Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Diaz.
Hi Elena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started singing publicly when I was six and professionally by thirteen, so music has been part of my life for a very long time. I began studying piano at eight, and when I was nine I joined the Houston Children’s Chorus. That was a formative experience for me. We were expected to sight-read and sight-sing challenging music at a very young age, and I was exposed to repertoire in many different languages. We also had some extraordinary performance opportunities — from major civic events and the opening of Houston’s Hobby Center to performances with well-known artists and for a U.S. president. It taught me very early that music could be both a serious discipline and a way of connecting with cultures and people far beyond my own experience.
My musical upbringing was pretty eclectic. I grew up hearing classical singers like Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli; composers and pianists like Chopin, Liszt, Schubert and Ernesto Lecuona; Cuban music like Orquesta Aragón; flamenco; ’70s rock; and the Great American Songbook. By my early teens I was discovering singers like Sarah Vaughn and Sammy Davis Jr. I don’t think I thought very much about genre then — I was just attracted to good music. By thirteen I was being paid to sing wedding ceremonies, and that was probably the first time I understood that performing could actually become my profession.
I initially studied music and piano in college, but at one point I decided to change directions. Fortunately, a close friend persuaded me to sing in her band, I started gigging again, and performing has remained a constant part of my life ever since.
Another major chapter began when I moved to the South of France after getting married. I became involved in the jazz scene there and worked closely with guitarist Filipe Monteiro, who became an important musical mentor and collaborator. He helped deepen my understanding of jazz harmony, repertoire, phrasing and the language of improvisation, and he introduced me to a great deal of Brazilian music. We spent a lot of time recording, learning standards and experimenting with his reharmonizations. At the same time, living and performing in France immersed me in the French chanson tradition. Those years expanded my ears enormously and changed the way I approached music.
When I returned to Austin, after having lived here briefly before, I came back with much more performing experience and a clearer sense of the artist I wanted to become. I’ve been fortunate to build relationships with some wonderful musicians here, perform regularly, and more recently receive support from the City of Austin that allowed me to develop Global Songbook, a concert series that brings together many of the musical worlds I’ve spent my life exploring.
At this point, I think of myself less as someone who has “arrived” and more as a disciple of the music. I want to keep learning for the rest of my life. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel comfortable calling myself a master, but mastery is something I want to keep reaching toward. Lately that has meant deliberately choosing music that makes me uncomfortable, studying traditions and repertoire outside of what comes naturally to me, and seeing what happens when those experiences make their way back into my own voice and original work. I feel like I’m in a very creative period of learning, experimenting and figuring out how all of these different parts of my musical life belong together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been challenge being an independent artist because that means constantly moving between the music itself and everything that makes the music possible. I’m trying to grow as a musician while also booking shows, producing, promoting, paying musicians, and organizing all the details behind the scenes. Sometimes the practical work becomes so consuming that I have to fight to protect the quiet time I need to practice, study, and simply listen.
Motherhood adds another rhythm to that balancing act. My life is not only my own, and I can’t say yes to every opportunity, even when I want to. Every project requires more planning, more coordination, and a deeper awareness of what I’m able to give.
I’ve also had to begin again musically several times, especially after moving between France and the U.S. Each place has asked me to rebuild a sense of community, direction, and belonging. I don’t think I’ve found all the answers yet. For now, I’m learning to accept the uncertainty and embrace the present reality of being a working musician.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a vocalist, songwriter, and independent artist. My work is in jazz, but I’m deeply influenced by Brazilian and Latin American music. I sing in several languages, and I also love writing my own music, particularly lyrics.
I recently created Global Songbook, a concert series that allows me to explore different composers, cultures, and musical traditions alongside musicians I really admire.
What I’m most proud of is continuing to grow and take chances creatively. I think what sets me apart is my curiosity, I’m always wanting to learn something new, stretch beyond what feels comfortable, and hopefully let all of those influences eventually become part of my own voice.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to keep growing Global Songbook, write and record more of my own music, and keep putting myself in musical situations that challenge me. I’m especially excited to see how everything I’m studying and performing starts to shape my original work. Mostly, I want to keep becoming a better musician and make work that feels more and more honest to who I am.
Pricing:
- Private voice and piano lessons: $45 / 30 minutes or $80 / hour
- Performance and event bookings: pricing varies depending on ensemble size, location, and event needs
- Concert tickets for Global Songbook vary by venue and program
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elenadiazmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frcollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19fiVg3nZE/
- Other: https://globalsongbook.elenadiazmusic.com/concert-series
