For dream-driven teens considering success, Diamond White has emerged as the poster-girl for progress. The quadruple-threat with striking model looks, a free-spirit fashion flow, and contagiously positive personality is just fun and inspiring; a true joy to watch. Those following the Hollywood-based Detroit-native’s meteoric rise to stardom are witnessing freedom and fearlessness bloom beautifully before them. A living testament to talent and perseverance overcoming label delays and industry setbacks, the popular singer has a refreshingly beautiful and memorable voice with control, command, and range beyond her years. Diamond is DOPE in the purest way possible. The game need’s her.
Originally signed to Syco Records after breakout performances on X-Factor’s season 2, the high school sensation is also an accomplished voice-actress. Diamond, 15, is the voice of Frankie on Discovery’s “Transformers: Rescue Bots” and also holds voiceover roles on other popular animated shows. In addition to singing, songwriting, and voiceover work, the cute and confident jazz music fan is also impressively wise beyond her years. Diamond plans to entertain the many fashion, modeling, film and television opportunities flowing her way, though music clearly remains a popular girl’s top priority.
In high demand by just about any major record label you can think of, Diamond is currently enjoying her newfound industry independence after being shelved for over a year. Now recording new music and shooting new videos in preparation for an impactful 2015, the rising starlet has every reason to be super excited about her bright future. In a time when make-believe shine and ratchet reruns oversaturate our senses, this princess cut Diamond with girl-next-door magnetism and big stage star presence is regal and real. Unquestionably the one to follow if you’re a fan of potential, poise, genuine personas and pretty faces.
The supreme teen with the electric smile and big-hair-everywhere – and a sweet 16th birthday just weeks away – took a break between takes at her exclusive DOPE MAG cover shoot in Hollywood with celebrity photographer Ben Miller to dish on the entertainment business, early musical influences, and her own uniquely cool boho-chic style.
Written by Tone Swep
Images by: Ben Miller
Location: Hollywood, CA
(Tone Swep: TS) What’s up, Diamond. How is life for a Detroit girl living in LA?
(Diamond White: Diamond) Everything’s good and going well. We’re getting into the Christmas spirit, doing some decorating. I’m hanging out with Mom, having fun.
(TS) Describe your upbringing. Your childhood, the early years. You’re from the motor city. How has the transition been with your being from Detroit now living in LA?
(Diamond) I kind of had a weird upbringing. I was born in Detroit, Michigan. But when I was six-years-old, I told my Mom I really wanted to be an entertainer and singer. She started taking me to various auditions, and then at seven-years-old I began starring in The Color Purple production that toured nationally. So I was all over the country. As for LA, it’s so different. Detroit is laid-back, and people know how to drive and stay in their own lane (Laughs!). But I really like living here in LA now. It’s very exciting and diverse. There are so many opportunities.
(TS) What is the earliest experience you can remember with music?
(Diamond) My first musical experience was going on tour with The Color Purple, where singing was a big part of the production. I was about seven, and it was different going on tour with an Oprah Winfrey company, but then my mother entered me into a lot of competitions. Around that time I competed against so many older people, like seasoned singers in their 40’s, to sing the Detroit Tigers National Anthem. And Oh-My-God! I won. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had to sing and just keep on singing.
(TS) Who were some of your early music influences?
(Diamond) My mom played music by a lot of classic singers like Minnie Riperton and Anita Baker. I grew up singing and listening to very soulful music, and also a lot of jazz and some blues. As I got older, I continued to love that music but also started listening to alternative music as well.
(TS) How would you describe your music? What is the Diamond White sound?
(Diamond) I’m really inspired by Jazz and real instrumentation that sounds good live. I love jazzy melodies. I write all of my own songs. I feel my sound is a nice mix of Jazz, Pop, and Alternative.
(TS) What types of songs do you think people want to hear today? Something refreshing, you know. I ask because a lot of the music sounds the same these days.
(Diamond) I think people want to hear good songs. Really catchy lyrics with good beats. And I think they want singers to not use auto-tune, at least not so much. Auto-tune and all this is done to make you sound different than you are, but I feel music is something to be given out raw, not something edited and changed and altered to where it isn’t even the song you made anymore. But something really raw and real. A person expressing themselves musically. Not computers and software doing it for them.
(TS) After making an impact on X-Factor you were signed to Syco Records, Simon Cowell’s imprint. But that didn’t work out. Now, however, you are being sought after by virtually every major record label. So after that experience at Syco, what is it going to take for you to sign with another label?
(Diamond) Well, I would want to hear that they will allow me to do my own thing. Let my style happen and not try to fit me in with everyone else who’s in the top right now. Because I think what happens when you get signed is they like one or two things about you, but not you overall, so they want you to change so much of yourself where it isn’t even really you anymore. I would want to hear: ‘We support you and love you and want to see you do whatever you want to do. And we will help you do that’. I don’t want to be like a puppet. I want to be hands on with my music and my career going forward.
(TS) You were on X-Factor at only 12 and did extremely well with several standout performances. Viewers couldn’t believe a girl that young was singing vocally challenging songs by Whitney Houston as her competition material. Where do you feel all of that confidence comes from? You are a very confident teenager.
(Diamond) It’s weird because me as a person, and me on stage, are not the same person (Laughs!). I’m kind of goofy and all over the place most of the time. But on stage I am very collected and focused. And I think it comes from watching so many legends, so many of my idols, perform again and again on YouTube videos and collected recordings of their performances. When I’m on stage is when I’m most at home. Me loving to be on stage and wanting to prove everyone wrong, proving I’m worth watching, is where my confidence derives from.
(TS) You seem to have a sort of quiet rebellion about you. As though you pride yourself on being different. Would you say that’s accurate?
(Diamond) I think my kind of rebellious vibe just comes from me being myself when so many want to be someone else. Does that make sense? I’m not a really rebellious person, but I have my moments where I want to push back and not conform, and that comes from me wanting to be myself and be different and not do what other people are doing. I am very happy just being myself.
(TS) You’ve also been doing some voice acting and have some exciting announcements coming up.
(Diamond) I’ve been able to stay in LA because voice acting has given me a little more time. It’s a real job, and some make an entire lifelong career with it. I’ve been doing voiceovers since I was like 10. I do a lot of voiceovers on Disney that I can’t mention yet, but they are coming out next year and I am sooooo excited for that. I play the character Francine “Frankie” (Elma Greene) in Transformers: Rescue Bots on Discovery. I’ve also done Phineas and Ferb, Sofia the First, and The Haunted Hathaways on Nickelodeon.
(TS) Your DOPE MAG cover shoot looks like a high fashion look book. Is modeling an interest of yours in addition to music?
(Diamond) Right after X-Factor, IMG Models contacted me and signed me. That’s exciting but modeling isn’t something that I was really looking into. Not at first, because I didn’t know it was possible. Now modeling is definitely another aspect of my career I am looking into and interested in. But I don’t know though, because I like to eat way too much (Laughs!). But if there is an opportunity there I would love to model more.
(TS) How would you describe your fashion style?
(Diamond) I’m very bipolar when it comes to my style. I go through phases. Last year I was into really colorful clothing, like neons and lavenders and bright, bright pinks and yellows, orange. Now I’m into more black with white, and blue with white. A lot of solids or one stripe pieces. I mix the street style here in LA with edgier leathers, different cuts. Like, I customize a lot. I’ll tear and cut and fold clothes until they hang or wear just right for me. I’m very boho chic but also edgy and grungy. My Hair? I like messy hair. I like when it’s just a mess (Laughs!). And wavy. A wavy mess (Laughs!).
(TS) Are you reading for parts in film and television?
(Diamond) Yes! I want to do a show or movie that is edgy and action-packed, like a spy series. Something exciting and action oriented like Divergent, The Hunger Games, or Maze Runner. I would also like to headline my own TV show. I think MTV would be a great fit for me. I like Teen Wolf and American Horror Story. Those are my two favorite shows.
(TS) Ok so, let’s get into some Either/Or.
(Diamond) Oh, see. You’re going to try and mess me up (Laughs!).
(TS) Rap or R&B?
(Diamond) R&B. Love to sing and I love singers.
(TS) Europe or Japan?
(Diamond) Oooooh… Japan because they have amazing fashion.
(TS) Perfect artist collaboration for a Diamond White song: Beyoncé or Drake?
(Diamond) Beyoncé is the queen. So Beyoncé definitely.
(TS) Perfect producer collaboration for a Diamond White song: Timbaland or Pharrell?
(Diamond) Why do you do this to me!?!? Why!!! (Laughs!) Pharrell, but that’s so hard because I’ve wanted to work with Missy and Timbaland forever. But Pharrell. Ahhhhh! (Screams, Laughs!).
(TS) If you were in outer space would you rather be a planet or a star?
(Diamond) I would rather be a star because they’re like special and unpredictable. I’m a really geeky person, too, so I could be a bright shining star and people could study me. I could even be in a constellation (Laughs!).
(TS) What can we expect from you in the near future? New projects and next moves.
(Diamond) Yeah! 2015! I’m really happy to be back after my two year hiatus. So a single early next year, then an EP. New videos for sure. In the beginning of next year I will have new material and announcements for everyone.
(TS) Why do you love when the sky cries?
(Diamond) I love it because first of all it never rains in LA. It rarely if ever rains, so it’s like a miracle when it rains here. And I like rare moments in life. Special moments. When it rains you don’t have to go outside. You can stay in the house and light candles, watch movies, and just listen to the sound of the rain.
(TS) Finally, what makes Diamond White so DOPE?
(Diamond) I think just my whole vibe. It’s very unique and different. I’m not trying to be anyone else, and I don’t expect anyone else to be anyone they aren’t. I like people for who they are and love myself just how I am. Confidence is key. I believe confidence is the key, so my confidence makes me DOPE. And I would also say that I’m DOPE because I’m just myself. And being yourself is always DOPE to me.
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