Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Diaz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brandon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My dad has one of the 0f the best voices I have ever heard. We’ve been singing together since I was in the crib, from lullabies to 15-hour car rides full of him and I belting Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, and Allen Stone at the top of hour lungs. Music and the arts have been woven into the fabrics of my life in every way. I am blessed to have parents who really pushed my sister and I to follow our dreams from the very beginning. There was never any obstacle we couldn’t overcome, having that support system definitely played a crucial role in my pursuing music.
My parents put me into singing and piano lessons at around eight and I quickly learned when it came to piano, I wasn’t the best at practicing. Singing I did all the time, so I loved those lessons, but when it came to instruments, I ended up teaching myself piano and guitar through the beautiful world of YouTube. After years of doing theater, choir, gigging in and around my hometown of Ashburn, Virginia, and working on original music, I got accepted into Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. I got to school and immediately created my own R&B/Soul band with a few guys that I had an undeniable connection with. I wrote and collaborated with many talented artists, performed at countless venues all over Boston, and even got to perform in front of Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, and Alex Lacamoire at my graduation.
Around my junior year, I was contacted by a casting producer I had met from previously auditioning for shows like The Voice, X-Factor, and American Idol. He reached out and asked if I wanted to audition for the reboot of American Idol on ABC. I was honestly a little bit hesitant with the offer, only because I had been through the ringer on those shows a few times before. But, I decided to take a chance and give the show a shot again. I ended up progressing all the way to Top 24, and I got the opportunity to sing with not only Lionel Richie, but I got to sing with Luis Fonsi which I have to say was my favorite experience from the show. He was incredibly down to earth and made me feel so comfortable during our rehearsals and interviews/B roll. He offered up some great advice about the industry, and we both bonded over our Abuelas (grandmas) being singers. After finishing the show and graduating in 2019, I made the move from Boston to LA to pursue my career further. I have been out here writing as much as I can with different people and getting a portfolio of songs that I am confident in and happy with. I am getting ready to release my new single “Smile” on September 24th, which I am so proud of and I know listeners are going to love.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’m not going to say my road wasn’t smooth because I know how privileged I have been, but I definitely have had my struggles along the way. My family and I were very new to the entertainment industry, so there were certainly times where our ignorance was taken advantage of. A couple of producers made a lot of promises as well as ask for money and did not follow through on any of them, which caused a lot of wariness with people in the industry. Also, when I was young I experienced rejection on national tv multiple times. The hardest part about that was not only did I feel utterly defeated in myself but since it was on such a huge platform, I felt like I was letting so many other people down. I definitely beat myself up about how I should have done better, but as I got older I learned that those experiences just prepared me for what was to come. Being in the public eye doesn’t make anything easier, but I have been very grateful to be able to build a community with my voice and my music and meet such incredible people along the way.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I think what sets me apart from a lot of artists is that I write music that makes me feel good. I don’t like to stress too much about what genre I am or what box I can fit into, I just want to be proud and happy with what I am releasing. I think my tone is what I have worked my whole life for and that is my staple in my music. I feel like being of Cuban descent and having so many different musical influences growing up, it brings a completely different flare to my songs. I hope to be something my fans can relate to and feel super familiar with but also be completely new. I like to push boundaries genre-wise with my art and I think listeners of music today enjoy that.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’ve said since I was a kid that I wanted to live in California. Even though I didn’t visit until I was 15 years old, I had a weird connection with it. All this to say, there aren’t many things that I don’t like about Los Angeles so far. I love how everything revolves around arts and the outdoors. I love being able to drive to the beach, the mountains, or the city whenever I get the urge. Quarantine has put a pause on exploring the nightlife of LA but from what I experienced so far, I really enjoy it. I think the only thing I am having a hard time with is having to drive everywhere. I lived in Boston for three and a half years so walking was everything and I miss having the option sometimes. I can’t wait to be able to explore more and more while living here, there is always something new to see in LA.
Contact Info:
- Address: 14428 Tiara St. Van Nuys, CA 91401
- Phone: 7038356104
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandondiazofficial/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/Brandon-Diaz-222152411264438/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonDMusic?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Image Credit:
Whitney Otte
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
