Photos by David Aleman
Nina Diaz was 12 years old when her older sister recruited her to sing for San Antonio’s Mexican-American all-girl band, Girl in a Coma. At 17 the band played at the original Knitting Factory in Manhattan. Joan Jett was in attendance and was so impressed that she signed the group to her label, Blackheart Records, on the spot. After recording four albums, world tours, and opening up for the frontman of the band Girl in a Coma’s name pays homage to, Morrissey, Nina Diaz decided to take a break from the band and embark on a solo career.
You can hear a little bit of Morrissey’s histrionic croon in Nina Diaz’s voice, but her vocal stylings have always been more dynamic than her pompadoured progenitor (sorry Moz). While in her previous band, she effortlessly inhabited a wide range of sonic spaces from sludgy grunge, slow country ballads, to jangly indie pop and beyond, all while singing in both English and Spanish. Even with all the skill and accomplishments achieved by 27, her blooming solo career suggests Diaz is far from plateauing.
Take a listen below or head over to Uncle Billy’s on Barton Springs this Sunday 4/24 at 4pm to catch her live.
–Ryan Wen
