Hello Rock Stars! Today’s Artist of the Week Spotlight is Diabolyk!
I had the absolute honor of talking to their crazy talented singer songwriter and front woman Edelmira Torres about the history of Diabolyk, their amazing new music they are working on, and what the future holds for them as a band! Check it out! 🙂
All photo’s courtesy of the amazing Tiffany Salerno!
VMS:
When did you start writing and
performing your music? What’s your
backstory and current lineup?
Diabolyk:
Looking back, it almost feels like Diabolyk (pronounced Dee-ahh-bo-leek) was meant to
happen. I grew up in New Mexico surrounded by mariachi and Spanish-language music that never
stopped playing around our house. Nathan Torres, our lead guitarist, grew up in Southern
California in a completely different musical universe, chasing guitar heroes like Eddie Van
Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
When we formed Diabolyk in 2017, we never sat down and said, “Let’s start a Rock en Español
band.” We just started writing whatever music felt honest to us, and it turned out to be a natural
collision of the two worlds we grew up in. That’s howDiabolyk found its sound: two musicians
from completely different backgrounds stumbling into something neither of us could
have built alone.
We’re also lucky to have an incredible lineup around us. Our drummer, Michael Leasure, is currently and has spent the last 18 years behind the kit for blues legend Walter Trout, and before that he was Edgar Winter’s drummer. On top of playing drums, Michael is producing our two upcoming albums, and his experience has been a huge asset throughout the recording process.
Our newest addition is bassist Cody Wright, who spent several years playing alongside blues guitarist Eric Gales. We’re thrilled to have him in the fold whenever his schedule allows. He’s already brought a great energy, and we’re excited to see what this lineup can pull off together.
What I love most is that everyone brings something different to the table. We all come from completely different musical worlds, yet somehow it all clicks. I think that’s what makes Diabolyk special.
VMS:
What artists or bands inspire you and your sound?
Diabolyk:
Personally, I grew up listening to Lola Beltrán, Linda Ronstadt, Selena, Ana Gabriel and Vicente Fernández. They all inspired me because they sang with so much heart and raw emotion. They taught me that it’s not just about having a good voice. It’s about making people feel something every single time you sing.
Nathan’s influences come from a completely different world. He grew up on bands like Van Halen, KISS, Led Zeppelin and UFO, and you can hear every bit of that DNA in his guitar playing.
As a band, we refuse to box ourselves into one style. We love rock, blues, hard rock, and the traditional Hispanic music I grew up on. We let all of those influences bleed into our own sound. We never set out to sound like anyone else. We just wanted to make music that honestly reflects who we are.
VMS:
What’s your writing process and inspiration for your lyrics?
Diabolyk:
Most of the music starts with Nathan. He writes the majority of the guitar riffs and musical arrangements, and then I come in with the lyrics and vocal melodies. Once we bring those ideas into rehearsal, the songs really start to breathe. Michael brings so much experience to the table, and his ideas have been a huge part of shaping the music, both in rehearsal and in the studio as our producer.
Now that Cody has joined the band, we’re excited to see his ideas become part of the next chapter of Diabolyk as we keep writing new material. When it comes to my lyrics, I write about real life. Love, heartbreak, family, strength, loss, hope. Those are all things people live through, and I want our songs to connect with them on a personal level. Some songs come straight from my own experiences, while others are inspired by stories I’ve heard or emotions I think everyone understands.
I believe the best songs are the honest ones. If people hear one of our songs and think, “I’ve felt that,” then I’ve done my job as a songwriter.
VMS:
I love your songs “Corazón Duro,” “Te Traigo En Mi Cartera,” and “Cuando Vivas Conmigo.”
What is the inspiration or story behind these songs?
Diabolyk:
Thank you! It really means a lot to hear that, because those songs are all special to us. “Corazón Duro” has always been one of my favorites. It was originally recorded by the group Bronco, and we wanted to give it the Diabolyk treatment. We stayed true to the heart of the song while stamping it with our own sound and personality. It turned into a perfect example of what Diabolyk is all about: respecting tradition while making it our own.
“Te Traigo En Mi Cartera” is another favorite because it’s just so much fun to perform live. One of my favorite parts of that song is Miguel Romero’s accordion playing. Miguel is a seasoned musician from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in my opinion, he’s one of the finest accordion players in the state. He absolutely tears it up on that track, and his playing brings so much energy and authenticity to the song.
Coming from a background rooted in traditional Hispanic music and mariachi, songs like “Cuando Vivas Conmigo” have always meant the world to me. Being able to perform them with a rock edge is one of the things I love most about Diabolyk. It’s our way of honoring those traditions while introducing them to a whole new audience. Whether it’s one of our original songs or a classic we’re paying tribute to, our goal is always the same: when people hear it, we want them to know it’s Diabolyk.
Listen to Diabolyk on Spotify:
VMS:
Tell me about your 2019 EP, “Tales from Nuevo Mexico Vol.1.”
What was the inspiration and process of writing it?
Diabolyk:
“Tales from Nuevo Mexico Vol.1” was really a snapshot of where Diabolyk was at that point in our journey. We were still figuring out who we were as a band and learning how to blend our different musical backgrounds into one sound. The inspiration came straight from our roots, our experiences, and the music we grew up with.
We weren’t chasing a trend or trying to squeeze ourselves into one category. We just wanted to write songs that felt honest and represented who we were. Looking back now, I think that EP laid the foundation for everything we’re doing today. It gave us the confidence to keep building our own identity as a Rock en Español band while staying true to our Hispanic musical roots and our rock influences.
Listen to Diabolyk’s “Tales from Nuevo Mexico Vol.1.” on Spotify:
VMS:
Which local artist would you like to work with and why?
Diabolyk:
Las Vegas has so much talent that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. We’ve been fortunate to meet and share the stage with some incredible artists over the years, and one of the things I love most about the Vegas music scene is how many different styles of music live here side by side.
For me, it’s less about a name and more about passion. I love working with musicians who genuinely love what they do and aren’t afraid to bring their own personality into the music. That’s when the best collaborations happen. We’re always open to creating with other artists, because every collaboration is a chance to learn something new and hopefully build something special together.
VMS:
What’s your overall theme or message of your music?
Diabolyk:
I think the biggest message in our music is to stay true to yourself and never forget where you came from. Our songs talk about love, heartbreak, family, hope, loss, and overcoming life’s challenges, because those are things we all go through. Music has always been a way for people to heal, celebrate, remember, and connect with one another.
As a Rock en Español band, we’re also proud to celebrate our culture and our roots. I hope people hear our music and feel that it’s okay to embrace every part of who they are. For us, it’s about honoring tradition while still growing and creating something new.
Our music is really about bringing people together. Whether someone grew up on rock, rancheras, blues, or mariachi, I hope they hear something that feels familiar and something that catches them off guard at the same time. If someone walks out of one of our shows feeling inspired, smiling, or simply feeling understood, then we’ve accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
VMS:
Do you have a favorite song that you like to perform?
Diabolyk:
That’s always a tough question, because it really depends on the night. If I had to pick one, it would be “El Cajon.” That song is deeply personal to me because I wrote it while thinking about my grandfather. It’s about the emotions that come with losing someone you love, and every time I sing it, those memories come flooding back. I think the audience can feel that emotion, and that’s what makes performing it so meaningful.
On the other hand, I absolutely love performing “Babylonia.” It’s a high-energy song that’s just plain fun to play. The crowd always gets into it, and it’s become one of our favorite songs to close the night with, because it leaves everyone feeling electric.
We also love throwing a few ranchera songs into our set, because they bring people together in a different way. It’s amazing to watch people start singing, dancing, and smiling the moment those songs kick in. Whenever we have the chance, we invite Kyla Vera, violinist for Metalachi, to join us. Every time she steps on stage with us, she brings another level of excitement to the performance. Those are some of my favorite moments, because you can see how much joy the audience is having.
At the end of the night, that’s what live music is all about: bringing people together, making memories, and hopefully giving them a show they’ll never forget.
VMS:
Do you have any crazy or interesting stories from working in the music scene?
Diabolyk:
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that no two shows are ever the same. You can plan everything down to the last detail, and then five minutes before you go on stage, something unexpected happens. We’ve dealt with equipment problems, last-minute schedule changes, and all the little curve balls that come with being a working band. But honestly, those moments usually end up becoming the best stories. You learn to adapt, trust each other, and remember that live music isn’t about being perfect. It’s about connecting with people. Sometimes those unexpected moments end up being the most memorable part of the night.
We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to cross paths with so many talented musicians along the way. Every show and every recording session is a chance to learn from people who’ve dedicated their lives to music, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted.
VMS:
What does the future hold for Diabolyk?
Diabolyk:
We’re genuinely excited about what’s ahead. Right now we’re in the studio putting the finishing touches on two new albums, which we hope to release at the same time. One is another ranchera album, and the other is an original Rock en Español album that we’re especially excited about, because it truly represents who Diabolyk has become.
Our drummer, Michael Leasure, is also producing both albums, and having someone with his experience guiding us in the studio has been incredible. Michael has such a great ear for music and has really helped bring these songs to life. We’re recording at ‘Montecito Music and Media‘ with engineer Billy Burke at his studio in Sierra Madre, California, ‘ and it’s been an amazing experience. Billy has built such a comfortable environment to work in, and everyone involved has been laser-focused on making these albums the best they can be.
We’re also honored to have Teddy Andreadis playing keyboards and harmonica on both records. Teddy was the keyboardist for Guns N’ Roses during the Use Your Illusion tour, and more recently he played Keys on Slash’s last blues album and on tour he acted as the lead singer for Slash’s blues band. (Do a quick Google search on Teddy and you’ll see how amazing he truly is.) Having someone with his experience and talent contribute to our music has truly been a blessing.
We also brought in Jamie Hunting to record the bass tracks. Jamie has played with David Lee Roth, Vince Neil, and Eddie Money, and was a member of Union, a band that Bruce Kulick from KISS formed. We’re incredibly grateful that musicians of their caliber believed in what we’re doing and wanted to be part of these recordings. Right now we’re just putting on the finishing touches, and we honestly can’t wait for everyone to hear these albums.
For us, it’s never been about chasing trends or trying to sound like anyone else. We’ve always believed in making music that’s honest and true to who we are. These two albums represent that better than anything we’ve done before, and we can’t wait to share them with the world.
VMS:
What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows?
Diabolyk:
More than anything, I want people to have fun. Life can be stressful, and for a couple of hours I want people to forget about everything else and just enjoy the music. Whether they’re singing along to one of our Rock en Español songs, dancing to one of our rancheras, or hearing those styles blended together for the first time, I want everyone to feel like they belong.
I also hope people walk away understanding who we are as a band. We love bringing together different musical styles, and seeing people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying the music side by side is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. If people leave smiling, talking about the show on the drive home, and already looking forward to seeing us again, then we’ve done our job.
VMS:
What have been your personal pros and cons of being a band here in Las Vegas?
What do you think the scene could improve on and what are your hopes for the future of the Vegas music scene?
Diabolyk:
Las Vegas has an incredible amount of talent. We’ve crossed paths with so many amazing musicians here, and one of the best things about this city is that people come from all over the world, bringing a whole mix of musical influences with them.
The biggest challenge is that original bands sometimes have a hard time getting the exposure they deserve, because Las Vegas is known for tribute shows, residency acts, and major touring productions. Those shows are a big part of what makes this city special, but I’d also love to see even more room for original local bands to grow and build an audience. I think the local music scene is getting stronger every year. There are so many talented artists, supportive venues, and people who genuinely care about live music. My hope is that musicians keep supporting one another, because when one local band succeeds, it shines a light on the entire music community.
Thank you to everyone who’s supported Diabolyk over the years. We truly appreciate every person who’s come to a show, listened to our music, or cheered us on along the way. We can’t wait to share this next chapter with all of you.
For more information about Diabolyk, please visit their Instagram!
–VMS. 🙂