An Interview With Top 10 America’s Got Talent Finalist Daneliya Tuleshova On Her New Single ‘Like You Used To,’ Life in Her Home Country Kazakhstan and More!

Meet newcomer singer-songwriter, Daneliya Tuleshova! She was born and raised in Kazakhstan, Astana. She is a global phenomenon with a voice mature far beyond her years that stops people in their tracks. She has won multiple vocal competitions and in 2019, she was a Top 6 Finalist on the NBC show “America’s Got Talent” raking in millions of views on YouTube and broadcast and garnering national press attention from the likes of Billboard Magazine and many others and even performed on stage alongside award-wining pop sensation Ava Max. This is all while Tuleshova was just 13 years old.

Check out that performance here:

Tuleshova’s journey started at the young age of eight, being sought after by talent scouts to participate in contests for young performers. In 2015, she won the Children’s New Wave competition, an international contest for young performers that is held annually in Russia. Tuleshova continued to work hard on her craft and dominate any competition she entered, going as far as to turning all four chairs around during the blind auditions for The Voice Kids Ukraine as she stunned the judges with her performance of Demi Lovato’s “Stone Cold,” and she continued to wow the judges and viewers to much show she became the youngest person to ever win The Voice Kids Ukraine. In 2018, she was awarded the honor of representing Kazakhstan in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Now in 2021, she has soared to new heights garnering fans from around the world, has been named the newest ambassador for NIVEA products in Kazakhstan and TODAY, she released her first debut single “Like You Used To” and plans to keep making waves in the music industry.

Connect with Daneliya Tuleshova Online Here: FACEBOOK + INSTAGRAM

Read more about Daneliya Tuleshova in the following All Access interview:

So what has this past year been like for you and your music? How are/did you get through the pandemic? Are things opening up now where you are? How do you feel about that? Did you get vaccinated yet?    

Hello! The year has been very well. I had time to rest, studied calmly and of course I participated in AGT! In Kazakhstan, concerts are not allowed yet, but then there was time to record new songs. I didn’t get vaccinated as I am only 14 and you aren’t allowed to get it until you are 16 years old.

How has being from and living now in Kazakhstan influenced who you are as a singer and your music in general? What is the music like there?

Since childhood I have been listening to foreign performers and they influenced my style of performance. But I like also the sound of our national musical instruments like Dombra and Kobyz. I think that we can use in some new instruments in songs!

Let’s talk about your newest single, “Like You Used To.” What was the inspiration for this song? How would you say that it prepares listeners for more music from you? Speaking of, do you plan on releasing more new music or a whole album soon? 

“Like You Used To” is the beginning of our collaboration with Rich Fayden and 4 Chords Records. Rich sent us a track and I liked it so much! It’s very easy to listen to and a very catchy sound and I think this song will give my fans message about my future tracks and style of my future album.  And I hope that many people will respond to this song, and of course we are planning to release new track in near future and make a full album soon.

Where would you absolutely love to hear one of your songs playing?

Any artist is pleased to hear his songs on the radio and in major music charts like Billboard. My dream is to sing my original songs in Times Square.

How did you go about choosing to be part of 4 Chord Records? Why is this the right label to represent you and your music today?

We have been negotiating for a long time. We especially like that the label works quickly and efficiently. Everything is clear as a clock. It is very important.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a singer? What do you think motivates you day in and day out? Growing up, has music always been important in your life? If you weren’t a singer today, could you see yourself doing anything else? 

I was constantly singing when I was little. But I was engaged in dancing and gymnastics as well.  To sing on stage was pushed by chances and, of course, luck. My path on the professional scene also began by chance. I went to an acting studio and there I was noticed by a vocal teacher and studio director…and so it began. I have plans not only to sing, but also to study. I want to be a lawyer in future. But life itself knows what is best for us; the main thing is not to resist to life challenges.

I have to ask about your experience on NBC’s America’s Got Talent last year. What was that like for you? If you could do it all over again, would you and would you change anything about your performances on it? Do you recommend others to try out for it as well? 

Participation in AGT was a dream for me.  I would not like to change anything. I got an experience I will never forget. There were difficulties, but they temper and make you stronger. I have been fortunate enough to work with incredible and talented people and I am happy that I touched a little of their talent. DQ and John were very supportive and helped not to give up. It was a wonderful adventure. Competitions temper and make you more stress-resistant.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

I think the biggest surprise was after my first audition on Voice Kids when the video appeared on YouTube. It was just insane when I woke up, checked YouTube and realized that my video reached 1 million views just in 1 day and it immediately became the number 1 video in trends. Many people sent me greetings from different countries and also I appeared in many local and international news publics. My Instagram was growing every minute by 5-10k followers. That was incredible! At that moment I realized that I wanted to be an artist. The major challenge was for my voice and music to get noticed. To be in public, giving interviews and all the performances. It was very stressful for me so it has been a challenge, but fun.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I always trying to bring my soul to people. Through my music I want to make people happy and kind.