Melody Diachun

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Melody Diachun
Melody Diachun.jpg
Diachun performing at "Music in the Park" concert in Trail, British Columbia, 2016
Background information
Born (1968-12-30) December 30, 1968 (age 56)
Montreal, Québec, Canada
Genres Jazz, alternative jazz, contemporary jazz, R&B, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1992–present
LabelsThird Beach Records, Cellar Live, independent
Website melodydiachun.com

Melody Diachun (born December 30, 1968) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and recording artist. She won the Jazz Artist of the Year award at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. [1]

Contents

Biography

Diachun was born in Montréal, Québec and raised in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. [2] Singing from an early age accompanied by her father Bill Diachun, a part-time singer and piano player, she began piano lessons at age 6 [2] and played French horn and electric bass through junior and senior high school. At age 15 she took her first professional singing gig. [2] At age 17 Diachun moved back to Montréal to attend McGill University where she was the first vocalist admitted to the school's Jazz Performance Program. [2] [3] Diachun earned her Bachelor of Music degree "with distinction" in Jazz Voice in 1994. [2] After university, Diachun moved to New York City to study briefly with jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan [2] [4] under a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. [5]

In 1997, Diachun moved to Western Canada and began a long-term engagement at the Banff Springs Hotel where she met her future husband, guitarist, bassist, and mixing engineer Doug Stephenson. [4] From 2000 to 2012 Diachun worked as a freelance vocalist in Vancouver, British Columbia. [2] 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 [6] at Selkirk College in August 2022.

Awards and honours

YearNominated workCategoryAwardResultNotesRef.
2023Melody DiachunJazz Artist of The Year Western Canadian Music Awards Won [1]
2019Melody DiachunArtist of the YearKootenay Music AwardsNominated [7]
2019"Get Back to the Groove"Best R&B SongKootenay Music AwardsNominatedSongwriters: Melody Diachun, Doug Stephenson [8]
"High Definition Love"Best Pop SongKootenay Music AwardsNominatedSongwriters: Melody Diachun/Doug Stephenson [9]
2018Melody DiachunArtist of the YearKootenay Music AwardsNominated [10]
2018"That's What Delete Is For"Best Blues SongKootenay Music AwardsNominatedSongwriter: Melody Diachun [11]
2009Melody DiachunFemale Vocalist of the YearCanadian National Jazz AwardsNominated [12]
2008Metaphora, Altered LawsOutstanding Jazz Recording of The Year Western Canadian Music Awards Wonfeat. Melody Diachun [13]
2008Metaphora, Altered LawsContemporary Jazz Album of the Year JUNO Awards Nominatedfeat. Melody Diachun [14]

Discography

As leader

As guest

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References

  1. 1 2 "2023 Artistic and Specialty Award Winners". breakoutwest.ca. October 12, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nation, Brian. "MELODY DIACHUN: Vancouver Jazz Who's Who & Discography". vancouverjazz.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ The Edmonton Journal
  4. 1 2 Wilton, Lisa. "YYC Jazz showcases the 'sisters' with panel, shows fronted by women artists". calgaryherald.com. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ Vancouver Lifestyles Magazine
  6. ↑ "Melody Diachun at Selkirk College". selkirk.ca. November 15, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Kootenay Music Awards Artist of the Year 2019". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  8. ↑ "2019 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  9. ↑ "2019 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  10. ↑ "Kootenay Music Awards Artist of the Year 2018". soundcloud.com/kootenaymusicawards.
  11. ↑ "2018 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees". kootenaymusicawards.ca.
  12. ↑ McLeod, Cindy. "Nominees Announced for National Jazz Awards Jazz Elements". jazzelements.com. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  13. ↑ "2008 WCMA Winners". mail.breakoutwest.ca.
  14. ↑ JunoAwards.ca Category: Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, "Metaphora" by Altered Laws (featuring the Babayaga String Quartet & Melody Diachun)
  15. ↑ "Singing "Russians" by Sting like it's a brand-new song". Rhythm Changes. October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Tom Keenlyside". AllMusic. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
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