Nina Diaz (co-songwriter and musician/performer) made her theatrical debut in 2019 as part of The Neighborhood Band in About...Productions’ Evangeline, the Queen of Make Believe. Now off-stage, Nina has co-written with Theresa Chavez the punk songs for About...Productions’ 2022 premiere of Adobe Punk. Nina Diaz's musical career began at the age of 13, as main writer and front woman for San Antonio all-female punk band Girl in a Coma. By the time she turned 17 the band was signed to Joan Jett's Blackheart Records where they released four albums. The band toured widely sharing the stage with Morrissey, Tegan and Sara, and The Smashing Pumpkins to name a few. Nina Diaz' vocals and songwriting style compare to artists like Bjork, Jeff Buckley, PJ Harvey, Garbage, The Smiths, Patsy Cline, Patti Smith, Hole, Stone Temple Pilots, The Breeders, Alanis Morrisette, Nirvana or Gwen Stefani. Recently, her vocals were featured on the Spanish-language reissue of Elvis Costello and The Attractions’ This Year’s Model titled Spanish Model. Nina kicked off the album with her version of “No Action.” Now a full-time solo artist/producer/engineer, Nina released her sophomore solo album in 2022, I Could Be You, You Could Be Me, under the label BeatGirlProductions. Visit ninadiazsolo.com for more information.

Links:

https://ninadiazsolo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ninadiazsolo/

https://www.instagram.com/ninadiazsolo/?hl=en

https://ninadiazsolo11.bandcamp.com/

Song samples:

(0:00-0:45) Girl In A Coma, “Smart, Exits & All The Rest, Blackheart Records, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIL6P2_B3gA 

(0:12-0:33) Nina Diaz, “Diddly Squat Teaser,” 2022.

(0:44-1:00) The Bags, “Survive,” Survive EP, Dangerhouse, 1978. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivDsKQtou_w 

(0:32-1:00) X, “In This House That I Call Home,” Wild Gift, Slash Records, 1981. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFlGMARnaTQ 

(0:07-0:46) Nina Diaz, “Personality Confession,” I Could Be You, You Could Be Me, self-published, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzHrTCMRNWQ

Interview Transcript: https://sonix.ai/share/VXvadvTVygfFqYDNuDkHxM9C

This episode was recorded on March 15, 2024, in front of a live audience at the Frida Kahlo Theater in Los Angeles. 

Bella Gerard edited the audio and interview transcript.