DIANE’S BACKSTORY

Diane is the daughter of a Navy vet father and a Filipino immigrant mother. She was born in Adak, Alaska, and also lived in Ewa Beach, Hawaii before reaching the age of six. Her dad eventually retired from the military to return us to his origins — Minnesota. Diane’s parents raised her on Bob Dylan, George Jones, Connie Francis, Simon & Garfunkel, ABBA, Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters, and much more.

Diane found solace, power, and comfort in hip-hop/R&B as an adolescent in Alexandria, Minn. and Fargo, ND — predominantly white towns. Early on, she especially turned to the likes of POC artists such as Busta Rhymes, TLC, Lauryn Hill, Notorious BIG, Wu Tang Clan, Jay-Z and others. As a shy kid, Diane relied on music to feel at home.

At the age of 12, Diane was gifted a guitar for Christmas. She learned to play it with her best friend, who also was a Filipino immigrant. The two wrote songs in their very own duo — Banana Soop.

Due to Diane’s shyness and reclusive tendencies around peers, she didn’t gain the confidence to take music seriously till attending college while reluctantly (at first) studying music. It was there, she found peers to team up with.

Around 2011, Diane started the hip-hop band D Mills & The Thrills. She found inspiration to write and compose lyrics and melodies in collaboration with other talented local musicians. She also collaborated in different musical projects, including folks and reggae bands.

A year or so later, Diane became editor of Fargo’s alternative newsweekly, High Plains Reader. Here she gained close bonds with the community — reporting on local/regional bands, artists, restaurants, entrepreneurs, community events, and more.

By the year 2015, Diane became one of the most recognizable public figures in the Fargo-Moorhead thanks to a combination of her music and writing talents, as well as her work ethic and unwavering resolution to be herself. This was also the year that finally came to terms with her sexuality.

In 2016 she took over as the booking director of The Aquarium, a indie music venue in Fargo. Here she booked local bands and national artists, including Phoebe Bridgers, The Melvins,

Diane made a full-time move to Minneapolis in 2018 to serve as the tla