Diamanté is currently on tour with other Eleven Seven artists, Bad Wolves and From Ashes to New. She sat down with Side Stage Magazine to discuss her new album, the tour, her collaboration with Bad Wolves, and how she infuses herself and her heritage into her music.
The 21 year old singer with vibrant blue hair is so down to earth, warm, and friendly. As soon as I stepped into the venue, she greeted me with a hug. During our discussion, she was full of smiles, and she greeted every fan before and after the show happily. When we got to discussing her music, she just lit up and excitedly answered all my questions.
Her debut album released June 15 this year, and she continues to tour with Bad Wolves. Find out more on her facebook page! www.facebook.com/thisisdiamante
Side Stage Magazine: So far, since the album came out, what’s that been like? It just released this month, right?
Diamanté: Yeah. It’s crazy, it’s already been a week! I’ve just been so thrilled with people’s responses. The fans who have been waiting for this album for a long time, and then the new people who hear it just now or come to the show and pick up the CD at the past shows this week, tell me how much they love it. So, I’ve just been on cloud 9 all week and the tour has been awesome, all the shows have been great!
So how long did it take you to do this album?
Two years.
Wow! You got started young, cause you’re only 21, right?
Yeah. I started writing when I was 19 and because I’m a solo artist, I would write instead of with band members, I would write with a bunch of other songwriters and producers, so every session would be with someone brand new. That’s why in the beginning, it was a lot of trial and error, finding the right people, and really honing in on the sound. Post production and everything took a little longer, so I think about 18 months writing and recording. I think I did about 100 different demos.
Wow!
Yeah, so it was a lot!
Well, congrats! Your hard work has finally paid off!
Thank you!
How long has the In Your Head tour been going on? It just kicked off, right?
We just reached the midpoint yesterday, so we have about 2 weeks left.
What’s it been like?
It’s been so fun! I love these club tours, because you get to be so intimate with the fans and really get to hang out with them and meet them, and then also From Ashes to New and Bad Wolves, we’re all on the same label, so it feels like we’re family. They’re so nice and really cool. I’m kind of sad we’re already halfway. I don’t want it to end!
But I’m sure something else with spark from this tour.
Yeah!
So tell me about that collaboration you did with Tommy [Bad Wolves].
It happened because after recording “Hear Me Now,” he realized it was really meant to be as a duet, and so he asked me to sing on it and when I heard it, I immediately fell in love with it. So i was like “Absolutely!.”
I really love it. It’s one of my favorites on their album!
I love it! 3 days later, I met him for the first time, and that was the day we recorded it in the studio, and we shot the video.
The same day?
Yeah! It was the first day we met, it’s so funny! Then I think 3 days later, we released it and the response was just so cool and think we realized that we made something really special. So that’s why Bad Wolves has been inviting me on their tours to sing “Hear Me Now” with them live.
So you go and sing that song with them on stage, right? And then you do your own set?
Yeah. This tour I do my own set, then I go up with them. Back in May, I just went with them to sing “Hear Me Now” when they were on tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown, and then I get to do that again all of July and August when they go out with Breaking Benjamin, and Nothing More and Five Finger Death Punch.
They get all the cool tours!
I know! It’s gonna be so much fun!
I love that it [“Hear Me Now”] shows your softer side. Both of your music is kind of heavy, so this is the perfect song for you.
Yeah, it definitely is different for me. Even though I have ballads on my albums, playing a slow song, especially a love song live, is really out of my element instead of running on stage and head-banging. So it’s really a different side to see.
So, your album kind of reminds me of Avril Lavigne or Joan Jett and has kind of a “don’t give a f***” attitude.
I love them! They’re my idols and who I grew up listening to!
I love that you did “Crazy on You.” That [Heart] was one of my first rock concerts, but you take it in a lower key, so I can sing along with your version!
Oh my gosh! I remember they wanted me to do an 80’s cover song, and me, I love challenges, so I had to do Heart, cause it’s so hard vocally, and I wanted to do it in the original key. I was like “Yeah! Let’s do it!” Now I regret it, like “Why?”
No, you did great! It’s my favorite!
Thank you!
I did want to ask about your song “Lo Siento.” What does it mean?
“Lo siento” is about hurting somebody beyond repair, and it can be intentional or not intentional–most of the times it’s not intentional. It’s about there’s nothing you can say or do to earn the person’s forgiveness, so “even if you never wish me well, I want to say I’m sorry.”
I like that. I got from the album, it’s like “I don’t care what you think about me, I’m just going to be me.” And then there’s a song “I’m sorry,” and how I would describe the album is “unapologetic,” so it’s an interesting twist at the end.
Yeah. You know, I see a lot of “you hurt me, you did this to me” type songs, and I don’t see a lot of “well, I’m actually the one who’s ever wrong,” so I thought it would be cool to change the vantage point.
“I’m sorry” is one of the hardest things to say, and a lot of people don’t do it, even if they feel they’re not at fault.
Yeah, it’s so important to have the guts to say, even if you don’t like to say it.
So, I was reading that you actually speak three languages, you’re Italian and Mexican.
I say two and a half. I’m fluent in English and Spanish, and I understand Italian completely. My dad speaks to me in Italian, I understand everything he’s saying, but I just never spoke back. So it’s one of those where if I was in Italy for a month and I had to speak Italian, I would have it down. Especially cause it’s so similar to Spanish.
I’m from New Mexico, so I’m the same way. I understand only poquito español.
Aye, bueno!
And your blue hair is for your middle name [Azzura], so I love that you’re infusing your heritage to your performance.
Thank you! I was like “I can’t believe I haven’t done a song in Spanish.” It’s such a big part of me, so I hope to do more of that in the future too.
It was gorgeous! It was slow, but I could hear a bit of the rock in it. Maybe I’m not listening to the right songs, but that’s not something I hear very much of in Spanish. I went to a show at the San Diego House of Blues, and there was this band that was Mexican Metal, and it was so cool to me. I didn’t know they had metal down there, and I just don’t see that a lot. You’re kind of trailblazing for a lot of things.
Thank you.
I’m excited for the show. All three of you guys together [Diamanté, From Ashes to New, and Bad Wolves], it’s going to be an epic show!
Yeah! It’s cool, cause we’re all so different, but fans will come up to me “You guys are all such different bands and artists, but it was the best show we’ve ever been to.”
You music styles are very complimentary. Thank you for sitting with me, I’m excited for the show, and I’ll see you on stage.
Yes, thank you so much!
