Getting To Know: Dalia

1. Congratulations on the release of your EP, "every beginning ends." Can you take us through the creative process behind the title song and how it ties into the overall theme of the EP, especially considering these songs were written during an intense and challenging period of your life?

The last & final track on the EP, ‘Nothings Ever Enough’ was born from a moment in powerlessness and anger where I thought I’d never be able to get over my past. But now its become a message of  strength and perseverance. In a way it’s a message from my past self to my future self, reminding me to never allow anyone to mistreat me in that way ever again. It’s my favourite track on the EP for that reason. Each song on the EP talks about different specific situations I was dealing with at the time like my first heartbreak, coping mechanisms, depression, losing myself completely. And somewhere along the way, those emotions I was experiencing that I thought would last forever, ended. And so the EP title ‘every beginning ends’ was born from the realisation that all things end. The bad & the good. There’s beauty & hope in impermanence & it brings me great peace to know that nothing lasts forever.

2. The EP includes your debut single "Nothing But Pain," along with "Pink Clouds" and "11:11." How do these songs collectively represent your journey as an artist, and what significance do they hold for you personally?

At the time of writing the very first song on the EP,  ‘Nothing but Pain’ I had no clue who I was as an artist/ songwriter. I didn’t know what my strengths & weaknesses were & I wasn’t confident in myself at all as a creative. But through the process of writing this EP I gradually found my identity as a songwriter through each song. I realised what type of songwriter I wanted to be and how I wanted to write about certain things. Ive been writing since i was 6 years old, but these are the first songs I’ve ever written that I’m truly proud of.  Personally, they symbolise a past version of myself that I’ve outgrown but still have so much love for. I was at my very worst whilst writing those songs, so its heartwarming to be able to look back on those songs and see how far ive come.

3. Since the launch of your debut single earlier this year, you've received nods from BBC Introducing and performed at various London and UK festivals. How has this recognition and live experience shaped your growth and artistic direction?

The confidence I’ve gained as a performer this year is crazy! Like I used to be someone who’d make my singing teacher turn around in singing lessons because I was so shy & embarrassed of singing in front of anyone! So it feels really good to finally feel comfortable in myself as a performer and like I can be my complete self on stage. Its definitely through practice and just getting out there & out of my comfort zone that I’ve gotten to this point. And once you see how the audience responds to you giving your 100% you just want to keep doing it to get better and better.

4. As a rising pop artist born in rural Spain and now based in London, how has your background influenced your music, and how do you infuse raw emotion, clever wordplay, and catchy hooks into your songwriting, blending pop, alternative, and indie influences?

I grew up in a house where music was always playing in the background from all genres. My dad is a musician too & has been part of rock bands all his life, so i always saw him playing the guitar & singing at home which I guess must have had an influence as well.  Growing up in a house surrounded by nature & far away from any cities, also gave me a lot of time to spend with myself & my imagination. Which is how I started writing songs when I was 6 years old & realised that it’s something I loved doing. When I turned 10 or so i began struggling with my mental health & realised that I could use songwriting as an outlet for emotions & things I was experiencing. And so it became a habit for me to write down my most honest thoughts in both English & Spanish.

5. Your debut EP reveals some of your most raw and unfiltered thoughts, describing it as handing over your diary to the world. What made you decide to share these intimate aspects of your life through your music, and what do you hope listeners will take away from this personal journey you've shared? I

ts never really been an active decision ive taken to share personal aspects of my life through my music. Its just the way its always been ever since i started writing. Its always been an outlet for me. So naturally the music i write is vulnerable. The attributes I personally admire most in other songs are authenticity & honesty so those are both things I want my music to be related to. I know I’m on the right track when my words stir up discomfort or unease in someone because I think those types of songs are the ones that hit u the hardest. I hope my songs can simply be there for others when they’re sad or feel misunderstood. Music has been there for all my life. So I can only  hope I can do the same for others through my own .

6. You'll be playing live at The Fidler’s Elbow on December 13th. What can fans expect from your live performance, and how do you bring the emotional depth of your recorded music to the stage?

It feels challenging sometimes to dip back into past emotions that I had whilst writing the EP and that I’ve worked so hard to get past. So I’m still trying to find a balance between giving the most authentic performance of every song that I possibly can whilst also staying grounded & being able to leave those emotions aside. But aim is to always connect with the audience, and allow them to relate & feel every word in singing. If someone’s crying then I know I’ve succeeded!