Melody Diachun

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Melody Diachun
Melody Diachun performs at "Music in the Park" concert in Trail, British Columbia, 2016
Melody Diachun performs at "Music in the Park" concert in Trail, British Columbia, 2016
Background information
Birth nameMelody Diachun
Born(1968-12-30)December 30, 1968
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
GenresJazz, Contemporary Jazz, R&B, Pop
Occupation(s)Musician, vocalist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, percussion
Years active1992 to present
LabelsThird Beach Records, Cellar Live, independent
Websitemelodydiachun.com

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.

Biography[edit]

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 in Nelson, British Columbia. She took on the role of School Chair of the School of the Arts[20] at Selkirk College in August 2022.

Discography[edit]

  • 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",[21] 2007, Artist Jazz Records
  • Melody Diachun, "EQ", 2008, Cellar Live
  • Melody Diachun, "Get Back to the Groove",[22] , Third Beach Records
  • Melody Diachun, "Winter Wonderland" (single), 2020, Third Beach Records
  • Tom Keenlyside Quartet "A Night at the Espresso" (album), 2022, Cellar Live
  • Melody Diachun, "Sumner's Tales: The Music Of Sting",[23]2022, Third Beach Records

References[edit]

  1. ^ McLeod, Cindy. "Nominees Announced for National Jazz Awards Jazz Elements". jazzelements.com. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store.
  3. ^ "!earshot National Jazz Chart for week ending July 17, 2018". Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. ^ Melody Diachun - Melody Diachun EQ Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 17 August 2022
  5. ^ "Metaphora – Altered Laws – Credits". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "2008 WCMA Winners". mail.breakoutwest.ca.
  7. ^ JunoAwards.ca Category: Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, "Metaphora" by Altered Laws (featuring the Babayaga String Quartet & Melody Diachun)
  8. ^ "Kootenay Music Awards Artist of the Year 2018". soundcloud.com/kootenaymusicawards/sets/artist-of-the-year-2018.
  9. ^ "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store. January 2018.
  10. ^ "2018 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  11. ^ "Kootenay Music Awards Artist of the Year 2019". kootenaymusicawards.ca//nominees-2/nominees/.
  12. ^ "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store. June 2018.
  13. ^ "2019 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  14. ^ "Apple iTunes". iTunes Store. June 2018.
  15. ^ "2019 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Nation, Brian. "MELODY DIACHUN: Vancouver Jazz Who's Who & Discography". vancouverjazz.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  17. ^ The Edmonton Journal
  18. ^ a b Wilton, Lisa. "YYC Jazz showcases the 'sisters' with panel, shows fronted by women artists". calgaryherald.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  19. ^ Vancouver Lifestyles Magazine
  20. ^ "Melody Diachun at Selkirk College". selkirk.ca. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Tom Keenlyside". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Singing "Apple iTunes"". Apple Inc. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Singing "Russians" by Sting like it's a brand-new song". Rhythm Changes. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melody_Diachun&oldid=1150402460"