Dasha’s Not Just Here To Party, She’s Here To Make Her Mark

When Dasha hits the CMC Rocks QLD stage for the first time in 2026, she’ll be bringing more than just viral hits and boots made for shoeys. The breakout artist, whose blend of fearless femininity, raw songwriting, and internet-breaking bangers has made her a global name, is ready to meet one of her most loyal fanbases face-to-face: Australians.

“I have been dying to play in Australia,” she beams backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. “Australia has been so unbelievably supportive of my music and of Austin and Not This Party, and it's one of my biggest markets. It’s crazy I haven’t played a big show out there yet, but this one is going to be the best way to kick it off. I cannot wait.”

While Dasha may be new to the CMC Rocks stage, she’s well aware of its wild reputation. “I heard that the audience just goes hard,” she says with a grin. “Like, it’s really, really fun. And I’m the type of performer that feeds off the audience’s energy, so if they’re crazy out there, I’m gonna be crazy up here.” She pauses, then delivers the line every Aussie fan hopes to hear: “I can almost guarantee a shoey will happen.”

It’s not just the energy that has Dasha buzzing. It’s the chance to fully dive into Aussie culture, vintage shopping, coastal hangs, and yes, a little bar crawling. “I’d love to go by the ocean a bit. I haven’t really explored the coast… and obviously, coffee and brunch. Best coffee in the world, I heard!” she says. “Then we’ll just hit up all the bars. Big bar crawl. Boom. That’s it. That’s all I want.”

As for what to expect from her set? Fans should come prepared, preferably with dance moves locked in. “Just learn the words, you know, and the line dances,” she says. “The two line dances you should learn are Austin, for sure, obviously. I usually get in the crowd for that one. I always try to find the group of people doing the line dance and jump in with them. And then Not This Party, just get crazy with me. Get crazy. It’s all I can ask.”

And while the party tracks are undeniably fun, there’s more to Dasha than dance floor energy. Her songwriting is rooted in lived experience, honest, unfiltered, and, at times, incredibly vulnerable.

She recalls one of her more emotional tracks, Oh Anna, and the moment it was born. “I was literally on Broadway, and I was having a classic little mental breakdown in the bathroom,” she says, describing a scene that’s both oddly cinematic and deeply relatable. “I had one hand on the mirror, staring into my eyes… and I was like, ‘Those are the same eyes I had when I was eight years old.’ Then Austin started playing outside, and I was like, stop crying, you're fine. This is great. You’ve got your dream, girl. Go out there and dance.”

That bridge “Girl you got your dream” is more than just a lyric. It’s a mantra. “It was a very real moment I had, I don’t get to talk about that a lot” she reflects. “I feel like a lot of women have that realisation of just like, ‘Oh my God, it’s still me in there. We got this.’”

Despite the viral success and ever-growing crowds, Dasha still considers herself “first and foremost, a songwriter.” That identity shapes everything she does. “I don’t get a lot of time to write anymore because I’m always on the road… so when I am in sessions, I’m writing very intentionally with people who get my sound and who get me as a human.”

And while she’s proud of the confident, no-apologies persona fans know “the girl that dances on bars in short shorts,” as she puts it, there’s another layer to her artistry. “I’m a wholesome girly at the core. I’m a little sweetie pie. So there’s that juxtaposition.”

Speaking of chaos, there’s the now-iconic tradition of Dasha doing a shoey on stage, something she’s fully planning to level-up for her CMC set. “I was thinking I could just pour like, three in or something,” she jokes. “Or have my whole band do it with me… maybe even get the whole audience to do it. Hand out beers, count down. Guinness World Record vibes. Let’s do it.”

Still, for all the fun and madness, her goal is clear: confidence.

“I want people to feel so confident in who they are,” she says with unmistakable sincerity. “To see me doing my thing on stage and be like, ‘I can do my thing on my stage’ whether you're a teacher or a firefighter, whatever the hell you do. Just really own who you are and let your personality shine through.”

“Especially with women,” she adds. “I just want to inspire people to be the most badass version of themselves, no matter what people say.”

With that kind of ethos and the promise of line dancing, shoeys, and a setlist stacked with hits, Dasha’s CMC Rocks debut isn’t just another festival appearance. It’s a celebration of identity, confidence, and country-pop chaos in its best form.

One thing’s for sure: Australia might not be ready. But Dasha is.