daine

daine is a Filipino-Australian artist based in Melbourne. Their work draws on pop, electronic, experimental music and hyperpop, while also bringing in influences from midwestern emo, hip-hop and heavier underground styles. They begin writing music alone in their room, shaped by a DIY approach and an underground outlook.

Background and influences

daine comes out of Melbourne’s hardcore and metal scene, which provides a sense of community at a time when they feel socially isolated from school peers. They cite live shows by Turnstile, Basement, Jesus Piece and Code Orange as an inspiration for starting to make music. Their listening interests also include midwestern emo acts such as Tigers Jaw, Sunny Day Real Estate and American Football, which inform the emotional tone of their songs.

Style and recordings

daine’s music combines early-2000s emo atmosphere with more contemporary production. Their sound uses wrought, melancholic textures alongside hip-hop rhythms and a saccharine vocal style that gives the songs a bittersweet quality. The first single, Picking Flowers, presents this blend through goth-tinged pop, bringing together different genres to express desolation and sadness.

Writing approach

daine describes their songs as a personal diary, with their work developing as they continue writing and recording. The result is music that turns private feelings into a genre-crossing style rooted in Melbourne’s independent and heavy-music scenes.