YOUR SKIN!” (a not so fun intrusion)
We gotta say another favorite song of ours has to be ‘Karaoke Bar.’ If you had to sing the last 3 tracks you listened to, what would they be?
“Joyride” by Kesha, “Toro” by Remi Wolf, and “After Midnight” by Chappell Roan.
A lot of the shows you are a part of let’s Queer artists get exposure and show off their talents. Why do you think shows like these are important?
Visibility for any underrepresented group is so important! I can’t explain how vital it is to have safe, queer spaces to celebrate art and music, and for young LGBTQ+ folks to see that there is a place for them in the industry. Plus, there are so many incredibly talented artists in the queer community that just deserve spotlighting!
Did you take anything away from being a part of those shows when it comes to performing?
I think the biggest thing I’ve taken away from performing at any show over the years is just to be true to myself and who I am as an artist. It can be easy to want to cater your set or on-stage persona to fit what you THINK your audience wants to see, but…I’ve learned that being authentic and genuine is actually the best (and probably only) way to truly win over your listeners. Plus, it’s way more fun to just be yourself on stage 🙂
You’ve gained popularity on TikTok. How do you think a platform like TikTok helps up-and-coming artists, even established artists?
Although it’s still a shot in the dark, TikTok has provided a space for independent artists to get their music in front of brand new ears – and listeners who actually align with your brand and WANT to connect with you. It’s been a wild ride discovering what types of content connects with my audience, but it has been an absolute blast so far! Besides posting about my music, you can usually catch me playing niche karaoke Wii games from the 00’s.
Speaking of TikTok, your bio talks about watching Buffy, and you retweeted a Barbie/Buffy edit. So, what song of yours do you think would fit perfectly into the Buffy Universe?
Absolutely obsessed with the fact that you saw that tweet. I definitely think my song ‘Disappearing Act’ would be the one to land in the Buffy Universe, specifically playing at The Bronze. Actually, you just gave me a new idea for a fan edit.
And lastly, what can we expect from daena for the remainder of 2024?
I think this is the first time I’m officially saying this, but…get ready for the first full-length daena album coming this fall! xx
You heard it here, folks, we’re getting our very first full-length album from daena, we’re hoping to hear some of our favorite oldies, as well as some new tracks! Again, please make sure to check out ‘Intrusive Thoughts,’ and while you’re at it, tell all your friends about it as well.
So, what did you think of ‘Intrusive Thoughts?’ Will it become your new go-to Karaoke song? Let us know in the comments down below or over on Twitter @thehoneypop, and don’t forget to talk to us on Facebook and Instagram!
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