As a child of alternative rap, Diz is going to change the game. His sound is part MF Doom and part Earl Sweatshirt, but the rapper, producer, and saxophonist from Boston is one of a kind. In a conversation about his upcoming work, he can’t help but digress into a vast mix of artists, albums and songs that come and go from his rotation, blurring the line between artist and listener.
Diz has played music his entire life and started rapping his first year of high school. His lyrics tackle what it means to grow up, but, most importantly, what it really means to love. Always pulling from jazz greats, Diz and his modern-day poetry have much in store for the future.
What got you into music?
Diz: Well, my mom really got me into music. She forced me to start playing pretty young, and I would always be playing an instrument. I think it was right when I got into kindergarten. She was like, “you HAVE to play an instrument, you always have to play an instrument.” So, I started playing piano and then saxophone, and my mom would always play good music in the house and I just developed a love for music.
Where did you start working in music?
Diz: The first time I started writing my own music, I was writing like emo-songs, pop-punk—it was REALLY bad, and then I stopped because, you know… But then, I met with some of my friends from Cambridge, we reconnected and we started making music together. That’s when I really started creating; it was my freshman year.
The creative process. What’s that like for you?
Diz: I don’t have a creative process. I’ll just make a beat while watching TV or something. I guess that’s part of the process, I feel like the best things I make are while watching TV or doing something else and the music is kinda just the background. I can’t really do that with writing though—the background process works for making beats and being occupied. Writing, I like sitting in parks, that’s really nice. I also like taking walks; being outside usually does it. Writing also gets done in whatever room I am in—I just pace around. I can’t sit while doing it. Gotta get the blood flowing, you know?
Your song Fair Weather just hit 500k streams. Did you think that was going to happen?
Diz: Not at all. I never really thought any song I have would get to that number. It’s really crazy, so cool. Four or five years ago, that was super unattainable. It’s happening, it’s really insane.
I’ve met so many people that listen to you. How does that make you feel?
Diz: That’s really cool. It’s so wild. It’s weird because I’ll walk around and people know who I am. The last time I was in NYC, I was just going to Annabel’s apartment, (my manager) and some guy was working at this restaurant, and he comes outside and says, “oh you’re Diz”. It was so weird. I was not expecting anyone to approach me. I was not in Boston—it was so cool.
Who is your greatest musical influence?
Diz: Stylistically, definitely Earl Sweatshirt. I feel like as a person, I am super influenced by John Coltrane, who made beautiful music. I am influenced by Standing in a Corner, and MIKE. There is so much cool music out there, I try to listen to a good variety of music.
What’s one album you can’t live without?
Diz: Well… I would either say Tears of Joy by MIKE, Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote or, definitely, A Love Supreme by John Coltrane. Or maybe Days B4 III by LUCKI, oh I know, Megatron by Babytron.
What do you want to say to yourself one year from now?
Diz: Be appreciative of where you are. Be around cool people that make you happy. Take some time off!
Listen to Diz’s latest single, Hunger.
His album “the way forward is not the way home” is slated to drop 12/21.
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