Diandra Interviews Nina Dioz: Fighting Social Labels To Get To The Music

Nina Dioz has a lot against her because how you are labeled in this world can make others feel they understand you, but they only add barriers to how you understand yourself. This can be complicated for an artist; whose main role in life is to build her spirit in sound. Nina Dioz understands the complications of labels. She is a Mexican woman living in Trump USA. She is also a white rapper and proud lesbian. Even moreso, she is a reformed addict. These are all the “titles” people might use to describe ore even degrade her, but in our interview we discussed the virtues you gain, through music, as you combat the labels your imposed. 

Diandra: Moving from Mexico City to LA, what have you learned about self-love in LA?

Nina: I moved to L.A. from Mexico City. I was living there for five years, and the way I was living was too fast. I was living “la vida loca,” like Ricky Martin says. When I was living in Mexico City, and, I started to do music, it gave me a focus. I was doing a lot of drugs and drinking, and music gave me an outlet for all these feelings that I needed to put out. You know, when I moved to Los Angeles, it was because I felt like I was in a cycle in New York City. I moved to Los Angeles for a new space. It helped me get my mind clearer and meet different people. You know how East LA is a little hippie, and it made start with self-love and self-respect. I stopped drinking, and I cleaned myself up. I began to eat cleaner, exercise, and adopt a little dog. For the first time in my life, I took up self-care. 

Diandra: How are you liking life in LA compared to New York?

Nina: Well, New York is a lot like Mexico City. This reminds of where I’m from. It’s so concentrated and what I’m used to. You know, in L.A., everything is spread out. It can be superficial, but I avoid that with legal weed and my friends. So I’m good. 

(We laugh)

Diandra: Yet, did you hear your change in spirit in your music? 

Nina: Yeah! Definitely! I have taken everything that has happened to me, and used it as a positive to inspire people and other kids that might be struggling like I did in trying to find some direction. Music gave me purpose, and now my purpose is to become clearer. As a person being very vocal about being the first, gay rapper in Mexico, being an immigrant in Los Angeles, I am talking about things that have happened to me. I am talking about gender issues and sexual assault, which can be very intense in Mexico because its such a macho society. You know going through these things, and also being able to express that, through my music,  I feel like I can get people positive through my new album. {Reyna}

Diandra: I feel like you can hear the lightness.

Nina: Exactly! (she interrupts excitedly) This is also an album to party and go out there and do myself and just kill it. I feel like its like that kind of music to make you feel good. It’s like, “Hey girl, I’m ready!” 

Diandra: So do feel like music is sobering or pushes clarity over people? 

Nina: Yeah, at least, my music or the music I listen to does. You know, you won’t hear me singing the “Gucci Gang” song. It’s crazy. You know I feel there is music to escape, and a lot of people are, currently, doing that music: talking about doing drugs, lean, Gucci, and a lot materialism. I think it’s because the world is going through so much, and everybody is in so much pain that you want to escape. You just want that immediate relief, and when I stopped doing drugs I lost that escape: that immediate relief. So, for the first time, I had to manage and face my pain. 

Diandra: Wouldn’t you say that empowering yourself is the true “escape”?

Nina: Hmmmmmm. Yeah. Depends on how you see it? When you empower yourself and you know who you are and you get a purpose and you know what kind of message you want to give to the world, in becoming so transparent, it feels like the opposite of escape. You are peeling off the layers of yourself, and when you find the real you it connects you to everyone on that similar wave. Yet, if someone is in a different place, this is not going to resonate. So I just want people that are going to give me good energy so we can feel something together.

Diandra: Well, then I think we are saying similar things. I am sure your empowerment has helped you escape the labels of people such as lesbian and Mexican, etc? 

Nina: Yeah, when I was finally out of Mexico, it gave me a space away  from all of that: all those labels. I escaped all those things people were saying about me and how my music was supposed to sound. Because, you know, Mexico’s Hip Hop has always been a certain way. So I had people telling me I was not real or underground enough. So when I was finally away from all the prejudice I was like, “Damn! Now, it’s just me, and I can flow and make this great music!”

Diandra: So beyond those labels, how would you describe yourself?

Nina: There must be something that is gaining these reactions from people. They block who I am. Honestly, if people would see through the layers, and see who I am, they would see I am so loving, persistent, compassionate, and I love my music so much. I have sacrifice so much and I have persevered so much. I don’t do this because I want to be famous. I do this for my heart because  if I don’t I get sick. Like, really! Music is the most important anti-depressant. When I think back to when I first started, I was 17, and how confused I was because I was gay and I did not want anyone to use that against me, I had so much pain. Ten years later, I feel so much different. I’m happy to embrace. I am happy to embrace who I am. It all made me who I am today, and I am so grateful that I want to inspire others like me. Tell them, “You just got to be yourself. That’s it!” 

Diandra: Would you say, “Be yourself” is the greatest lesson you have learned from all that you have been through? 

Nina: Be yourself and love yourself. It’s such a cliche, but it’s so true. I remember when people will be like, “All you need is love!” I was like, “No, you need money and all this other s**t and respect and opportunities!” When you love yourself, and you transmit that, it puts you in a new position. There is a woman that has and respect herself. It’s all about perspective. I still have days when I am hard on myself and insecure, but then I say, “Hey! All you have to do is be yourself and do what you love!” All I need to do is keep going, and through that I will make myself and others happy. 

For More Information Nina Dioz Click Here.