Born in a musical household, Dian has always been surrounded by melody. Her childhood was split between Dakar and Paris, something which remains a source of inspiration to her music. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter signed to the recording label Spin Desire just last year. Her first release, “Good Girl Gone Bad,” featuring Crystal Murray, is an electro-inspired hit with elements of trap. She then came out with her first solo single titled “Insanity,” an alternative rap track inspired by the likes of Flatbush Zombies. The experimental LGBTQ+ artist uses rap in order to deconstruct stereotypes while building her own identity at the same time. In honour of her second single “Bailerina,” a raw and honest homage to her late friend, we spoke to Dian about her inspirations, her creative process and what’s in store next. The exclusive music video for “Bailerina” is available at the end of the interview.
What are 3 things important to you?
Love, friends and family.
How did you get into music?
Both my parents are musicians, so I got into music very early and joined Suzuki school at 3 years old, where I started the piano. Then I went to the conservatory in Paris. While growing up I was truly finding myself into music by doing some sessions at home with my friends or performing for school projects. I never thought I would release some tracks one day, but it’s such a good feeling when people let you know that they believe in you and are encouraging you to share it and be more confident about it. I can only listen and do it!
Tell us about your creative process, where do you get inspiration from to create?
Well it depends on my mood. For example it can be a melody in my head that I want to put on paper, so I just start by a simple beat on my computer and then I add layers. Some other times it’s just a beat that a friend sends me that inspires me, and I just go for it and record on my phone some voices. I basically get inspiration from everything and everyone around me, it depends on what I experience.
What is your inspiration for the single “Bailerina”? Can you tell us the meaning behind the lyrics and music vidéo?
In this track I’m sharing the loss of a dear friend of mine who went to the sky too soon. She was a ray of light, we did everything together when we were kids. So I am trying here to leave a humble homage to her. For the lyrics I took the position of a lover, trying to express what you want to hear after life, maybe that you are beautiful, gracious, that you are loved and missed, and that we will forever sing your song. (Shoutout to Solo Otto for the marvelous guitar lines that inspired me on writing this song. )
What’s been your favourite project/single to work on and why?
One of my favourite projects that I worked on was recording in Dakar, Senegal with my father. I spent two months there and I try to go as much as I can, exchanging our philosophies and experiences of life, meeting great musicians, making beautiful music, learning about my beloved roots… Nothing of this project is out yet, but you will sure hear about it when it will!
What do you hope to achieve with your work?
I just want to be able to share my music and show my universe through my songs and aesthetic.
What can we expect from you for the rest of the year?
That’s the most exciting, right? What’s next! Well for the rest of the year there are a lot of projects coming, features with various artists, beautiful visuals that I can’t wait for you guys to discover! My next single is called Paper Angel.
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