Melody Diachun
Melody Diachun is a Canadian singer and songwriter and Canadian National Jazz Awards' nominee for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2009.[1] Recordings include "Get Back to the Groove",[2] which charted at No. 9 on !earshot's National Jazz Chart,[3] "Melody Diachun EQ"[4] and "Metaphora" by Altered Laws featuring The Babayaga String Quartet and Melody Diachun[5] which won 'Outstanding Jazz Album' of 2008 at the Western Canadian Music Awards[6] and was nominated for a JUNO for 'Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year' in 2008.[7] In 2018, Diachun was nominated for 'Artist of the Year'[8] and her single "That's What Delete Is For"[9] was nominated for 'Best Blues Song'[10] at the 2018 Kootenay Music Awards. In 2019, Diachun was nominated for 'Artist of the Year',[11] her song "Get Back to the Groove"[12] was nominated in the Rhythm And Blues category,[13] and her song "High Definition Love"[14] was nominated in the Pop category[15] at the 2019 Kootenay Music Awards.
Melody Diachun | |
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Melody Diachun performs at "Music in the Park" concert in Trail, British Columbia, 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Melody Diachun |
Born | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | 30 December 1968
Genres | Jazz, Crossover jazz, pop |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals, percussion |
Years active | 1992 to present |
Labels | Third Beach Records, Cellar Live, independent |
Associated acts | Bob Murphy, Altered Laws, Tom Keenlyside, Doug Stephenson, Chris Andrew |
Website | www |
Biography
Diachun was born in 1968 in Montréal, Québec and raised in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.[16] Singing from an early age accompanied by her father, a part-time singer and piano player, she began piano lessons at age 6[16] and played French horn and electric bass through junior and senior high school. At age 15 she took her first professional singing gig.[16] At age 17 Diachun moved back to Montréal to attend McGilll University where she was the first vocalist admitted to the school's Jazz Performance Program.[16][17] Diachun earned her Bachelor of Music degree "with distinction" in Jazz Voice in 1994.[16] After university, Diachun moved to New York City to study briefly with jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan[16][18] under a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.[19]
In 1997, Diachun moved to Western Canada and began a long-term house gig at the Banff Springs Hotel where she met her future husband, guitarist and bassist Doug Stephenson.[18] From 2000 to 2012 Diachun worked as a freelance vocalist in Vancouver, British Columbia.[16] In 2012, Diachun began teaching at the Contemporary Music & Technology Program at Selkirk College[20][21] in Nelson, British Columbia, where she now holds the position of Program Coordinator.[21]
Discography
- Melody Diachun/Bob Murphy/Doug Stephenson, "Lullaby of the Leaves", 2002
- Melody Diachun, "Dreams & Places", 2006
- Kris feat. Melody Diachun, Johanna Sillanpa, and Roger Audio,"Truth Be Told", 2006
- Altered Laws featuring the Babayaga String Quartet and Melody Diachun, "Metaphora",[22] 2007, Artist Jazz Records
- Melody Diachun, "EQ", 2008, Cellar Live
- Melody Diachun, "Get Back to the Groove",[2] 2018, Third Beach Records
References
- McLeod, Cindy. "Nominees Announced for National Jazz Awards Jazz Elements". jazzelements.com. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store.
- "!earshot National Jazz Chart for week ending July 17, 2018". Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/melody-diachun-eq-mw0000790304 AllMusic.com
- "Metaphora – Altered Laws – Credits". AllMusic.
- "2008 WCMA Winners". mail.breakoutwest.ca.
- JunoAwards.ca Category: Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, "Metaphora" by Altered Laws (featuring the Babayaga String Quartet & Melody Diachun)
- "Kootenay Music Awards Artist of the Year 2018". soundcloud.com/kootenaymusicawards/sets/artist-of-the-year-2018.
- "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store.
- "2018 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
- "Kootenay Music Awards Artist of the Year 2019". kootenaymusicawards.ca//nominees-2/nominees/.
- "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store.
- "2019 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
- "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store.
- "2019 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
- Nation, Brian. "MELODY DIACHUN: Vancouver Jazz Who's Who & Discography". vancouverjazz.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- The Edmonton Journal
- Wilton, Lisa. "YYC Jazz showcases the 'sisters' with panel, shows fronted by women artists". calgaryherald.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- Vancouver Lifestyles Magazine
- "Melody Diachun at Selkirk College". selkirk.ca. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- "Music Faculty at Selkirk College". selkirk.ca. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "Tom Keenlyside". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
External links
- Official site
- Melody Diachun at AllMusic
- Melody Diachun discography at Discogs