Christmas Comes Early! An Exclusive Interview w/ DIAMANTE!

It was like any other day of my life.  I drove the usual route home after a hard day at the office and was flipping through my favorite Sirius XM channels trying to find a familiar tune to God speed the way home with.  I do all of this on autopilot, just pressing pre-programmed favorite buttons onscreen, not paying attention to the particular channel names or whatnot. Then it hit me like a wall would eventually if you ran blindfolded indoors.  I heard these raspy, authoritative, take-no-prisoners female vocals, which I have never heard before. Immediately this singer had my full undivided attention. I looked at my radio unit and saw I landed on XM’s Octane and the song playing was called “Haunted” by a rock star named Diamante.  Right then and there I wanted to know all I could about Diamante. Thank the maker for instant gratification. Before I knew it Diamante’s album, Coming in Hot, was downloaded on my phone and my car ride home was all the sudden NOT just another day of my life.  It was an elated experience!

Being the curious cat I am in life I had to find out everything I could about Diamante.  Who is she? Where did she come from? What’s with the blue hair? And most importantly why have I never heard of her before?  These questions and more were all rectified through some quick research, but it dawned on me. She’s not a household name, but I feel she should be.  In my opinion her music deserves to be heard by as many listeners possible and her name should be in bright “blue,” radiant lights for all to see. That’s my mission and I’m hoping all my readers here will not only give this talented young, rock singer a chance to win you over, but also spread word of the gospel here.  Therefore, the following is a candid conversation between me and Diamante. I wanted to get to know her, see what’s she up to and most importantly what fiercely makes her tick. So without further ado I give to you…DIAMANTE!

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BRIAN: Hello, Diamante.  Thanks so much for taking the time to sit down and chat with me.  How are you today?

DIAMANTE: I’m doing great, thank you so much for having me!

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BRIAN: I honestly thought my year was solidified with Panic at the Disco’s Pray for the Wicked as my number one album.  However, Coming in Hot literally “came” out of nowhere and has given it quite a run for the money.  One of the things I judge albums on are the quality of the tracks. I want every song on the album to be one I listen to and not just tracks artists throw away or are subpar compared to the hit singles on the record.  Both you and Panic at the Disco nailed it in regards to that! There’s not a bad song on Coming in Hot.  So I’m wondering what’s the selection process for you in deciding what song made your debut album and others that didn’t truly measure up or make the cut?

DIAMANTE: Thank you!! The song selection process for ‘Coming In Hot’ was actually very rigorous and at times, challenging. I began writing the album at the end 2016, and from then up until the album was completed (about a year and a half later) I wrote and recorded probably over 100 demos. I didn’t have any back catalogue going into writing the record so every day a new song was created on the spot. Because I’m a solo artist and not a band, I didn’t write with band members. Instead, each writing session was with a different songwriter or producer. From these demos, my producer Howard Benson would select which ones to the send to my label, and then my label would ultimately choose which ones to fully produce and put on the album. I of course would make my claims for songs I really believed in.

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BRIAN: Upon discovering you I immediately suggested your album to a peer of mine who I knew would identify with your musical style.  We both agreed that “War Cry” was one of the strongest, standout tracks. It has bite, attitude and above all ENERGY. I also noticed that your musical videos are quite engaging and all exhume this infectious, non-stop energy both your music and body carries and conveys.  In a world of mundane and heartbreak in music and whatnot where do you draw the energy from for your music and performances?

DIAMANTE: Fun fact actually, ‘War Cry’ was close to not making the record! It went through several variations until we felt we got it right. It’s my angriest song, so I’m really glad it did end up making the cut. As for music videos, I feel that energy is the most important aspect so thank you for noticing! I like to tell a story and bring the song to life. I’m a very visual person, and my music videos are usually exactly what I was imagining in my mind at the time I was writing and recording the song. For example, I always pictured ‘Coming In Hot’ as a fun summer song and ‘Bulletproof’ as a fighting song.

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BRIAN: Whew!  I’m so glad “War Cry” made it!  Now let’s take a quick step back so our readers can personally identify with you a bit more.  You have very unique roots. Before moving to LA at age 13 you were born in Boston to an Italian dad and Mexican mom.  You even speak three languages. However, when I first listened to your album not knowing any of this three things instantly stood out to me.  Number one, you’re confident and in control. There’s no doubt about that. Second, I felt the music and your vocal style had a very Pat Benatar or Joan Jett kind of vibe if they were making new music in present day.  And third, I heard guitar solos. Those seldom appear in mainstream, modern day music today and are missed. So what I’m interested in knowing is given your cultural background what bands, music, etc. influenced you to become the artist you are today and hone that signature sound you have?

DIAMANTE: Yes my music is definitely inspired by my upbringing and my love for 80’s rock and roll! When I was fourteen I attended a School of Rock summer camp and that was when I was first exposed to rock music. I got to cover songs by Blondie, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and the Rolling Stones. From then on, I really fell in love with the women of the 80s like Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, and Lita Ford. I am all about the guitar solo and definitely wanted to include some in this album.

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BRIAN: Very cool!  Now I’m not going to lie.  Another thing that stood out to me was your bright, blue hair.  Maybe it’s ironic given the name of our website here (Why So Blu?), but I got to know what’s with the blue hair?  Let me be the first to say I’m a huge fan of it. Will it stay?  Why so “blu”?

DIAMANTE: So back in 2016 I had pretty impulsively decided that I was bored of being blonde, especially because it seemed as if everyone was blonde haha. Without asking for permission first, I went to my hair colorist on Melrose and told her I wanted to do a fun color. She told me she had a lilac purple or an electric blue. I picked blue on the spot and have been blue since! It has always been one of my favorite colors, and I feel it really represents who I am. My name means diamond, and to me diamonds are blue. My parents were going to name me ‘Azzura’ which means blue in Italian. I think the blue is definitely going to stay for a while!

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BRIAN: I mentioned this before, but your music videos are a lot of fun.  Not only do they convey a whole lot of energy, but they also have narratives whether it’s exciting senior men around a pool, taking the trash out of a car trunk or even boxing in the gym as seen in “Bulletproof.”  It’s that latter video I want to focus on. That one looked like a lot of fun to make. Do you box and stay in shape like that in real life?

DIAMANTE: Yes making the music video for ‘Bulletproof’ was so fun! We shot it at Gold’s Gym in Hollywood, and I had a real training session with celebrity personal trainer Mel Alcantara. I don’t normally box (I had to do two training sessions before filming the video), but I do love going to the gym on a regular basis for cardio, as well as running outside.

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BRIAN: Great story!  Alright, let’s go back to your music.  This next one is an industry question. Things have certainly changed a lot over the past decade or two.  Gone are physical album sales, for the most part, of compact discs and whatnot and in are instant gratification methods of listening like downloading .mp3 files or streaming.  However, what’s unique about you is the fact that you’re not only proving that rock is NOT dead, but you caught my attention in a genre of music typically male dominated. What motivates you to tackle this male stereotype and break through?  I mean you could have easily went the pop route and successfully called it a day, but there seems to be a fire within you driving you to dominate in this genre. What is that drive?

DIAMANTE: Initially around the time I was 14/15, a lot of producers wanted me to make pop music. I actually really enjoy listening to pop music now (more dark pop than bubblegum pop) but it was never really me. I knew after playing that show at the School of Rock that I wanted to create and perform rock music because of how powerful it is. As for the genre being ‘male-dominated’, I don’t really pay attention to it or think about it consciously. I just make the music I want to make and keep going no matter what. Of course I’ve dealt with misogynistic experiences, but I don’t let them define me or my path. If anything, they only fuel my fire more.

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BRIAN: Awesome answer!  Are there any fun facts or secret meanings found in your songs that the average listener who didn’t spend the time to get to know the real you might miss or never hear?  Take songs like “Haunted” or “War Cry” for example. There has to be some source of inspiration behind them. As a former musician and songwriter myself, I’m always interested to know the true meanings behind songs.  Anything you can share?

DIAMANTE: ‘Haunted’ is both the sequel and the inverse perspective of my other song ‘Sleepwalking’. It’s the point in time after a horrible heartbreak when I’ve finally moved on but the person who’s hurt me is just now realizing they’ve made a mistake. The roles switch and by now it’s too late. I’m no longer the person being haunted, but the one committing the haunting because I’ve finally embraced my self worth and become empowered. ‘War Cry’ is kind of a battle cry, or cry for help because it talks about me being at war by myself.

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BRIAN: Thanks for sharing some of those meanings!  My next question is kind of an offshoot of the previous one, but I was wondering if you could walk me through your songwriting process.  For example, do you write lyrics separately or first or discover a good chord progression and build from there? For me it was always music first, then I put the words over it.  However, everyone has their own personal style and I was just curious how it all came together so perfectly for you on Coming In Hot?

DIAMANTE: Each song has a slightly different process, but I usually like to come up with the concept of the song before anything and then create the main melody and lyrics to an acoustic guitar. I find it easier to write the actual song first and then build the instrumentation later.

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BRIAN: From what I understand “Haunted” is the latest single to be released, which is currently on stations like SIRIUS XM’s Octane.  What I want to know is what’s next from you? Will you be going into the studio any time soon? Any upcoming concert tour plans? What are Diamante’s immediate world domination plans?

DIAMANTE: I’m always in the studio writing and creating no matter where I am during an album cycle, but 2019 will be full of touring! As of now I can only publicly say that I will be going out on the road with Breaking Benjamin, Underoath, and Asking Alexandria in early April!! World domination is definitely on the agenda haha.

— This interview was conducted a few days before her tour dates were announced, which can now be found HERE —

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BRIAN: Looking forward to seeing you out on the road!  Before I let you go I have to ask you one quick, but loaded question.  I always ask this one of everybody I talk to as it really gets the interview subject to personally open up and I feel you can identify with them more then.  Simply put, what makes Diamante tick? We already know your music, but outside of that what makes you get up every day and tackle life? Any hobbies, bucket list items or motivations you want your fans to know about?

DIAMANTE: I just love life, man. Outside of music I’m a huge foodie and dog person! I love going to new restaurants, exercising, hanging out with my dog, and simply hanging out with my friends in dive bars. One big bucket list item for me though is traveling and seeing the whole world.

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BRIAN: You had me at dog person.  Ha ha.  Thanks so much for sharing and taking the time out of your busy day to meet with me.  It was both a pleasure and an honor. I wish you nothing but the best in dominating the world of rock and look forward to whatever you put out next.  If you’re ever performing in Austin, TX or Las Vegas, definitely let me know. Have a great rest of your day.

DIAMANTE: Thanks again for having me Brian! I will definitely let you know when I’m in either city, see you soon!

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VISIT DIAMANTE ON THE WEB HERE!

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