Adan Diaz
As part of our Artists To Watch list, we’ve conducted interviews with the eight artists featured in our 2021 Spring/Summer edition. Check out our Q&A with Adan Diaz below and click here to check out the full list.
For Adan Diaz, becoming a professional musician has always been the goal. Still, it wasn’t until L.A.-based label Godmode took interest in the song covers he would upload online that he realized his dream was within reach. Adan creates a comforting, warm soundscape for his quickly growing audience through soft-spoken vocals and consonant chord progressions. With frequent references to Portillo’s and the local skatepark, it comes as no surprise that Adan often finds inspiration in his environment and everyday sights. Whether you’re a young kid seeking relatable lyrics or an adult looking to reminisce on your high school days —there’s something for everyone to resonate within Adan’s music.
When did your interest in making music first develop?
I’ve always wanted to do something in music, but I always thought that becoming an artist was so unattainable. So I would just do musicals, any talent show I could, acting —I would do anything really. It was not until last year when this label called Godmode hit me up and they’re like, "Hey we like what you’ve been doing." I was doing covers at the time for a while; just constantly putting out covers. I wanted to grow a fanbase, I guess. I wanted something but I wasn’t sure what. So I would just put out covers and then [Godmode] asked me if I was interested in music and becoming a musician. I was like, "Yeah, a hundred percent." Then everything kind of took off from there. They flew me out and I wrote my first song with them. Ever since then I’ve been progressing myself as a musician when it comes to producing music, writing music, and just as an artist.
For someone who often writes about navigating love and relationships, has this past year presented any challenges inspiration-wise considering the lack of social interaction taking place right now?
Oh my god, so much. There are times where I sit here for like eight hours staring at my computer and get nothing done. I think of it as, as long as I show up to work, it’s okay if nothing comes out. But eventually, some inspiration will strike. I feel like being in quarantine, towards the beginning, it was so hard. My inspiration was my bedroom and I feel like that inspiration was used so many times when I first started. It felt difficult and I had to rely on other things. I even took inspiration from online school. I was writing songs about online school, how it sucked so much. I have a demo called “Half-awake.” It’s about being half-awake and not wanting to do anything because I felt there was also a lack of energy in quarantine just 'cause, "Hey I’m at home.” There was a sense of laziness I guess. It took me a while to get back into the habit of doing things. Now that it’s been a little lighter, sometimes I’ll just go for a drive and maybe catch a little inspiration at something I see.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed in juggling making music while also being in school?
So much. There are times where I’m doing my schoolwork as fast as I can so I can have the time for music. Even between breaks, I’ll do music. I guess music is a bit more important to me because, in school, I’m kind of going through the motions. It’s definitely difficult balancing, especially now that you have to show up to meetings for school now through Zoom. It’s just a bit difficult, but I’m managing.
How would you describe to a first-time listener the best way to listen to your music? What would you recommend is the ideal setting?
I would say in the backseat of a car. Did you ever have those moments when you were a kid where you would just stare out the window? I feel like that’s the perfect moment to listen to my music. It could be day. It could be night. But just the backseat of a car, head out the window, just like feeling the wind. I feel like it’s fitting. It could both be a sad song or a happy song and that moment could still define it.
Do you have any goals for the new year that you set for yourself that you would like to share?
Definitely start a healthy schedule and write one song a day. I was previously doing that, but school just got a little bit in the way. But I would really like to start that again —creating one song a day—that way I can have maybe even more releases and a stronger discography.