Diana Bidea: An Indie Musical Artist Who Sings To Her Own Tune

 Why would Ear Worthy, a publication dedicated to supporting independent podcasters, produce a piece about a singer? Quite simply, our subject today is also an indie artist, just like indie podcasters. In fact, Diana Bidea took a leap of faith in herself that is commensurate with free climbing Annapurna in Nepal, Denali in Alaska, and the Eiger in Switzerland. In short, her courage is only supplanted by her talent.

 Diana Bidea is an NYC-based artist who did the unthinkable: she rejected a full scholarship for classical voice (Opera) to pursue a sound that was entirely her own. She found her sound in blending genres together to make her music.

 

Here's a link to one of her most popular music videos. 

 Diana is an extensively trained performer in classical and contemporary voice, acting on stage and on film, voice acting, and vocal recording. 

Diana told us: "Throughout my years of training and performing I have been lucky enough to grow a following online through social media with my online community reaching over 600,000 followers across all platforms. I have partnered with renowned brands such as Spotify, been the face of global campaigns with World Remit and Medimee, hosted and performed events all over the East Coast. I hosted a podcast called The Slumber Party, alongside my co-host Kat Capone, where we chat about all things women empowered in the entertainment industry, our lives, our careers and give advice all in the art of comedy and camaraderie."

Diana’s early background includes training in both musical theatre and opera, before graduating from the New York Film Academy for Acting. After graduating, she found herself working in the music industry writing and recording music. 

This resulted in her owning her own music studio and releasing her own R&B/Pop project “ATTICS,” which accumulated over 100,000 streams in its first month of release. When she isn’t recording or performing music, she is posting on her social media to her following of over 540 thousand people, and taking them along for the ride to witness her career journey. 

Ear Worthy was fortunate enough to interview Diana.  

Q. I know you've answered this question endlessly, but why leave the protective environment of opera, where the structure is well-defined as is a career path?

A. At that time in my life, the most important thing to me was my freedom. I had a lot of teenage angst and even anger all built up, and after years of heavy structure, my priority really felt like finding my own voice and style. However, I look back at it now like a divine intervention, because I am more interested in classical music than I have ever been. I think being away from it allowed me to appreciate it more, and I am even planning on incorporating it into my own upcoming music.

Q. I do love Would You Still -- album and song. What is your songwriting process? Lyrics first? Melody or riff first? Who arranges your music on the album? Have you always written songs?

A. Would You Still is one of those records that I still can't listen to of mine. Almost like I feel embarrassed by that time or experience, but like all my art, I'm sure in a year or two I'll actually appreciate it. That song specifically I wrote as a poem first. I find that a lot of my music starts as words and a message but won't necessarily be matched to its correct sound immediately. Sometimes I'll hold onto lyrics for years until I am sitting in a session and a producer plays me something random that makes my lightbulb go off, and instantly I'm like "oh i think I have lyrics for this!". Other than that, I hear melodies first, and find the words that match the message, and then re-fit them to the melody-that is my most common approach. I've always written music, so my methods are constantly changing.

Q. R&B has evolved from a mainstream, chart-dominating powerhouse into a more diverse, streaming-driven genre that often blends with pop, trap, and alternative styles. How do you see yourself in the R&B world?

A. I definitely see myself as a genre blender within R&B. Some days I want to perform huge ballads on stage, and other days I want to perform a feel good sexy dance record. I've definitely grown in my idea of style over the years, and instead of hyper fixating on the small details of what box to fit in, I really want to focus on just the messaging and musicality. The artists that have most inspired me and my style are the ones that are the most radical about being themselves through their art, so that's my goal currently with my music.

Q. You told PopFad magazine back in 2021 that you "are not worried about not fitting into a mold, or a style or genre." Five years later, can you address that issue again? Where has your music evolved to?

A. It's so funny because I think at that time I was almost trying to convince myself that I wasn't worried, because it was the biggest critique I kept getting. So I kept fighting this battle of feeling like I was doing things the wrong way, but 5 years later, I feel more confident in that sentiment. The songs of mine that people connect with the most are my most unconventional ones that don't have a cookie-cutter structure or sound. And now more than ever, people are looking for real art to connect with not just a formula that makes an OK song. It was tough for a little bit because people definitely love to fearmonger you into diluting your craft for the sake of money or quick virality, but I feel very, very confident that I know what I want.

Q. How has social media been a part of your strategy?

A. Connection, connection, connection. When I first started to gain followers online, they were asking a lot from me. They wanted more content, more music, more rants, more lifestyle, and it became a second job. I realized quickly that the views fluctuate; you can't guarantee the followers you have will convert to streams or ticket buyers, so you have to focus on real connections. Of course, I would do video trends to promote my music, but I made sure to focus on the followers that were extremely involved in my journey. I got vulnerable on my socials, talked about struggles, etc. So this way, they know they are a part of my journey as opposed to feeling like they are being sold something. 

Q. According to Spotify, one percent of artists account for 90 percent of all streams. How do you manage that challenge?

A. I think that challenge is motivating. I want to be someone who has that reach through her craft, so it's inspiring for me. It doesn't feel like a competition that I have with other artists but really just a challenge for me and myself. I want to keep getting better, growing my reach, and making better work to get up there.

Q. What is your barometer of success? Record sales? Social media notoriety? Personal goals?

A. When I can sell out a tour with people screaming my lyrics that I've written, that will make me feel like I've reached success. But my personal goal would be to win a few Grammys and sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Q. What is your favorite song to sing? Ever? Even as a child!

A. Ooh, this is tough. As a young child, it was anything Britney Spears. I would put on concerts for myself in my room singing her songs. As I got older, I gravitated toward more Ballads by pop and R&B divas. My favorite song to sing today is "I'm Feeling Good" Nina Simone or "Diamonds are Forever" Shirley Bassey, I've been on a vintage kick recently, and I love the way these feel in my voice.

Q. Who are your music heroes?

A. There's so many: Celine Dion, Christina Aguiliera, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Adele, Lady Gaga, and most recently Raye, I am fully obsessed with her new album, it's deeply inspiring to me.

Q. I loved your music video from two years ago. Clever, innovative, deeply personal, and evocative. How did that develop? Did the lyrics "black sheep" come from your life journey?

A. The music video for 'Attics' was a super meaningful experience, I wanted to display the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions while also being forced to fall in line and abandon what makes you feel free. I wanted to show how we are all searching for the same kind of freedom and looking for permission to go after what we want, when in reality the only permission we need is our own, and every single time it will attract exactly who you need in your life. I think my experience of feeling like the black sheep in my life and family really helped in the development of this project and in all my music really.

Q. Finally, your media kit identifies you as a content creator and actress. Can you tell me what defines a content creator? Do you write poetry?

A. I started posting content on social media a few years ago simply as a form of expression, and it kind of blew up. People started gravitating toward my voice, my opinions, my music, and messaging and it kind of became one with my brand. Especially during a time when a lot of companies wanted artists to start prioritizing social media for going viral, I was more focused on connection and core building, and it really transcended my career in new ways. It felt like for the first time, there were multiple ways to share my work and me. I would share my lyrics, my day to day, I would perform spoken word, upload funny videos, and then I reached 500 thousand followers on TikTok. It really was a "wow" moment for me. Although followers doesn't equate to streams or success, it gives an inch of validation that reminds me that maybe I am on the right path, and people do enjoy what I create.

 Clearly, Diana Bidea is an extremely talented artist who can sing, write songs, write poetry, act, and be creative in many domains.

Attics or All The Things I Couldn’t Say is a five-track EP that showcases Diana Bidea’s unique style and soulful voice. Each track is meant to reveal a new topic, that in the past, Diana felt too ashamed to talk about. It delves into the questioning of her religious faith, the relationship with her father, her real life alter ego, and personal healing from a narcissist. With lyrics that are both relatable and heartfelt, “Attics” is sure to connect with fans of all age groups.