Breakout country star from SLO performs at the Mid-State Fair. ‘It’s so insane’
Dasha, a breakout county music star from San Luis Obispo, returned home to perform at the Mid-State Fair Wednesday night to a crowd of thousands of roaring fans.
Ahead of the concert, she said it was “so surreal” to finally get a chance to sing her own music on the county’s biggest stage.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out there in the audience watching an artist play, and then going to Jimmy’s Watering Hole after and dancing and hanging out,” she told The Tribune. “And now I’m like, ‘oh, I’m the artist too.’ It’s just, it’s so insane.”
She opened for the popular country band Old Dominion at the Chumash Grandstand Arena during the Fair’s 80th anniversary.
The last time she performed in San Luis Obispo County was at SLO Brew in October 2024. That show sold out within 45 minutes of the tickets being released, her father, PJ Novotny said.
Dasha rose to country music stardom after creating one of the most-streamed country tracks of 2024 — “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” — which skyrocketed to more than a billion listens.
That song propelled the San Luis Obispo star to win Female Song of 2024 at the People’s Choice Country Awards and led to performances at Stagecoach, Austin City Limits, the CMT Awards, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.
She said the song took off due to its fresh sound full of fiddle and guitar paired with a line dance of her own creation that quickly went viral on TikTok, racking up a million views within a day.
“People just want to be a part of something, you know. And I make music for the sake of the community. It’s my favorite thing,” Dasha said. “People are like, ‘I was at a show alone, then I met another fan. Now we’re best friends.’ Like I just love the stories, and the line dancing part of it. It’s just all about community.”
How Dasha reached stardom after growing up in SLO
Dasha’s father said he taught his children musical cues from the cradle — bouncing, singing and tossing rhythms at them before they even learned to talk.
Dasha said that music has felt like an inherent part of her ever since she can remember. From an early age, she was dancing, singing and taking part in musical theater productions.
“I think it’s just always kind of been in my heart when I was born,” Dasha said. “I don’t know. It sounds cheesy, but I think I was just like born to do this.”
Novotny said he first realized his daughter had musical chops while they would listen to the radio on weekday drives to Bellevue Santa Fe Charter School. She was “a quick study,” he said, picking up intonations and nuances of songs after a single listen.
By age 8, Dasha was writing her own songs and dreaming of a career in music.
“I was like, wait, I think that’s what I want to do because I just have always loved being on stage and entertaining,” she said.
Dasha’s older brother and now frequent producer, Bardo, was also musically inclined, picking up a guitar and launching a band from an early age. Novotny said his children have a “sweet history” of collaborating on songs since elementary school.
“(I’m) amazed on some level, and stoked, and like heartwarmed,” that Dasha and Bardo continue to work together after all these years, he told The Tribune.
Bardo will be producing and co-writing Dasha’s next album, Novotny said.
“She’s in a position in her career just with her celebrity and traction, branding and all — she could choose a myriad of top world-class producers to be working with, and she’s choosing her brother.”
Famous local singer has written more than 1,000 songs
At 26-years-old, Dasha has already written more than a thousand songs after nearly two decades of songwriting.
She said her songwriting process starts with what she calls “seeds” — that could be anything from a song title, a melody, a rhyme scheme or guitar riff. Typically, she writes in melody first, and then adds lyrics that “show don’t tell,” preferring to paint a scene that combines elements of country and pop genres, Dasha told The Tribune.
Dasha, who’s now based in Nashville, has released two EPs and two albums so far. Her first releases blended pop and R&B, but her latest album dives headfirst into country tunes with twangy vocals, stomp-clapping and acoustic guitar-strumming.
Even though her country sound may be new to fans, Dasha said she’s loved the genre ever since she was a kid riding horses in rural San Luis Obispo, listening to whatever played on 98.1 KJUG.
“Now I feel like I have totally just done a U-turn back to my roots and where I grew up and why I started falling in love with music for the first time,” she said.
Her new sound has also found a devoted fan base. According to Spotify, Dasha has around 8.8 million monthly listeners.
Country star from SLO performs at Mid-State Fair
Up on stage Wednesday night, Dasha belted out her hits while dressed in all black outfit with a pair of sunglasses on and a rhinestoned belt bedazzled with her name.
After singing a few songs, Dasha looked out across the crowd and thanked her community for showing up.
“I’m gonna cry,” she said, as emotion overwhelmed her for a moment at being back home performing on the fair’s main stage.
Novotny, who was in the audience, said it was awesome to watch his daughter put San Luis Obispo on the map.
“Local kids making good is exemplary for all the kids in the community, and that’s the important thing,” Novotny said, briefly choking up. “We’re all winning ... all boats rise with the tide.”
After wrapping up her set, Dasha is now off to play more festivals this summer before a short four-stop tour in September. Later this year, she plans to finish up her third studio album.
She declined to share when her next album will be released but teased that fans can expect more new music soon.
“You’ll get a couple more songs this year,” she added. “Don’t you worry.”
