Rising Stars: Meet Diamond Ortiz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diamond Ortiz.

Hi Diamond, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am from San Francisco/Bay Area originally. I fell in love with all things old skool at a young age. My first love was doo-wop and 50’s music. My brother started playing in bands at a young age with all the older OG Oakland East Bay guys who all played with the Family Stone, Funkadelic, Graham Central Station, etc., and I was always the kid brother who tagged along. Being around those guys is where I learned how to play and how to be fOnky, you dig? For years, my brother and I played with a drummer as a trio. We rocked, we traveled, and thats how I cut my teeth my as a musician and performer. I got really into producing and after years of searching, I finally got myself a Talkbox around 2010. The first song I ever played Talkbox on was with Nipsey Hussle (RIP!) and it’s been an incredible journey ever since. I’ve been fortunate to contribute to a lot of records with a lot of my heroes, legends and great artists.

I moved to LA in 2015 and have been very fortunate to have any part of this really amazing movement and scene around this Old Skool music that we all love so much. I was signed by local Pasadena indie label Mofunk Records in 2014 who pressed my 1st 45rpm 7″ vinyl single and introduced me to the LA ‘Modern Funk’ scene that was happening at the time. They introduced me to my brothers the mighty FUNK FREAKS Crew. There is a very rich tapestry of Los Angeles culture that this style of music belongs to. I’m very humbled to have been able to contribute in my own little way to this one-of-a-kind scene happening here, which is still evolving and growing and reaching more and more kids. In 2018, I was introduced Chicano rap icon Lil’ Rob. He invited me to start touring and doing shows with him as his Talkbox player. With Rob, I have been able to experience some amazing things. It introduced me to a new level of massive stages and beautiful crowds who adore him and this music we represent.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’ll just say it been equally as challenging as it has been rewarding, lol! But hey, if your aim is true and intentions pure, your path will bring you forward thru any trivial bumps in the road.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I started making noise & became known for playing the Talkbox. I make ‘Street Funk’ records in a uniquely West Coast G Style. My records have found a unique little place in the world & it still blows my mind. I started with that Nipsey song & It’s opened amazing doors in my life. What am I most proud of? I’m forever humbly proud and still trip out on having played Talkbox on the Snoop Dogg “I Wanna Thank Me Tour” tracks and working with him. Working with Lil’ Rob is so dope too. I’m proud to represent the funk and this music, in my own way, that we all love so much. Shout out all my homies and homegirls who bump Diamond Ortiz, all the poplockers/B-Boys/B-girls, the Funk Freaks Crew, Lil Rob, Snoop Dogg, and Foos Gone Wild.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is fulfilling my duty of being a humble custodian of this music-of-the-people that means so much to so many of us. Keeping that real funk intact and represented properly. With soul and class and style!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: diamondortiz.bandcamp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamondortizz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DiamondOrtizDiamondOrtiz

Image Credits
@KnawledgeVisuals