You’ve written music in such a variety of genres for your compositions and scoring! Do you have a favorite style to write in? If so, what is it and why?

I love switching between genres and also mixing styles of music when I compose scores or write songs.  One of my favorite things about composing for media is that each project comes with a different creative direction and set of creative confines and freedoms, which often leads me to write in new styles and compose music that I probably wouldn’t have written without the prompt of the project.

What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far, and why?

There’s always something to enjoy in every project, and I have learned a lot from each experience.  One of my current projects is a new musical that I am composer/co-lyricist for.  My music for the show is half cinematic orchestral scores and half pop/rock songs, and it’s been so awesome to get to write both songs and scores and have them musically intertwine.  I am also completely new to theatre, so it’s been really exciting to write for a new medium, while still composing to support a story just like in film/tv scoring.

As a multi-instrumentalist, do you have a favorite instrument when you’re starting to work on ideas? Does that change based on the project you’re working on?

I find that switching between instruments helps keep things fresh creatively when I’m working on new ideas.  Guitar is my main instrument, and so I gravitate to it most, but I find that playing an instrument I am new to or not as proficient at can be really freeing and help me compose from a different angle.

You’ve also done some really cool additional music, arranging, and co-composing! Can you share more about that?

I’ve learned so much from being a part of different composers’ workflows and processes, and I’m so grateful to the composers I’ve worked with for those opportunities!

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A music teacher in middle school told me to never lose sight of the passion and excitement for music you have as a kid when you first start writing, and I’ve always held onto that advice!

Check out Kate Diaz in our AWFC directory

Interview by Kati Falk-Flores