Dasha: ‘Anna’ – EP Review

Dasha shares her brand new EP, Anna, out now October 10th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

After bursting onto the scene with the viral sensation “Austin,” Dasha has quickly become one of country music’s most exciting and interesting new artists. With a sound that mixes catchy pop hooks with honest country storytelling, she brings something fresh to the table. Her new EP, Anna, takes things even further. 

Part pop chanteuse, part country heartbreaker, all aspects of her unique style are on display in the new collection, out now. Featuring eight new tracks, the rising singer-songwriter dabbles in viral sounds on “Like It Like That,” shares her vulnerable side on “Oh, Anna,” and creates pure pop-country perfection on “Not at This Party.”

The EP opens with “Work on Me,” an immediate attention-grabber that’s equal parts swinging and soulful. With an effortless Motown-esque bounce, it sounds different from anything she’s done before and sets the tone for the project.

From there, she slides straight into “Not at This Party,” a toe-tapping, radio-ready earworm that cleverly juxtaposes heartbroken lyrics with an uptempo melody. It’s contradictory in the best way, with the lyrics floating over the music in a way that feels effortless. 

“‘Not At This Party’ was a title I’d been carrying around for a while,” Dasha shared in a statement. “It’s about that universal experience of being out with friends, but mentally checked out. When I wrote it with Ashley Gorley and Ben Johnson, I was going through something with a guy, and the song just flowed. We really tried to capture that mix of distraction and guilt in the song.”

“I’m not at this party, I’m back in your back seat // You’re pulling it over, you just had to have me // I can’t hear this music ’cause I’m hearing you yell // You’re so in love with me but right now, you need to work on yourself, mmm //  And they think I moved on with my life, that I’m having a good night // Out here on this dance floor, just like everybody // But nobody here knows just how bad you got me I’m not at this party”

On songs like “I Don’t Mean To” and “Gimmie a Second,” the California native grapples with a broken heart. Meanwhile, both “Please Stop Changing” and “Train” explore the feeling of life moving on without her, leaning into the bittersweet nature of nostalgia.

“’Cause time changes everything // You hang some pictures up and make // A habit outta taking the same way // To the grocery store // You learn the turns and time the lights // The town you didn’t recognize // Becomes a little more like home // And you’ll know when you’re // Used to thе license plates // And you got a couple friends next door // You’ll wake up, realize one day // That you don’t hear the train anymore”

Meanwhile, “I LIke it Like That” is easily the most likely to go viral and replicate the success of “Austin.” With its earwormy melody and pop-laden lyrics, it’s primed to be the next big sensation. ”‘Like It Like That’ is about letting go of that pressure to get love ‘right’ and embracing the moments that don’t fit the plan,” Dasha tells Holler. “At this point in my life, I’m not trying to have it all figured out—sometimes the so-called wrong person is exactly right for right now.”

The EP ends on a special moment, “Oh Anna,” showing a different side of the growing singer-songwriter. It’s a classic country story song, sparse and acoustic with a vulnerable edge as she pens a sweet letter to the little girl she used to be.

“I miss you, I need you // I left you, didn’t mean to // I wish you would come back a little, come back a little // Run as fast as you can // I wish you would meet me in the middle, meet me in the middle // Take me by the hand // I feel more like a scared little kid than I ever did, back then // I need you to come back a little, comе back a little // Make me that girl again// Oh, Anna.”

“When my career took off last year, everything changed so fast—and in the whirlwind, I felt like I lost myself. It was disorienting and, honestly, scary. I faced a lot of hate in the middle of my success, and for a while, my confidence disappeared,” she shares of the song. “So I wrote a song—not just for who I am now, but for the fearless little girl I used to be. The one with big dreams, unshakable pride, and a clear sense of self. This song is a reminder of her strength, her clarity, and her joy.” 

“I hope when people hear it, they reconnect with their own younger selves—the purest versions of who they are,” she explained. “And if they’re feeling lost, I want them to know: sometimes the way forward is found by remembering where you started. My name is Anna Dasha—and I’m proud to say, she’s back.” 

Country Swag Picks:

1. “Not At This Party” 
2. “Train” 
3. “Oh, Anna!” 
4. “Like It Like That”

Anna Tracklist:

1. Work On Me 
2. Not At This Party 
3. Please Stop Changing 
4. Gimmie a Second 
5. I Don’t Mean To 
6. Train 
7. Like It Like That 
8. Oh, Anna!

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Dasha releases.

To keep up with Dasha, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. 

Anna is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.