{"id":5042,"date":"2014-08-12T12:47:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T16:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/posturemag.com\/online\/?p=5042"},"modified":"2016-11-11T14:54:15","modified_gmt":"2016-11-11T19:54:15","slug":"from-riot-girrrl-to-chillwave-torontos-carmen-elle-and-current-band-to-watch-diana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/posturemag.com\/online\/from-riot-girrrl-to-chillwave-torontos-carmen-elle-and-current-band-to-watch-diana\/","title":{"rendered":"From Riot Girrrl to Chillwave: Toronto’s Carmen Elle and current band-to-watch, DIANA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author | Michelle King<\/p>\n

Making it\u2019s beginnings with a few unassuming demos written in 2012 by Kieran Adams \"diana<\/a> (Warm Myth<\/a>, Bonjay<\/a>) and Joseph Shabason (Destroyer<\/a>), Toronto\u2019s DIANA<\/a> grew into a full-fledged recording project and touring band with the addition of vocalist Carmen Elle and guitarist Paul Mathew. At the time, Elle was focused on her own band Army Girls<\/a> and also playing guitar with Austra (featured last week<\/a>), having in her younger years rocked with Riot Girrrl outfit The Whoremoans. After being asked to join for a few sessions in the studio, it was clear that DIANA would move forward with Elle\u2019s vocals putting the right touch on the sweeping, dreamy melodies arranged by Shabason and Adams.<\/p>\n

In the same vein as Washed Out or Toro y Moi, DIANA has a soft, synth-based atmosphere about their songs. The dreamy sound \"DIANAwriting\"<\/a>could easily fall under the chillwave genre, but with an overarching romanticism that puts the record in pop music territory. The lyrics are honest and heartbreaking, and Elle\u2019s vocals remain a focal point whether buried in the mix or standing at the forefront of a minimalist composition such as \u201cNew House,\u201d which you can watch a studio performance of below. Though the lyrics were penned by Shabason, it\u2019s impossible to not empathize as Elle begs the question \u201cAm I wasting my love on you? It\u2019s all I need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n