Madi Diaz

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title: "Madi Diaz" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1986-births", "living-people", "american-women-singer-songwriters", "american-folk-singers", "musicians-from-lancaster,-pennsylvania", "singers-from-los-angeles", "berklee-college-of-music-alumni", "singer-songwriters-from-california", "singer-songwriters-from-pennsylvania", "21st-century-american-singer-songwriters", "21st-century-american-women-singers", "nettwerk-music-group-artists", "harry-styles-band-members", "american-people-of-peruvian-descent", "american-people-of-danish-descent"] description: "American singer-songwriter (born 1986)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madi_Diaz" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American singer-songwriter (born 1986) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Madi Diaz
image	Madi Diaz (cropped).jpg
caption	Diaz performing in 2022
birth_place	Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
birth_date
origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
genre	Pop, folk, electronic, rock
occupation	Musician
years_active	2007–present
label	Anti-
website
::

| name = Madi Diaz | image = Madi Diaz (cropped).jpg | caption = Diaz performing in 2022 | birth_place = Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. | birth_date = | origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | genre = Pop, folk, electronic, rock | occupation = Musician | years_active = 2007–present | label = Anti- | website = Madi Diaz (born May 14, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards, for Best Folk Album and Best Americana Performance.

Early life

Diaz grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she was home-schooled by her Peruvian mother, Nancy, a proponent of early childhood development and the visual arts, and her Danish father, Eric, a woodworker and musician. Diaz began piano lessons at age five from her father.

In her early teens, Diaz switched from piano to guitar. She was featured in Rock School, director Don Argott's 2005 documentary about the School of Rock, as Madi Diaz-Svalgard. Her father Eric Svalgård is a member of the Frank Zappa tribute band Project/Object.

Music career

After high school, Diaz was accepted to Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, she began working with Kyle Ryan, the Nebraska-raised guitarist who would be her songwriting collaborator for her early career. The two began their collaboration when a fellow student, a producer looking for a project, offered Diaz the chance to record an album in Hawaii. The self-released album Skin and Bone (2007) was the result, and a songwriting and performing partnership between Diaz and Ryan stuck. Shortly after, Diaz dropped out of the program at Berklee.

In 2008, Diaz and Ryan continued writing and began playing shows in New York City. There, she met her manager and signed to publisher Cherry Lane Music. Diaz and Ryan were then sent to Nashville for a month to write, and in mid-2010 moved to Nashville.

After releasing the EP, Ten Gun Salute, Diaz began touring with The Civil Wars and Landon Pigg. She was featured in Paste magazine as one of the "Top Ten Buzziest Acts" at SXSW 2009, and had songs featured on cw The originals ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars, and Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva, Army Wives, and Princesses: Long Island.

Her EP, Far from the Things That We Know, was released on September 20, 2011, by TinyOGRE Entertainment. The EP was recorded in Los Angeles and Charlottesville, VA with John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer) serving as producer. The EP previewed songs from her full-length album, Plastic Moon, which was released in January 2012.

In February 2012, Diaz moved to Los Angeles, marking a new chapter in her music career. Now working solo, her next album, We Threw Our Hearts in the Fire, was released on October 23, 2012. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Madi_Diaz_performing_at_Silverlake_Lounge_in_2014.jpg" caption="Diaz performing at [[Silverlake Lounge]] in 2014"] ::

Diaz appeared as a guest on Last Call with Carson Daly on the January 13, 2014, episode. She released the single "Stay Together" on July 11, 2014. It is the first single off of her album, Phantom, which was released in September 2014.

The song "The End of the Day", written by Diaz and Sarah Siskind, was featured on the television series Nashville, and is performed by Connie Britton and Charles Esten.

In 2018, Diaz provided the vocals for Dan Romer's track, "Help Me Faith", from the soundtrack of the videogame, Far Cry 5.

On February 11, 2021, Anti- Records announced that Diaz had signed with them, alongside the release of her first single with the label titled "Man in Me". Diaz released History of a Feeling on August 27, 2021. Diaz appeared on National Public Radio's Tiny Desk concert series on March 28, 2022, singing songs from her living room off her History of a Feeling album. She was accompanied by Annaliese Kowert, Lydia Luce, Adam Popick, Kaitlyn Raitz, and Kristin Weber.

In early 2023, Madi Diaz joined Harry Styles's band playing guitar and singing backup vocals for the European leg of Love On Tour.

Diaz's album, Weird Faith, was released on February 9, 2024. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album and the song "Don't Do Me Good", which featured Kacey Musgraves, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Americana Performance. In Spring 2024, Diaz supported her friend Kacey Musgraves on the UK and European legs of her Deeper Well World Tour, and later that year opened for Stephen Sanchez during his show at the Minnesota State Fair.

Diaz released the first single, "Feel Something", from her upcoming album Fatal Optimist on July 21, 2025. Anti- released single "Ambivalence" on August 18 and single "Heavy Metal" on September 15. Fatal Optimist, produced by Diaz with Gabe Wax, was released on October 10, 2025. Diaz described the album as "the innate hope for something magical. It’s the weird faith that kicks in while knowing that there is just plain risk that comes with wanting someone or something. It’s when you have no control over the outcome, but still choose to experience every moment that happens, and put your whole heart in it.” Diaz started touring in support of the album on October 11, 2025. Diaz released a cover album of Blink-182's Enema of the State, titled Enema of the Garden State, in November 2025, with all proceeds donated to the Defending our Neighbors Fund, an immigration legal aid charity.

Discography

Studio albums

• Skin and Bone (April 11, 2007)
• Plastic Moon (January 24, 2012) – No. 20 on Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart
• We Threw Our Hearts in the Fire (October 23, 2012)
• Phantom (September 30, 2014)
• History of a Feeling (August 27, 2021)
• Weird Faith (February 9, 2024)
• Fatal Optimist (October 10, 2025)

EPs

• Ten Gun Salute (December 5, 2008)
• Far from the Things That We Know (September 20, 2011)
• It's Okay to Be Alone (August 2, 2018)
• Same History, New Feelings (March 4, 2022)

Collaborations

• RAC
• Joshua Radin
• Lester Mendez
• Viceroy
• Jensen Sportag
• Joseph Arthur
• Nick Ruth
• Mindy Smith
• Magic Man
• Rob Cantor
• Gold Fields
• Joe Hawley, Ross Federman, and Bora Karaca of Tally Hall on vocals for the track "Black Rainbows" on the album "Hawaii: Part II".
• Andrew Heringer
• Miranda Lambert – Background vocals on "The Weight Of These Wings"
• Dan Romer - Help Me Faith - Dan Romer ft. Madi Diaz from Far Cry 5 "Into The Flames"

References

References

1. "IMDB listing for Rock School".
2. "Cherry Lane's Madi Diaz To Perform At SongHall New Writers Showcase".
3. Marlow, Brett Aaron. "OPENER'S PREVIEW: MADI DIAZ AT THE VIC".
4. (September 15, 2008). "Madi Diaz".
5. Moore, Tracey. (March 24, 2009). "''Paste'' Mag Gets Buzzed About Nashville Acts at SXSW".
6. LaBate, Steve. (March 23, 2009). "''Paste''{{'}}s Top 10 Buzziest Acts of SXSW 2009".
7. Peterkin, Caitlin. (July 14, 2011). "Madi Diaz Announces Tour Dates".
8. (July 2025). "Madi Diaz gets more comfortable with her sound on latest album". [[Bucks County Courier Times]].
9. (October 23, 2012). "New Music Tuesday".
10. "Listings for ''Last Call with Carson Daly''".
11. (July 11, 2014). "Madi Diaz Writes The Most Danceable Breakup Record Ever".
12. ANTI Records Europe. (February 11, 2021). "Listen to 'Man In Me', by the newest member of the ANTI- Records Family. Please welcome @madidiaz. Her single is out today: http://madidiaz.ffm.to/maninme".
13. Deville, Chris. (February 10, 2021). "Madi Diaz Signs To Anti Records, Shares New Song "Man In Me"". Stereogum.
14. ANTI-. "Madi Diaz - History Of A Feeling".
15. NPR Music. (2022-03-28). "Madi Diaz: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert".
16. "Weird Faith, by Madi Diaz".
17. "Madi Diaz {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
18. Johnson, Laura. (February 29, 2024). "Kacey Musgraves Announces Spring UK And Ireland Shows As Part Of Deeper Well World Tour". Stereoboard.com.
19. Buhman, Laura. (September 3, 2024). "Photos: Stephen Sanchez lights up the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand". [[KCMP.
20. "Madi Diaz Will End Trio of Heartache Albums With 'Fatal Optimist'".
21. "Madi Diaz rips apart feelings of indecision while yearning for more on “Ambivalence”".
22. "Madi Diaz's "Heavy Metal" Is Worth Raising the Horns For".
23. Scanlon, Kelly. (2025-10-09). "Madi Diaz - 'Fatal Optimist' album review".
24. ANTI-. "Madi Diaz - Fatal Optimist".
25. ANTI-. "Madi Diaz".
26. ANTI-. "Anti Records: Madi Diaz Touring Dates".
27. Kaufman, Gil. (2025-11-11). "Madi Diaz Re-Recorded Blink-182's ''Enema of the State'' to Benefit Immigration Legal Aid".
28. Monroe, Jazz. (2025-11-10). "Madi Diaz Releases Blink-182 Covers Album for Charity".
29. (July 6, 2012). "Viceroy – Chase Us Around (Ft. Madi Diaz) | All Things Go".
30. (February 27, 2013). "NEW TRACK: Madi Diaz – 'Trust Fall (Jensen Sportag Down We Go Remix)' « PinBoard".
31. "Joseph Arthur - THE GRADUATION CEREMONY".
32. "Madi Diaz 'Phantom' Out Sept 30; Tour Dates With X Ambassadors And Jamie N Commons".
33. "Madi Diaz "The Other Side" (Magic Man Remix)".
34. "Madi Diaz "The Other Side" (Gold Fields Remix)".

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