DJ Tigerlily

Aussie musician Dara Hayes, aka DJ Tigerlily is one colourful lady. As well as her international DJ career, she’s a social media influencer and celebrity vegan. We caught up with the bubbly beauty with bubblegum hair before she jetted to Las Vegas in October, and asked her some hairy questions (about her impressive wig collection).

Success: You’re no stranger to North Queensland, but you perform all over the world as well. Where’s your favourite place to play?

Dara: I play in Townsville and Cairns a couple of times a year, so I’m super regular in both cities, which is cool because they’re really fun. It’s a big call picking a favourite place to play, but I would have to say Far Out Beach Club in Ios, a party island in Greece. It’s always just absolutely crazy there. It’s kind of full of Aussies, which some people like and some people hate. For me, it’s super fun because you know the Aussie crowds really get into it when they’re overseas. 

Success: You were in Townsville mid-September for the Sorry For Partying music festival. Tell us about that?

Dara: It was awesome. It was down by the water [at Quayside Terminal] where the boats come in. It was a really awesome, super cool venue. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was a great place to play and the crowd was excited and stoked to be there and yeah, I had a really good time. 

Townsville crowds are awesome. Everyone’s there to have a good time and party. No one’s snobby. Everyone’s just super down to earth, which is my favourite type of crowd to play to. It was a cool line up with some really different style acts – hip hop, bit of indie, a bit of live work as well from like Running Touch. It was super cool. 

Success: Have you always been musical? How did you get into DJ-ing?

Dara: When I was four years old, my parents put me into music school, and I played a whole heap of different instruments throughout high school, which was really fun. When I left school, I started to go clubbing and just discovered this thing called DJ-ing, which I thought was so cool! In 2011 [aged 19], I did a competition called Your Shot, which gives young kids the opportunity to learn how to mix. I came second, which was really, really cool. That gave me a kickstart into the industry. 

From there I got my first residency at a club called Soho in Sydney, which was awesome because it was one of my favourite clubs to party at. And yeah, I just started working every weekend, while studying at uni. It’s now almost been 10 years, which is really crazy. Lots of work, lots of hours, lots of traveling. People often ask, ‘has there been a career-defining moment?’ And I don’t really think there has, it’s more been just a lot of work and building up year by year and month by month.

Success: You have an epic social media following with 624k likes on Facebook and 604k followers on Instagram. How much has social media helped you grow your music?

Dara: I think obviously it’s helped a lot, but I also think the gigs and the music have helped the social media. It works both ways.

SUCCESS: How much is your look part of your brand?

Dara: Oh, it’s completely interconnected. For. Sure. I think these days it’s essential to really have an identifiable look, intrinsically linked to your brand, who you are and your music. So, whether you’re a DJ or an artist or an actor, having a really solid and recognisable look is more important than ever because so many of these industries are completely over-saturated.

“I think these days it’s essential to really have an identifiable look, intrinsically linked to your brand, who you are and your music.”

Success: You often have pretty cool coloured hair. Do you take all your wigs when you travel?

Dara: I usually take two with me, like my favourite one at that point in time and then a backup. I used to colour my real back in the day – every 4-6 weeks I’d have a scalp bleach and full head of colour – but then my hair all fell out. So now, I pack the wig, which has been amazing because I can have my real hair pretty natural for the most part.

Success: With constant travel and late nights for work, how do you stay healthy?

Dara: Physical activity and feeling healthy and strong physically relates really closely to my mental health. If I’m feeling physically strong, sleeping well and eating good foods, then mentally I feel really great as well. I use a lot of essential oils, like lavender which is really beautiful for calming, and cedarwood which is really beautiful for grounding you when you feel like you’ve had too many shots of coffee but you actually haven’t! I think it’s just important for people to find out what works for them.

For Tigerlily’s music and updates, follow her on Instagram or visit her website for upcoming shows, djtigerlily.com