Fluidity. That’s the title of up-and-coming “bedroom-born” indie artist Dianna Lopez’s most recent EP. It’s also the feeling you get when you watch her videos.

 With her distinct style, it’s no surprise Dianna has caught the attention of larger names in the music industry like SZA, Tyler the Creator, and Raveena. (She joined the latter on her Lucid Tour this fall.)

Based in New York, Dianna has been making waves in the indie scene lately, where she’s known for blending genres. When it comes to Dianna’s music, no genre is off limits—her music blends rock, avant-pop, R&B, and more. She draws inspiration from her DJ father, a mother who loved to sing, and her time majoring in Theatre Performance at SUNY Purchase, where she starred in For Colored Girls as well as numerous student films. During her time at Purchase, she met and collaborated with other student artists, including musicians whose tracks she’s featured on. Her first video was the college version of Kim K’s Paper Magazine cover—it broke campus. The premiere, hosted in her apartment, was so widely attended that people spilled out the door.

Lines to see Dianna perform have continued growing, with her playing venues like Chelsea Music Hall and opening for the likes of Jesse Boykins and Lucky Daye. Dianna has released several EPs, and her track “So I Don’t Feel Useless” has been streamed hundreds of thousands of times. 

Though the best way to get to know Dianna is through her music, I was also able to ask her a few questions, which were quite illuminating. Here’s our interview.

Adolescent Content: Who did you grow up listening to? Who influenced you? 

Dianna Lopez: My mom loved to sing and dance, and my dad was a DJ, so they put me on to artists like Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Barry White. But what influences my music is more of what I listen to nowadays, with bands like The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Little Dragon, Gandalf, Tame Impala, Allah-Las, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, King Krule, and Fleetwood Mac. I really enjoy music made with live instruments because of how experimental you can get with it. 

Adolescent: As a fellow theatre kid, I loved reading about how you majored in theatre performance in college. Does your background in acting influence your music or performance style at all? 

Dianna: I believe it does. I love theatre because of the freedom and open expression it [offers]. For music it’s the same. I’ve definitely brought my dramatic theatre stage presence to [concerts]. I like to put on a good show.

Adolescent: It seems like college was a huge period of artistic growth for you in general. Can you tell me a little bit about how you grew during that time and how you were able to collaborate with other musicians? 

Dianna: Definitely! It was college that introduced me to the idea of a music career. Although I loved to sing, I didn’t want to pursue it as a career. I thought the only way to succeed in [music] was to become an industry puppet. In college, it all started as me making an EP for a friend’s senior project. [We were just supposed to make] a couple songs, perform a show, and then be done with it. But people actually started to enjoy the music and art that I put out, and I realized that maybe I could do this thing my own way.

Adolescent: Your upcoming EP is titled Fluidity. What does that title mean to you? 

Dianna: Personal freedom. It means flowing with any obstacle that’s thrown at me and making the best out of it. 

Adolescent: It’s so exciting that you’re going to be supporting Raveena on her Lucid Tour this fall! What are you looking forward to most about touring? 

Dianna: It is! For one I love to travel, so combining travel and music together is the ultimate dream. On top of that I get to do it with people whom I love—my band. I can’t wait to meet new people, experience new cities, and most importantly share the music with larger crowds. Life is such a dream.

Adolescent: What songs are you listening to right now? 

Dianna: I’m actually listening to the Jimi Hendrix Experience station on Pandora. This song called “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2” by Pink Floyd is playing. It’s super groovy—I love this band.

For more on Dianna Lopez, check out her website.