![\"A](\"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/other-people-credit-danica-dye.jpg\")
Age<\/strong>: 22
Pronouns:<\/strong> They\/she
Genre<\/strong>: Alternative pop
Sounds like<\/strong>: Looking in a mirror and finally seeing yourself for the first time
First song you should listen to<\/strong>: \u201cOther People.\u201d
<\/figcaption>
Credit: Danica Dye<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n Born into a musical family in Belfry, Kentucky, Dye was nine months old when they suffered a spinal cord injury that caused partial paralysis from the waist down. Since then, she has undergone multiple surgeries to improve her ability to walk. \u201cIt\u2019s one of those things where it\u2019s like, you can\u2019t get rid of it, so you just live with it,\u201d Dye says. Music became an emotional outlet for her from the age of six when her music teacher gave her a solo in her elementary school Christmas concert. That performance sparked a desire within Dye to continue singing, eventually competing in talent shows and falling in love with the stage. They recognize now how those experiences stoked a passion for music: If someone would\u2019ve looked at me dead in the eye and said, \u2018You can either give up music or die,\u2019 I would die,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now 22 years old, the singer-songwriter (and cosmetology student) draws from her environment, writing music that holds a mirror up to listeners, allowing them to realize both their beauty and the hard truths about themselves. Last year, she started releasing original music on streaming platforms, debuting with the single \u201cFalling Apart for You.\u201d A harrowing ballad about losing oneself in a dysfunctional relationship, the track introduces Dye\u2019s unique voice to the world. While she doesn\u2019t lean into heavy belting or head voice, there\u2019s a distinct sound that embodies a built-in autotune of crisp, distinctive vocals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, she is continuing to release music recorded in the comfort of her dorm room, including \u201cShot at My Heart.\u201d A fun techno track, it\u2019s both a love song and homage to her favourite first-person shooter video game, Valorant<\/em>. Their latest track, \u201cOther People,\u201d released last October, is a tender ballad about them not putting their worth in others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Xtra <\/em>recently caught up with Dye<\/a>, who has been recording their first full-length project between cosmetology classes, to discuss \u201cOther People<\/a>,\u201d how they got their start in music and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since I was six years old, I\u2019ve been singing. Music has always been a huge part of my life: my dad was a musician until he got married and had me. He\u2019s my number one inspiration for wanting to get into music in the first place. And then when I discovered, \u201cOh, hey, I actually have some talent in this,\u201d I decided to make this a career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, a friend told me that I tend to put my worth in other people. They think I\u2019m very codependent. I did a little self-reflection and realized that they were completely right. They were really nice about it too\u2014I have to put that out there\u2014but they just opened my eyes and made me think. I put my worth into these people that just hurt me in return. So, writing the song was more of a letter to myself, but I wanted to write it in such a way that would have other people relate to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow did you first get into music? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What inspired your latest single \u201cOther People\u201d? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n