Dasha Reflects On Overwhelming Impact Of Success On Mental Health: 'I Was Such A Mess'

Dasha

Two-and-a-half years on from the release of her breakthrough single, Austin (Boots Stop Workin’), US musician Dasha has opened up about how the success of the track changed her life.

First released as a single in November 2023 as a taster of Dasha’s second album, What Happens Now?, the track swiftly became a massive hit for the California native.

Alongside hitting No. 3 on the US Hot Country Songs chart, and No. 18 on the US Hot 100 chart, the track peaked at No. 10 in Australia, and impact markets around the world. The success of the track even led to Dasha making her Grand Ole Opry debut in June 2024, where she gave the track a run-through.

However, in a new interview with Taste Of Country, Dasha opened up about the overwhelming success of the song, and how it led to the release of 2025’s Oh, Anna!, which saw the singer – whose real name is Anna Novotny – offer a vulnerable track borne out of mental health struggles and a need to offer her own self a comforting hand on the shoulder.

As Dasha explains, Oh, Anna! was written during the peak of her breakthrough track’s success. “I was such a mess,” she told the publication.

"You have to understand, all my dreams were coming true, this was insane. However, what I did not account for is how much I would lose myself not giving myself enough time to just be normal.

“And after a while – after you've not acclimated to this life yet – it just wrecked me,” she added. “I didn't recognise myself. I didn't recognise my personality or my sense of humour, or I couldn't figure out what I wanted to wear because I just lost that centre north star that I've always had with myself. It was really scary.”

Unsure of how best to get this sense of direction and guidance back, Dasha hit the studio with songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Emily Weisband, and Chris LaCorte, and soon, the cathartic new tune flowed forth.

“And I walk in and I just literally broke down. I broke down,” she explained. “I cried the entire session, and I talked about how I missed myself.

Australian fans recently had a taste to share in the joy of Dasha’s music, with a three-date support for Old Dominion across the country’s east coast also bringing with it a performance for the Nova Red Room. Here’s hoping the wait for the next visit won’t be too long.