Melody Diachun
Melody Diachun | |
---|---|
Melody Diachun performs at "Music in the Park" concert in Trail, British Columbia, 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Melody Diachun |
Born |
Montreal, Quebec, Canada | December 30, 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 |
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 #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 2018 single "That's What Delete Is For"[9] was nominated for 'Best Blues Song'[10] at the 2018 Kootenay Music Awards.
Biography
Diachun was born in 1968 in Montréal, Québec and raised in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.[11] Singing from an early age accompanied by her father, a part-time singer and piano player, she began piano lessons at age 6 [11] and played French horn and electric bass through junior and senior high school. At age 15 she took her first professional singing gig.[11] 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.[11][12] Diachun earned her Bachelor of Music degree "with distinction" in Jazz Voice in 1994.[11] After university, Diachun moved to New York City to study briefly with jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan[11][13] under a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.[14]
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.[13] From 2000 to 2012 Diachun worked as a freelance vocalist in Vancouver, British Columbia.[11] In 2012, Diachun began teaching at the Contemporary Music & Technology Program at Selkirk College[15][16] in Nelson, British Columbia, where she now holds the position of Program Coordinator.[16]
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", 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.
- 1 2 "Apple iTunes". itunes.apple.com.
- ↑ "!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". 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.apple.com.
- ↑ "2018 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nation, Brian. "MELODY DIACHUN: Vancouver Jazz Who's Who & Discography". vancouverjazz.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ↑ The Edmonton Journal
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 "Music Faculty at Selkirk College". selkirk.ca. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
External links
- Official site
- Melody Diachun at AllMusic
- Melody Diachun discography at Discogs