Thirteen year old singer/songwriter sensation Maria Diebolt (Dee-bolt) is already taking the world by storm with her insightful lyrics and a vocal maturity beyond her years! She has been singing publicly for about five years and has already garnered local, national, and international acclaim for her talents. Currently, Maria can be heard at local venues singing her own sets with Indy’s top band Zanna-Doo! She also has a keen interest in songwriting and recently recorded three original songs, including the heartfelt “Stay Strong” which was written for a classmate who was diagnosed with lymphoma. Maria’s other originals showcase the scope of her songwriting skills. “All I Know” is a pop/rock song in the style of Kelly Clarkson or Demi Lovato and the upbeat pop song “ I'll Be Here For You” is a catchy tune which appeals to an audience of all ages. She just recorded a soulful version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” which is available on iTunes along with her first three originals. Maria also has a full repertoire of cover songs in her catalog.
Maria has performed and competed at a variety of venues, including U.S. Cellular Field where she sang the National Anthem for a Chicago White Sox game this summer. She has won several vocal competitions, including St. Simon Idol, CarmelFest Has Talent, the Hamilton County Fair Talent Contest, as well as several regional voice and dance competitions. She was named Outstanding Performer for three consecutive years at the Catholic Youth Organization’s Music Contest in Indianapolis. Her largest live audience was in 2008 at the Circle of Lights Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Indianapolis. Maria was the youngest soloist chosen to perform in front of an estimated crowd of 100,000 people. The event was also televised on WRTV, the local ABC affiliate.
Maria has performed locally at several events, including “A Night To Unite” campaign against hate and bullying, Classic Movie Events at Forest Park, Circle City Voice Showcase, Second Saturday Gallery Walk, Midwest School of Voice Showcase, Art In The Park, Carmel Community Players Haunted Cabaret, Cookies ‘n Santa at Fishers Town Hall, The Fishers Freedom Festival, The Indiana State Fair, school talent shows and at her church. Maria has been dancing for over 11 years and has been trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, modern and contemporary. She is the daughter of Ann Diebolt and resides in Fishers, Indiana.
We most recently had the chance to interview this 13 year old young Lady Maria Diebolt.
When did you start singing?
I've been singing almost since I could talk! My mom noticed pretty early on that I had a really pretty vibrato, so she enrolled me in voice lessons right before my 9th birthday.
Was it your dream to be a singer?
For as long as I can remember!!! My mom just put together a video to my recording of Eva Cassidy’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and it brought back SO many memories – I guess it shows that I've been a performer almost all my life…even just while I was standing on my bed singing into a little karaoke machine microphone!
Tell us about your style of singing?
I like all different kinds of music, but mostly pop. I get kind of uncomfortable when people ask me who I sound like, because I really just want to sound like myself! People have told me that they hear a little Kelly Clarkson, or Demi Lovato, or Pink sometimes in my voice, but I just want to sound like Maria Diebolt!
Are there challenges pursuing a singing career?
It’s hard to focus full time on singing at my age, but I’m trying really hard to do that! I’m in 8th grade, so obviously school is a priority – homework gets in the way of my singing a lot! I’m also in a couple of dance classes and I dance with my school’s dance company. It’s also hard to find places to perform at my age – it’s easier during the summer months when there are festivals and outdoor venues.
Does your parents and friends support you?
Yes! I'm so lucky to have a mom that supports me 100% in my singing and songwriting! I’m only 13, so I know I wouldn't be able to do the things I’m doing now without her! My friends are really great too – my last video (Hello) starred one of my best friends – she was my “stalker”! It’s really cool to think that I have actual “fans”, but I guess I do!!! I've met many of them through YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and ReverbNation – and they have been incredibly supportive of me! It’s amazing and I’m so grateful!!!
Yes, I've been writing songs for quite a while now. I have several songs in my journal and I've been able to record three of them in the studio (my EP entitled Only The Beginning). I also have enough songs ready to record my first full-length album called Inner Beauty. I currently have a Kickstarter campaign running in order to raise funds to record this album. (www.Kickstarter.com)
If so, tell us what goes into writing a great song?
I get my inspiration everywhere…from relationships (boyfriend and girlfriend), or friendships, or even just looking out the window and seeing the sun shining on the water! No matter what you write, it just ends up being a story, you're telling a story.
Where was your first performance, were you excited?
My very first vocal performance was at a Christmas function in my hometown. I was a tiny bit nervous, but I was more excited to get up there and sing! I sang 2 songs – first I sang Silent Night, then I sang Think Of Me from Phantom of the Opera. When I finished, all my friends came rushing up to me and they were all telling me that I made their parents cry! I had a lot of parents tell me how much it touched them when I sang that song and it brought them to tears! It was hard to understand that I could have that kind of effect on people!
Where have you been able to perform?
I've been able to perform in a variety of places! My biggest crowd to perform in front of was in 2008 at the Circle of Lights, which is the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Indianapolis. I was the youngest soloist ever chose to perform – I sang three songs in the pre-show, then the live show was televised on our local Indianapolis TV station and I sang “My Favorite Things” to Santa Claus! The crowd was estimated at over 100,000 people. I have also performed at several local and regional dance/vocal competitions, festivals and fairs. This past summer I was lucky enough to meet Lisa Sauce, who is the owner of Blonde Entertainment. She has become my mentor and good friend!! She has allowed me to perform live with one of the biggest bands in Indianapolis (Zanna Doo) and it’s been such a great experience. Two of the guys from this band are going to help me with my upcoming album – they are awesome musicians and awesome people, I’m very lucky to have all of them in my life right now! My biggest, most recent performance was singing the National Anthem at Cellular Field at a Chicago White Sox game this past summer. It was amazing!!!! I also got to sing the National Anthem and a couple of other songs at a 9/11 event this past September called America Remembers. I felt very honored to participate in that event. I have some National Anthem gigs coming up with the Indiana Ice hockey team in the next couple of months and I will be performing at a holiday event in Indianapolis on December 9th called Evening Of Holiday Joy which is a fundraiser for St. Mary’s Child Center and Wish Upon a Wedding.
As I said before, I get my inspiration everywhere. There are so many artists out there that inspire me to use my songwriting for good use – like to try to stop bullying, to encourage hope, to inspire others to go and make a difference in their lives as well as others lives. Artists I look up to are Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and many, many more. One of the first songs I recorded was called Stay Strong – it was a song I wrote for a friend of mine who was diagnosed with Lymphoma. When I heard the news, and found out what she was going to go through, I felt helpless! I wanted to do something, but we couldn't afford to donate money…so I decided to use my talents and write her a song. Today, she is cancer free! She is such an inspiration, not just to me but to everyone!
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I want to perform EVERYWHERE in the world! It’s always been my dream and my goal to go on a World Tour!
Along the same line, who would you love to perform with?
I would be thrilled to work with any artist right now – there are so many!!! Of course, any of the artists that I mentioned above would be at the top of my list!!!
My ultimate goal is to get my music out there and to inspire people the way I've been inspired! And to go on a world tour! But my immediate goal right now is to get my album recorded, hopefully by reaching my funding goal in my Kickstarter campaign.
Kickstarter.com is a website that helps people get funding for their projects, whether it’s music, dance, film, games, literature and so on. You put your project on their website with your funding goal and you have a set amount of time that your campaign will run. If you don’t meet your financial goal by the end, you don’t get anything, no one is charged, and the project just dies – or you try it again at some point. My campaign is currently running through November 24th – which is my birthday!!! I’m hoping for the BEST birthday present ever – to get that project fully funded so that I can go into the studio and record my album!
My project can be viewed here: http://kck.st/WeudIN
What do you hope to accomplish with your singing/songwriting?
I hope someday I can inspire others the way I've been inspired. And it doesn't have to be a huge, big thing – sometimes it’s that lonely moment when you're sitting in your room, and you think you're ugly and no one likes you….then you hear a song that tells you you're beautiful just the way you are, that you can stay strong and make it through those lonely times, that it’s OK to break up with that boy, because something better is waiting for you down the road!
Do you have any advice for those wanting to start a career in singing and songwriting?
Just start writing and keep a journal. Write down everything, even if you don't think it’s good, it probably is! A lot of the stuff I've written, I'm not sure it’s good, but then people read it or hear it and say “Whoa, that is amazing!!!” Just believe in yourself, write everything down, and keep practicing! It’s hard because there are so many great young artists out there, but just be true to yourself and keep working!
Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you, your singing/songwriting?
I really couldn't do any of this stuff without the support of my mom. She has raised me by herself – I don't even know my dad, he has chosen not to be a part of our lives. I know it’s been hard, she owns a dance store (which I try to help out with) and she works 2 or 3 jobs, depending on the time of year and she takes care of my grandma, who lives with us. We don't have a “typical” family, but we do our best! I've learned so much over the past few years – we've struggled like a lot of people these days, and I've learned that I can get by on just a little bit….I don't have to have all the best shoes, or the best clothes, or the latest phone…at the end of the day, that’s not the important stuff. It’s important to have the love of your family and friends, we have a roof over our heads and we are making it. We have a very strong faith, and that has helped us through all the really rough times! Maybe someday I'll be able to repay my mom for all the sacrifices she’s made so that I can sing and dance!
www.MariaDiebolt.com
www.YouTube.com/mariasmama
www.ReverbNation.com/mariadiebolt
www.Facebook.com/mariadiebolt
www.Twitter.com/maria_diebolt
I also have some of my songs on iTunes – my first three originals (Stay Strong, I’ll Be Here For You and All I Know) and my cover of Eva Cassidy’s Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
Do you have any other talents?
I love to dance! I've been taking dance for over 11 years. In addition songwriting it’s another good way to express my emotions. For quite a few years I danced on a competitive team, which was a lot of fun, but I had to scale back on that because my music is my main priority now. I’m still taking a few dance classes a week and I just got my first pair of pointe shoes!! I'm taking my first pointe class, which has been one of my dreams for a long time! I also dance on my junior high dance team, which is so much fun! I love spending that time with my friends!
Maria is a very talented young Lady that has a very bright future ahead of her. We wish all the best as she follows her dreams.
Rocky Coast News is pleased to have Maria Diebolt as our latest "Musician Spotlight", where we highlight, promote up and coming musicians that have amazing vocals, sound, style and/or who are able to play an instrument well singing.
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