The many sides of DASHĪ’s universe - INTERVIEW
DASHĪ at (A)VOID gallery surrounded by sculptures by Paulina Skavova
“ One evening, I was sitting under my window and felt a huge relief coming from a realization that things don’t have to be perfect. I had this powerful moment of acceptance. I was ready to hug the world again. Definitely one of the strongest personal microseconds in my own universe. It’s something I want to work on in 2021. ”
Marie: You and I did an interview together about a year ago and it was a very challenging year in music. How have you developed your career since the release of your first single? Any releases, new songs, highlights?
DASHĪ: The year definitely didn’t happen in a way I expected it to but I am actually grateful for everything 2020 has put me through. Music wise, it was a very strange time because as a live performer I love playing for people the most. Last year was a never ending weird movie, where the main characters (boredom, frustration, overthinking and a lot of wine) played their big role. I released a song called Ordinary Things I recorded with Geoff Tyson over the first lockdown, back when we had no idea the plague would take forever, you can tell by the home music video we were kind of enthusiastic about keeping the creative spirit high.
Marie: Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
DASHĪ: I think it depends on the personality of every artist. I am a very outgoing and social person and also a mixture of an introverted and extroverted person.
Playing live shows or being on a movie set, you always meet people. Or at least, you have the chance. I usually take the chance and make new friends. It’s usually fun unless you come home from your gig at 5am and have to teach a dance class the next day, haha.
On the other hand, there are days I just want to nurture the calmer side of my personality. Just do yoga, relax, take a 654986 hour long bath and spend time with my thoughts.
Marie: You are also an actress and a dancer. As someone who’s livelihood comes from work as an artist, how has the pandemic and it’s consequences influenced you?
DASHĪ: Since the pandemic totally changed my perception of time, I think I didn’t realize how much I was actually doing in 2020 considering it was a cursed year and I had some bad ass bad luck with keeping gigs I’d had before live. It’s a bit complicated to appreciate anything while you’re in a pandemic, taking your 7th nap of the day, haha.
But looking back, 2020 was pretty creative. I shot 4 movies, released a single, worked on my album, and also recorded an ambient electronic EP over my Covid isolation. That one will be the first thing I will release in 2021.
Marie: Can you reveal the story behind House Of Cards that you played for us?
DASHĪ: Yes, I remember exactly how I wrote the song. It was a few months after I moved out from my then ex boyfriend after 7 years of living together. I was having a hard time getting used to living alone. After months of fighting my inner demons and anxieties, something changed. One evening, I was sitting under my window and felt a huge relief coming from a realization that things don’t have to be perfect. I had this powerful moment of acceptance. I was ready to hug the world again. Definitely one of the strongest personal microseconds in my own universe. It’s something I want to work on in 2021. The acceptance of reality instead of clinging on some old dreams and fantasies. I want to live the power of NOW.
Marie: Professionally, what’s your goal for 2021?
DASHĪ: I have two ongoing music projects: Dashi & The Weather Turning, which is how my album will be called as well. I am going to finish and release it in 2021. The other one, Navel Radion is an ambient electronic music idea I started developing over my covid isolation and I’d love to go on with it. I still want to keep dancing and shooting movies, so let’s hope 2021 will be generous.
And now 5 quickfire questions:
Name 5 top releases you think are great songs to dance to.
Ibrahim Malouf – Maleva in Wonderland
Tash Sultana – Pretty Lady
Vulfpeck – Birds of a feather
Tom Misch – Follow
Natalia Lafourcade – Soledad y el Mar
Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.
Me, myself and meeeeeeeeee.
What superpower would you have and why?
Erasing homophobic, sexist and racist sh*t from people’s heads.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Your life is NOW.
What wouldn’t you do without?
Money.
