Page 37 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine - Issue 100

BV100 pg32-37 centre pages_BV100 pg37 13/03/2019 17:42 Page 6

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 37

s a child, Diamante had musical the- granted the people around me, and the expe- artist. Maybe a lot of people at that show
Aatre training – and then at the age of riences that I get to have.” don’t know who you are yet, so it’s a lot of
15 took part in a School Of Rock Summer having to win the people over, and maybe
Camp that inspired her to delve into rock ven if Diamante does hide any inse- the first three songs they’re hesitant and
music. She discovered female rock legends Ecurities from social media, we do then you grab them, and that’s honestly my
such as Joan Jett, Pat Benatar and Stevie love the strength that she portrays. Even if favourite part, kind of conquering the peo-
Nicks. she may not be strong 100% of the time, ple. It’s a bit of a challenge on its own but I
“Joan Jett, she’s incredible,” says Dia- when she IS, her strength is invigorating and think it’s really cool. I remember a couple of
mante. “The reason why she’s one of my can knock down borders and walls. She has times just getting up on stage, hearing ‘Oh
biggest inspirations is because she was told followers ‘Stay relentless’ and ‘kick the no, here we go - another girl,’ and I don’t
killing it in the world of rock in a time where doors down if you have to!’ reinforcing how know why that’s even a thing, why people
women playing rock music was not some- she has had to do that herself. ‘No. I’ve been think like this, but yeah, sometimes you have
thing that people celebrated. It was actually told ‘no’ too many times to count. ‘Not hap- to work a little harder to win the people over
frowned upon. And the fact that she held true pening,’ ‘not this enough,’ ‘not that enough.’’ on stage.”
to herself and just kept going is, I think, the This, though, is life for many, many humans. But it’s this female underdog mentality
most admirable thing about her. And I don’t Some of the biggest stars were almost all that keeps her fighting, and makes her even
mean that she lived in the rock world but she failures at some point in their life, turned more resilient. Dia even wrote a song called
pretty much dominated it in her time. And down or turned away from the dream they ‘Fight Like A Girl (F.L.A.G)’. She says she
she paved the way for so many female rock envisaged at that time. And Glenn Beck said thinks that men underestimate girls’ ability
musicians that I know that I look up to, so it’s it best; ‘Without failure there is no sweetness to fight.
kind of a snowball effect.” in success. There’s no understanding of it.’ “That’s why I wanted to have a song like
She adds, “I would love to meet her one So, what have been Diamante’s sweetest that, because ‘fight like a girl’ has always had
day, or at least go to a show.” successes so far and does she think the negative connotations, right? Fighting like a
‘Coming In Hot’ includes a cover by fe- ‘no’s have helped her appreciate the ‘yes’s girl has always been synonymous with being
male rockers Heart – ‘Crazy On You’. more when they came? weak, not fighting well enough, and so I
“They’re a group that I look up to also,” she “I would say just having my debut album wanted to take that phrase and flip it on its
says. “I love the 80s. I wanted to do an 80s come out at all was a huge success for me,” head so that fighting like a girl is actually
cover on my album. I figured, if I’m going to she replies, “especially because it took so something strong. It’s something empower-
do an 80s cover I might as well do something long and also because a lot of up-and-com- ing and it’s something desirable as opposed
really challenging, push myself… so I guess ing artists never get the chance to release a to how it’s always been viewed. You know,
that’s why I picked a Heart song, ‘cause their debut album, so that right there was a gigan- not even fighting like a girl, it can be any-
songs are known for being very vocally chal- tic success. I think being part of the tours thing… ‘You _____ like a girl,’ You _____ like
lenging.” that I’ve been a part of has been almost sur- a girl,‘ it’s always something bad. So I
real, and just being able to play arenas and wanted to take it and flip it on its head and
ut it’s her own songs that see Dia- amphitheaters, that has always been a make it something good.”
Bmante challenge herself emotionally. dream of mine, but when it does happen, it
‘War Cry’ is a song based on what she deals doesn’t even feel real. So I guess that’s an- or Dia, 2018 was the year of ‘Coming
with daily – revealing her insecurities and other one. I definitely know that I would not FIn Hot’. Writing a message to fans,
battles. Diamante sings ‘You only know me be where I am today without all the ‘no’s that she said, ‘You guys brought this album to
from what I'm letting you see, gets so lonely I received. I’m a big believer that everything life, took it in, and each of you made it your
living half underneath’. With the singer once happens for a reason. Maybe a past ‘no’ is own empowerment album’. This theme of
saying that she loved musical theatre be- what’s helped me move towards something empowerment is something that Dia will con-
cause she got to play a character, we ask if, that became a success.” tinue to drive, “just because it’s what I love
when she gets up on stage fronting a rock Yes. writing most about. I love uplifting people
band, she still becomes another character to Diamante has supported everyone from and empowering people and I know that
an extent. Whitesnake to Hinder and has upcoming music has helped me so much personally,
“Yeah, there’s an element of having a tours with Breaking and empowering myself,
persona when you’re on stage,” she replies. Benjamin, Asking if I can do that for other
“I wish I was as confident in everyday life as Alexandria and Un- people, I feel like my
I am when I’m up on stage. Something else deroath. She’s also CELEBRATING ________________________ music has a purpose.
too, what the lyrics to ‘War Cry’ also res- toured with Bad Receiving messages
onated with was living in the age of social Wolves, where she Black Velvet #100 from people every day
media. I know, especially myself, this is joined the band on saying ‘Your song’s re-
something that I try and work on as much as stage to perform ally helped me with this
_________________________________ 25 YEARS
I can, is when I post things on social media I ‘Hear Me Now’, a situation’, especially
always want to seem like I’m on top of the song she sang on. songs like ‘Bulletproof’
world and I’m fantastic and everything’s And believe it or not, “You’ve done 100, and ‘War Cry’, the more
great, and the truth is, people don’t feel 100% she tours in between do 1000 more! You empowerment ones, I
every day of their life, and I know I don’t. I going to school. get these messages all
tend not to share things that make me ap- “I go to college got this!” - Diamante the time, and to me,
pear weak or vulnerable because I don’t want and I study busi- that’s what makes writ-
to be seen in that way, so that’s why I say ness,” she says. ing music worth it. It
‘You only know me from what I’m letting you “How I’ve been doing makes everything worth
see’. A lot of people say ‘You have this in- it since 2015 is, I go to it. Yeah, I think writing
credible life and you feel incredible all the school whenever I’m home, and I’m just about empowerment is intertwined with my
time’ and a lot of times it’s not actually the maybe writing or taking a break, and then I musical identity.”
case.” take a semester off whenever I have to go on She even ends our interview by empow-
At New Year, Diamante posted on Insta- tour, and it’s funny because the last three ering us, when we tell her this is Black Vel-
gram ‘I’ve made it a resolution this year to be years it’s worked out perfectly, where I’ve vet’s 100th issue. “You’ve done 100, do 1000
the best version of me yet, to continue to had a semester and then I get told, ‘Hey Dia, more! You got this!”
love myself, have confidence in myself, and you’re going on tour in this month,’ and I say, Thanks Dia!
be unafraid’. ‘OK’. I tell my school, “Hey guys, I’ve gotta
She tells Black Velvet, “I think I just need leave” and I do a leave of absence, then I Check out ‘Coming In Hot’ by Diamante
to be the happiest version of me, to be the come back to school after the tour ends.” on Eleven Seven/Better Noise Records. Get
most giving, the kindest, to work the hardest The support slot tours are helping her it – you will feel better for it.
and just improve every aspect of myself that win new fans. As an opening artist she gets Visit www.thisisdiamante.com for more
I like,” she laughs, “and keep it going. It’s not her music out to new listeners. “I guess with info.
anything like a gigantic change. I do like who every show there’s always this little… I call Words by Shari Black Velvet
I am as a human being, but it’s more so to it the dance, it’s like a little push and pull, es-
improve on these qualities, and not take for pecially when you’re a new, up-and-coming Photos By Lindsay Adler
DIAMANTE