An Interview with Diamond Vargas
Diamond Vargas is a talented artist from Melbourne, Australia. In this interview we talk about her upbringing and the influence it has on her music, sharing personal stories through lyricism and much more.



Thank you for doing this interview! Could you give me a bit of background information? Where are you from and what made you want to pursue music?
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Thank you for having me! Well I’m Diamond, born Diamante but being born and raised in Melbourne not even I could pronounce it right. As a kid I never enjoyed being the center of attention. People kind of knew I could sing, I just never really did. I wouldn't tell anyone I wanted to pursue music because I feared that as soon as I said it out loud I’d immediately have something to prove. Plus, I cared too much about what others thought, so I made sure I had a ‘real job’ to answer with when anybody asked the question. In reality, I had gone through my entire life always weirdly knowing that I was only meant to make music, and not because I thought I was that good or that I wanted to become famous, but because it was just the only thing that brought out a sense of consistency in me.
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I think in general people in Europe and the U.S. are not all that aware of pop-culture and music from Australia. Can you tell me a bit about the music scene out there; what is it like? And does it inspire you?
Well I feel like Australian music can often remain quite confined to the country. In saying that, it is so live-music based, and I am yet to perform on a stage without crying afterwards… so I respect it a lot but it scares the shit out of me.
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I’m not sure that you’d call my music a typical reflection of Australian culture, but I do consider myself lucky to have grown up in Melbourne which is often pegged as one of the most multicultural cities here. Even moving schools as a teen, I realized how absolutely different the culture was from one suburb to another. Music taste, money, sense of humor, sexual and substance experience. There is a lot of variety everywhere and so I’ve been through heaps of phases to get where I am now with my sound.
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In addition to that, do you think growing up in Australia has made an impact on your music? And do you think it has helped shape your sound in some sort of way?
Well of course I’m lucky to have grown up somewhere that I do feel quite free to speak my mind, so if I ever hold back with my words in a song it’ll be because of my own inhibitions rather than a pressure to contain my opinions. I also think that the school you go to contributes massively to who you are, based on how the process of growing up socially tends to look there. My friendship group was quite advanced in that respect. I was the last to do everything in regards to ‘adult experiences’ but seeing people do it so early on, I was certainly exposed to it in a sense that made me feel as if I understood. I’ve always lived in observation mode, and a lot of the time I look at situations in a poetic sense. Music is really all about experiences, and I couldn’t imagine reliving my unique ones anywhere else. So yes, I think growing up in Australia has everything to do with my music because who knows who I’d be if I didn't.
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Your music feels like a mix of modern soul and r&b with influences from previous generations. Can you tell me a bit about your sound and where you draw inspiration from? What are artists you grew up listening to and how do you think they have influenced you and your music?
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I don’t think the artists I listened to throughout childhood have influenced my sound as much as my songwriting. I was very far from what you’d call a ‘reader’ growing up so I think I looked for stories in music rather than books.​ ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton I’d sing with my mum, ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ by Johnny Cash I’d sing with my dad, ‘Mockingbird’ by Eminem I’d sing with my brothers. Lyricism like that gives the listener that inherent sense that the artist has really lived and I think that’s why I use music in such an emotional way now. As for my sound, I think it's still very much evolving with each song I make. I really just look for the soul in music, not necessarily relating to the ‘soul’ genre but songs you can’t help but let get to you… songs that make you want to close your eyes while you listen.
Over the past couple of years, you’ve released a handful of singles, I can only imagine how interesting this journey must have been so far and all the things you’ve learned along the way. What are some of the most significant things you’ve learned for yourself and did this somehow help you in your life outside of music?
I’ve definitely noticed that I need to be less naive when it comes to the intentions of others. Even as a virtually unknown artist, I have already had the experience of being blindsided by false quotes and having words put into my mouth or the terms of a deal flipped because I didn’t get it in writing. The main struggle for me is remembering it is business and that I need to act with my head, not my heart. Still learning!
The lyrics in a lot of your songs seem to come from your own experiences. I know for some artists speaking on certain issues and topics is a way of coping with these situations and the emotions that accompany it. Does writing about it help you cope with certain feelings and emotions?
Yeah for sure, I mean it’s more of a reflex than anything. I am always thinking, always observing, and there is so much noise between my ears so when I’m able to articulate it fraction by fraction; it's like taking a big deep breath.
The other day you dropped a song called ‘’The Way’’, on this song (and like many of your other songs) you get very personal; questioning why you are the way that you are. Personally, I’m glad that this generation seems to move towards a culture in which it is more acceptable to speak on mental health and personal struggles. If it isn’t too personal; could you speak on your own experience with this and how this fuels as inspiration for your music?
There were a lot of things that I didn’t realize were second nature to me until I tried to change them, and so the repercussions of those habits hit tenfold because they only reinforced that sense of hopelessness. I always thought that the things I felt were a direct reflection of the things I was going through, until they became more than that. I realized there was no such thing as turning 18 and suddenly being happy.
‘The Way’ is mostly about a struggle to find balance. I am like the personification of the all or nothing mentality… whether it be relationships, friendships, alcohol, food - I will completely throw myself into it until I have nothing left to give, at which point I will immediately do the exact opposite. That’s just how I’m wired, It’s an M.O. that brings really high highs followed by the lowest of lows.
I don’t like to speak directly to anyone about my negative feelings if they have nothing to do with them. I just wouldn’t want them to feel like they need to solve my problems and I’m also smart enough to know they’re not equipped to. I guess making these songs can be a way to talk about things without feeling like a burden. But even more than that, it means I don’t need someone to tell me they understand in order to feel validated. When I write I am essentially speaking to this voice in my head and the response is always unpredictable, the response being my music. This might sound really weird but I count myself very lucky because who understands me better than me?
You recently released a video for your latest single ‘’The Way’’. Can you tell me a bit more about this video and the idea behind it?
Well this video was born in Melbourne’s stage four lockdown, and I could say that is the reason it’s so ‘unprofessional’ looking but the truth is I really wanted it to bleed raw energy. I’ve never liked the idea of singing to a camera, I’m sure I will someday but for now I was more than happy to dig into the archives for the material regardless of isolation. I like something about ”happy” visuals against this musical expression of an extremely low point. I guess I like how it illustrates the contrast between what we feel inside and what we actually project.
I have never considered my selling point to be my looks or even really my voice. I've always used music in a very non-superficial way... It has just been this inbuilt mechanism I have to navigate through extreme emotions. I’m driven to pursue music because my experiences mean that I have something to say and it is inherent in my nature to express that. With ‘The Way’ I do admit that my mind is messy, my actions are messy, and I am far from perfect… This video was the most genuine means to back my lyrics up.
One of your songs that really stands out to me is ‘’No Control’’. One line in particular that stands out to me speaks on being a victim to your own thoughts. Can you speak on that? And furthermore, the meaning of this song and what it means to you?
It's crazy that the majority of what we feel and think is forever confined to our own minds, that's like a whole separate universe playing out alongside real life and I for one think that’s exhausting. You can't escape your mind, your only option is to make peace with it but thoughts can be scary, they can be crippling, especially when you don’t have the means to control them. Everything comes down to perspective. If I tell myself I am worth this much, capable of this much, I am this damaged, or this alone, that is my reality, it is what I believe. So in my experience, finding that peace of mind will commonly translate to proving certain points that however logical, I simply don't believe. It’s not easy to be kind to yourself, I guess that’s why self-expression and communication is just so important because it allows us to help each other help ourselves.
As mentioned earlier, a lot of your songs seem to come from a personal place. Did you find it hard to open up in your music? Knowing that people you know and not know might get to hear this? And if so; does it get easier with each new song?
It can be really awkward when people ask me what my songs are about. A lot of the time I genuinely don’t even specifically know. When I’m writing a song I’m really speaking my own language and so it can be hard to reword that for someone else’s understanding. I prefer to leave some things up for interpretation because often they are so universal anyway that it's not necessary to know the ‘who, what, when, where and why’ in order to relate. At times I do fear I am being too vulnerable, but I just remind myself that everyone is human and life is too short to hold back on account of anyone’s POTENTIAL opinions. On a grand scale it means nothing, I won’t flatter myself into thinking otherwise as if there aren’t bigger things going on in the world.
Your art-direction is something that also caught my eye. Some of the artworks are very vibrant and colorful, while others seem to be a bit more mellow and toned down. For example, the artworks for your most recent singles ‘’The Way’’ and ’’Saved’’ seem very similar when it comes to use of colors and shades and seem to match the overall vibe of the songs. Is this something you take into account when choosing a certain artwork to accompany a song? And can you tell me about the art direction in general; Is there a certain vibe or feeling that is intended with it?
‘Saved’ and ‘The Way’ deal with some similar themes. To me they feel darker than my other tracks and I think that is reflected in the art. The artist for those two covers is so talented, I only gave him a couple of photos and ideas and he really brought it to life in his own way. The vibe of the art is always a mixture of the vibes in the song, the artist’s take on it, and also whatever phase I’m in aesthetic wise.
You’ve released several songs over the past couple of years; Are you working on anything right now? And what’s to come in the future?
I’m never really working and I'm never not working either. I have no attention span, honestly that’s why I love making music because it flows without having to force it. If I try to schedule a time to work outside of a studio session it is really difficult. Usually I don’t spend more than 15 to 30 minutes max writing a song because once that surge of inspiration dies down I lose interest very quickly. 98% of my lyrics come to me as I'm doing my day to day; I’ll be waiting for a bus, walking down the street, trying to get to sleep, drunk at a party, and my brain will just switch to writing mode.
My phone is full of random voice memos that go on for days so It’s all a matter of finding the time and money to get into the studio and bring them all together. As soon as the virus allows that's exactly what I'll be doing.
I know how much of an impact music can have on people; It can help guide them through certain situations and can form the soundtrack to special moments in their lives. That’s why as a final question I’m curious to know which artists and/or projects hold a special place in your heart? What are some of the best memories you have attached to music?
‘4 Your Eyez only’ reminds me of my last year in school. Each song from that album triggers a different montage to play in my head; from leaning on bus windows looking out onto certain streets, to exactly how my chest felt when I would turn the lights off and listen alone in my room. ‘Born to Die’ reminds me of school holidays at the beach, and seeing the ‘Video Games’ video is the first time I remember admiring someone’s art so deeply beyond their song itself. It’s crazy how mental pictures can remain so incredibly vivid when they’re associated with music, so much so that we’re able to physically feel entire moment all over again at the sound of the first few seconds of a track.