Irene Diaz being considered for a Grammy
My long-time friend Irene Diaz is now under consideration for Grammy! She is one of only two other Chicanas from East LA to be considered for a Grammy, the others being Quetzal founding member Martha Gonzalez, a which won the Grammy for the album ‘Imaginaries’ in 2013, and Marisol Hernandez of La Santa Cecelia, who was nominated as lead singer of LSC multiple times and won in 2014. If Irene is nominated, she will be the first East La Chicana to be nom’ed as a solo artist.
Diaz is part of a rich history. Chicana/o music started to make its mark in 1958 with Ritchie Valens (born Richard Valenzuela), who soared to stardom with iconic hits like “La Bamba” and “Donna” before his life was cut short in 1959. He was followed in 1960 by Rosalie “Rosie” Méndez Hamlin, of Rosie and the Originals whose hit “Angel Baby” got her and the band inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame. (Rosie was born in Oregon and raised in National City –a Chicana but not from East LA).
Irene Diaz is very definitely East LA – she grew up in the heart of Los Angeles—first in Highland Park, then Northeast LA—as the only girl among four siblings, navigating the pressures and possibilities of a Chicana upbringing. Her father gigged in local Rock en Español bands while her mother worked, imbuing their modest two-bedroom home with music, resilience, and hope. Diaz learned piano as a child, then she switched to acoustic guitar and found a new sense of self in LA’s vibrant open mic and Chicano music scenes.
Diaz resisted industry expectations about image and genre, holding tight to her given name and refusing to filter her songwriting style. Instead, her music reflects lived experience—a blend of soulful torch songs. love ballads, and evocative R&B, delivered with intimate vocals that have drawn praise from outlets like NPR, IndiePulseMusic, and Vents Magazine. Her 2021 album “Lovers & Friends,” executive-produced by Carla Morrison, showcases an unvarnished emotional honesty, often exploring themes of longing, belonging, and the fragile dance between independence and intimacy.
Diaz’s retro soul sound is steeped in classic influences yet unmistakably modern, characterized by lush harmonies and the kind of smoldering groove that invites listeners to linger in life’s gray areas. Whether she’s performing in English or experimenting with Spanish, Diaz’s artistry is guided by a sense of place—her Eastside roots, her Chicana identity, and a refusal to compromise her vision.
I first met Diaz in a church basement concert in Venice, California ten years ago, pushed there by a music agent who said ignore the venue, focus on the talent. The “talent” – Irene and her now wife Carolyn Cardoza – blew me away. Her song “Crazy Love”, which has streamed over 4 million downloads, stopped me in my tracks; I said to myself, this girl is going places. (see my 2019 and 2021 reviews here)
And she has. In the past decade, she has released standout love songs, R&B hits, and ballads like her most recent Fool” and “Anything for You” and she has been inducted into the Recording Academy and toured with Carla Morrison.
If there are any Grammy voters reading this column, move her up to a full nomination. You will not only be recognizing a huge talent, but also helping to make history.
Patrick O’Heffernan
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