Linda Diaz
Linda Diaz is an Afro-Latina singer, songwriter, and chess prodigy from the Lower East Side of Manhattan.[2]
In 2020, she won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest.[3]
Diaz is a co-host of the PBS music education series Sound Field.[4][5]
Music career edit
Diaz released her debut single "Flowers in the Concrete" featuring Akinyemi, in November 2018, with "Fall in Love" being her next single in February 2019. Later that same month, on February 25, she released her debut EP V.
In December 2019, ten months after the V EP, Diaz released her second EP, Magic. Earmilk wrote that the record, "captivates listeners with a classic neo-soul aura that's rife with smooth keys and lush guitar riffs. Diaz's shimmering vocals paint a vivid picture of the day she fell in love and has us feeling the same upon first listen."[6]
In January 2020, Diaz was a backup singer for Jordan Rakei during his NPR Tiny Desk Concert.[7]
In August 2020, she won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest with her song "Green Tea Ice Cream", beating over 6,000 entries. Diaz wrote the track during a year when her grandfather died, she was broken up with, and she was laid off, forcing her to reckon with what she valued and what she needed to move forward.[8] Tiny Desk producer, Bobby Carter, said, “Linda stood out in a crop of thousands of talented musicians, but I knew early on that she was the one to beat. Her tone, her message and the band’s overall musical presentation were simply undeniable.”[3]
Due to the risks of COVID-19, NPR stopped hosting Tiny Desk Concerts in its D.C. studio in 2020 and 2021. In the interim, Tiny Desk continued its series as "Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts", where artists recorded sets in their home locations.[9] In October 2020, Diaz's concert was published, with her and her band performing on the top of the Javits Center, the first musicians to ever do so.[10][11]
In September 2020, Diaz's singing was featured in a Toyota commercial that aired during the VMAs with J Balvin.[12]
Discography edit
Extended plays edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| V[13] |
|
| Magic[14] |
|
Singles edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Flowers in the Concrete"[15] (featuring Akinyemi) | 2018 | V |
| "Fall in Love" [16] | 2019 | |
| "Honesty" [17] | Magic | |
| "Ready 4 U"[18] | ||
| "Magic" [19] | ||
| "Green Tea Ice Cream"[20] | 2020 | |
| "Good Thing"[21] (with Elijah Fox, Aligo and Marie Dahlstrøm) | non-album single | |
| "Blessed"[22] | 2021 | TBA |
| "I'll Be Around"[23] | 2022 |
Scholastic chess career edit
Diaz began playing chess at six-years old. She was coached by Sophia Rohde and John MacArthur. Her stillness and silence were determined as traits of a good chess player by her coaches, despite Diaz not excelling at the game for her first three years.[24][25]
When she was in fourth grade, she placed first in New York City's chess competition, second in New York State's competition, and won SuperNationals. She often used the Sicilian Defence in her matches and was given the nickname, ‘The Tank’.[25][26]
Often being the youngest player, and a girl, Diaz regularly experienced sexism and condescension at chess tournaments. She's stated that alcoholism is common among young chess players.[25][27]
In 2017, she competed with Oberlin College at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship in New Orleans, where the team won the best small college division for the fourth consecutive year.[28]
In 2020, she was a guest on United States Chess Federation's podcast, Ladies Knight, hosted by Jennifer Shahade.[29] In 2023, Diaz performed music at the World Chess Hall of Fame.[30]
References edit
- ^ "BRIC JazzFest: Back at BRIC House". February 28, 2021.
- ^ "Here Are 10 Women You Can Support This Bandcamp Friday". Remezcla. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Linda Diaz Wins NPR Music 'Tiny Desk Contest' 2020". JamBase. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Preezy (March 14, 2023). "PBS Releases 'The Art Of Diss: Battle Rap Then And Now' Documentary". VIBE.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Sound Field - How Do R&B Singers Create Background Vocals? ft. Linda Diaz". Twin Cities PBS. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Odutola, Tayo (November 12, 2019). "Linda Diaz's velvety R&B sound is pure "Magic"". EARMILK. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Jordan Rakei: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. 2020.
- ^ "Meet Linda Diaz, The Winner Of The 2020 Tiny Desk Contest". NPR.
- ^ Rose, Jordan (March 12, 2021). "NPR's Reimagined 'Tiny Desk' Concert Series Is a Home Run During COVID". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Linda Diaz, 2020 Tiny Desk Contest Winner: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, retrieved May 7, 2023
- ^ "Tiny Desk Staffers Pick Their Favorite Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts". NPR. 2020.
- ^ Winther, Sandra (September 2, 2020), MTV VMAs 'J Balvin: Mi Gente', retrieved May 7, 2023
- ^ "V | Linda Diaz". Bandcamp. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ SamMorrison (April 2, 2020). "Magic - [Linda Diaz]". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Flowers in the Concrete (Feat. Akinyemi), by Linda Diaz". Linda Diaz. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Fall in Love, by Linda Diaz". Linda Diaz. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ SeamusFay (October 8, 2019). "Honesty - [Linda Diaz]". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Ready 4 U, by Linda Diaz". Linda Diaz. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Roś, Michalina (November 13, 2019). "Rising R&B Artist Linda Diaz Releases New Song 'Magic' | Music News". CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HER. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Blazenhoff, Rusty (August 4, 2020). "This soulful song won NPR's 2020 Tiny Desk Contest: 'Green Tea Ice Cream' by Linda Diaz". Boing Boing. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Linda Diaz / Good Thing | Early Rising". Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Linda Diaz - Blessed". Stereofox Music Blog. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Singersroom (October 7, 2022). "Linda Diaz releases her latest hit "I'll be Around" - Singersroom.com". Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ McClain, Dylan Loeb (May 20, 2007). "Where's the Real Action Now? In the Nation's Schoolrooms". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c Holmes, Linda (2020). "We Talk 'Queen's Gambit' With Chess Expert And Tiny Desk Winner Linda Diaz". NPR.
- ^ "Velvet Voice, Plays Chess Like a Tank - Linda Diaz". Spreaker. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Shahade, Jennifer (June 19, 2020). "Ladies Knight with guest Linda Diaz". US Chess.org. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Chess club brings home fourth trophy". Oberlin College and Conservatory. February 12, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Ladies Knight with Jen Shahade Featuring Linda Diaz LK018". Ladies Knight Chess. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "WCHOF Music Series: Linda Diaz". World Chess Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 7, 2023.