--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a…" description: "\"I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a weekend-long songwriting session by a writer I had met through my voice teacher in Pittsburgh. My first hit, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg" --- # I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a weekend-long… ![“I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a weekend-long songwriting session by a writer I had met through my voice teacher in Pittsburgh. My first hit, 'Hide Away,' was one of the songs written during those sessions. It was played for a radio rep who then started a new label; the song got a pretty…” quote by Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg) > “I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a weekend-long songwriting session by a writer I had met through my voice teacher in Pittsburgh. My first hit, 'Hide Away,' was one of the songs written during those sessions. It was played for a radio rep who then started a new label; the song got a pretty organic start at radio and then took off.” [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early opportunities and networking can launch a career when talent meets chance. **In simple terms:** Chance and talent together start success. Key Takeaway Leverage early chances and stay ready. Themes career music networking Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - songwriting sessions - radio promotion - label signing Key Concepts industry opportunity breakthrough Questions to Reflect On - How can you create more “chance” moments? - What networks can you tap now? A Different Perspective Success often depends on timing and connections, not just skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Away Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-songs-2646798/) [Hide Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hide-away-472342/) [Ice Tea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-tea/) [Long Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-songwriting-2646797/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Songs Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-written/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Songwriting Session](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting-session-2523688/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I always hate explaining away songs, because for me they mean something, and for other people, they'll mean something absolutely different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-always-hate-explaining-away-songs-because-for-me-they-mean/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [I feel like I kind of earned my stripes working with The Stereotypes. It was maybe my 6th songwriting session I've ever been to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-petras/i-feel-like-i-kind-of-earned-my-stripes-working-with-the-stereotypes/) [Kim Petras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-petras/) > [As soon as 'Hide Away' came out, it was like everyone knew who I was, and I started getting all this attention. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/as-soon-as-hide-away-came-out-it-was-like-everyone-knew-who-i-was-and/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [When 'Hide Away' first started gaining a bit of momentum, I was visiting at least two radio stations per day - sometimes in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/when-hide-away-first-started-gaining-a-bit-of-momentum-i-was-visiting/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [“I started off for home, where I planned to recruit a good book and hide away from the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-started-off-for-home-where-i-planned-to-recruit-a-good-book-and/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Unbelievable," I said. "First you wanted to hide her away to keep you alive. Now you actually want her out in the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/unbelievable-i-said-first-you-wanted-to-hide-her-away-to-keep-you/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Don’t let people interfere with you. Boot ’em out, turn off the phone, hide away, get it done. If you carry a short story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/don-t-let-people-interfere-with-you-boot-em-out-turn-off-the-phone/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It's a very American thing to hide away from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/it-s-a-very-american-thing-to-hide-away-from-death/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [You can run and you can hide, but you can never get away from your conscience, it will find you when you are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayssus/you-can-run-and-you-can-hide-but-you-can-never-get-away-from-your/) [Michael Hayssus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayssus/) > [“I hope you remember that you always have a place to hide, away from the noise of the world, away from all that dares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-soriano/i-hope-you-remember-that-you-always-have-a-place-to-hide-away-from/) [Jocelyn Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-soriano/) > [I will search for you if you hide away from me I will wait for you if you leave me Will fight for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoheb/i-will-search-for-you-if-you-hide-away-from-me-i-will-wait-for-you-if/) [Zoheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoheb/) > [“A woman is entitled to her secrets. She should be able to hide them away for as long as she wants, without people constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-kamal/a-woman-is-entitled-to-her-secrets-she-should-be-able-to-hide-them/) [Sheena Kamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-kamal/) > [“Some people, he says, they hide themselves away from the eyes of the world. They hunker down and shiver. They find four walls high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-bell/some-people-he-says-they-hide-themselves-away-from-the-eyes-of-the/) [Alden Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-bell/) > [“I had no way to deal with it, no place I could take it to or hide it away. Like the wind passing over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-no-way-to-deal-with-it-no-place-i-could-take-it-to-or-hide-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just wanna run, hide it away. Run because they're chasin' me down. I just wanna run, throw it away. Run before they're findin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-downtown-fiction/i-just-wanna-run-hide-it-away-run-because-they-re-chasin-me-down-i/) [The Downtown Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-downtown-fiction/) ## More by Daya > [A stadium tour would be amazing - that's definitely one of my goals. Just to keep putting out real, honest music that people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/a-stadium-tour-would-be-amazing-that-s-definitely-one-of-my-goals/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I was in an Uber in Vegas with some friends, and 'Don't Let Me Down' came on. My driver didn't recognize me but started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-was-in-an-uber-in-vegas-with-some-friends-and-don-t-let-me-down/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [It was like I was Hannah Montana! I was a normal girl from Pittsburgh one minute and then a pop star the next!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/it-was-like-i-was-hannah-montana-i-was-a-normal-girl-from-pittsburgh/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [All my friends are usually at festivals... I just have so much adrenaline running, I literally could run a marathon after my shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/all-my-friends-are-usually-at-festivals-i-just-have-so-much/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [When 'Hide Away' first started gaining a bit of momentum, I was visiting at least two radio stations per day - sometimes in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/when-hide-away-first-started-gaining-a-bit-of-momentum-i-was-visiting/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [My dad was the one who took me to concerts and introduced me to new artists. One time, he drove me from Pittsburgh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/my-dad-was-the-one-who-took-me-to-concerts-and-introduced-me-to-new/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [My music reflects my strong belief in equal opportunities for all - specifically young girls and women. Many, many children do not have anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/my-music-reflects-my-strong-belief-in-equal-opportunities-for-all/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I like the fact that I have the power to convey a lot of emotion through my songs. I like to channel that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-like-the-fact-that-i-have-the-power-to-convey-a-lot-of-emotion/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I flew home to Pittsburgh, and my management called me to ask if I wanted to perform on 'Dancing With the Stars' with Charlie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-flew-home-to-pittsburgh-and-my-management-called-me-to-ask-if-i/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [Coldplay's 'Mylo Xyloto' tour was incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/coldplay-s-mylo-xyloto-tour-was-incredible/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I'm a quarter Indian; my grandfather's originally from New Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-m-a-quarter-indian-my-grandfather-s-originally-from-new-delhi/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I'm a classically trained jazz pianist - I've been playing since I was 3 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-m-a-classically-trained-jazz-pianist-i-ve-been-playing-since-i-was/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [You should never be put into a mold based on your gender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/you-should-never-be-put-into-a-mold-based-on-your-gender/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [Brand-wise, I love Doc Martens, Topshop, All Saints, and Lord & Taylor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/brand-wise-i-love-doc-martens-topshop-all-saints-and-lord-taylor/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I try to share a lot of my life on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, everything. I really like interacting with fans on Twitter and answering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-try-to-share-a-lot-of-my-life-on-snapchat-twitter-instagram/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) [Explore all 71 Daya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) ## More New quotes > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [New Girl' is always a top priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/new-girl-is-always-a-top-priority/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I sound New York. I sound East Coast much more than a blonde person from L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kavner/i-sound-new-york-i-sound-east-coast-much-more-than-a-blonde-person/) [Julie Kavner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kavner/) > [Even after years of observing, a new picture of Uranus from Keck Observatory can stop me in my tracks and make me say, 'Wow!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hammel/even-after-years-of-observing-a-new-picture-of-uranus-from-keck/) [Heidi Hammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-hammel/) > [I love transforming myself constantly because it gives me that 'new' feeling that I'm very much addicted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-mondo/i-love-transforming-myself-constantly-because-it-gives-me-that-new/) [Brad Mondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-mondo/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [The midwest is great because it hasn't been entirely claimed. There's more room to write about it; it's harder to write about New York,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/the-midwest-is-great-because-it-hasn-t-been-entirely-claimed-there-s/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) [Browse all 15,269 New quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a weekend-long songwriting session by a writer I had met through my voice teacher in Pittsburgh. My first hit, 'Hide Away,' was one of the songs written during those sessions. It was played for a radio rep who then started a new label; the song got a pretty organic start at radio and then took off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daya" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a-weekend-long-songwriting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "New" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a-weekend-long-songwriting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/daya-9625_new_i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a_1879662.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was invited to L.A. when I was 16 for a weekend-long songwriting session by a writer I had met through my…” — Daya", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Daya", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was invited to L.A. when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a-weekend-long-songwriting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-was-invited-to-l-a-when-i-was-16-for-a-weekend-long-songwriting/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```