FAQ
Here are a few frequently asked questions, about me, my art and my creative process.
1- Who are you as an artist?
I'm a creative entity, I enjoy creating art in general. Music is my most loved form of creation, it evokes feelings, creates sound-memories, it releases you (as a listener and an artist).
Since probably age one, I’ve been surrounded by many talented people.
From my mom who in my first years was a kindergarten teacher (retired), my dad who’s an amazing singer and percussionist (at home, at least), to my aunt Nana who: since I can remember, has been the director of a Dominican folkloric ballet at a university in my city.
I think it’s safe to say that they’d influenced my artistry, planting deep roots in regards to my primary relationship to art.
My sisters were also there.
The three of them would sing out loud hTV or MTV hits, waking up my interest in artists like: Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Ciara, Missy Elliot, Julieta Venegas, Juanes, Avril Lavigne, etc.
But this whole appropriation process was not only subconscious, it also took part on a conscious level, as I was always performing in all of the school talent shows, and even being part, for several years, of that university ballet mentioned before.
As an artist I'm a compilation of my history. Every tune I’ve heard, every dance I’ve learned, every tradition I followed, that’s who I am.
The one keeping my inner child's core memories happy and alive. :)
2- Why do you sing in English?
I have 3 main reasons:
1- Because I like it.
2-'Cause it detaches me from my feelings and I can narrate my experiences from a freer and more cathartic standpoint.
3-'Cause English is a context-focused language so, it contains words that make it easier for me to give details and explain complex ideas.
3- Do you also release music in Spanish?
Yes! Some of my most heartfelt songs are in Spanish, because they're tied to my core emotions.
4- Who writes your songs?
I do.
I like to use cleverness, rhymes; to paint clear ideas and add some punchlines here and there.
I also like leaving a message that helps people grow or see things differently.
5- Who produces your music?
I produce my own music. I think I’m the most qualified to sonically portray my essence the best.
Also, there’s nothing that I love more than making music, the ingenuity it requires is fascinating to me.
6- What inspires your music?
80% of the time I feel as if I received external downloads from the heavens. Lyrics that write themselves, specific melodies or sounds while I’m producing are the aftermath of the great connection I have with God.
(I’m a Pisces 🤨, of course I was going to bring the spirituality, lol)
7- What kind of sound do you have?
I don’t usually put myself in any category because I just like to create, to express, so if one day I feel like making a jazz album, I would.
But in all of my projects so far, I’ve gravitated towards electro-pop, indie-pop, alt and avant-pop, so, so far those are the categories I’d say I fit in the most.
8- Do you perform live?
Yes! to this day I've performed a few times in Santo Domingo and in my hometown.
I’ve encountered amazing people who’ve encouraged me or invited me to perform, something that I'm deeply thankful for.
9- Where are you based at the moment?
I’m based in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic.
10- What message do you want to share with your music?
I didn’t start defining that until very recently. I'm still figuring it out, though; but I’ve typically aimed for presenting my take on things, like my way to see things like pain, love or nostalgia.
As I learn about life, my message and truth may change (hopefully for the better).
11- What’s the biggest change you’ve had as an artist?
I used to have no faith in my talent. I wasn’t being honest to myself and was doing things in hopes that they would make me feel successful. I didn’t know my worth and was measuring my skills by people's appreciation. I wasn’t listening to myself. I wasn’t paying attention.
Now, as I mature, I can see and embrace my crafting’s newly-noticed value. I can be unapologetic about my decisions and let my creativity run free.
12- Are your songs autobiographical?
Some of them are, some of them are not.
For example, one day I had a student in my classroom (when I was an English teacher) that was noticeably angry and a little sad. I asked her a few times to make sure that she was okay, she would look at me and inorganically say yes. For some reason I kept checking on her, but the last time I asked, I saw her getting a bit annoyed, so I stopped.
That moment inspired my song “Why Does She Want to Know?”, thinking about how many times we’ve done that thing where we pretend we’re okay when we’re obviously not.
I wrote the song imagining things from her perspective.
13- How long have you been making music?
I remember at the beginning of pandemic (2020), I plugged into my pc a piano keyboard that belonged to my roommate and played the three best notes I’ve ever played in my life. xD
After many trial and errors that I had had up until that point, I felt invincible when that happened.
That triggered in me the need to make more of those (moments that make me happy), so I did.
I released my first song “Kid Myself” in 2020, under the pseudonym of “Taikonderogah”.
14- What is a “Taikonderogah” (lol)?
Taikonderogah is the name I picked back when I first started making music.
I wanted to sound more cool and creative, so I (very wrongly) mistook the lyrics of the song ‘Sweet Disposition’ by The Temper Trap and instead of hearing him sing “‘cause I’ll be coming over!!!!”, I heard “Taikonderogah!!!!” and there was aborn, Diobel’s first artist’s name, brought by a song I used to love back in 2013.
15- Where can people listen to your music?
You can find my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, Claro Música and 17 more platforms.
16- What can new listeners expect from you?
With the experience, I’ve learned not to say “I’m this or that” so radically because 1. I don't know if I'll end up changing my mind and 2. because the more I say it, the more I feel like I'm trying to convince other people (or myself) that I am that.
But I was thinking about things that align with who I am and found 3 main ones:
Honesty: I’m very patriotic when it comes to honesty, personally, I hate pretending, I hate selling people the life I don’t have. I’m also very expressive, direct and assertive. So you can always expect those things from me, not only on social media, but in real life as well.
Creativity: I can bend incredible concepts mostly with the intention of making the other person feel or see things in a way they have probably never done before. So, foreshadowing creativity seems proper, whether it be in the videos, lyrics or social media, etc, it will be there.
Values: I think values are the best lantern through a world so distrustful and dark. My values and philosophy are strong, my moral compass is sharp and my sense of justice is high so, I’ll make sure to be carrying them around for when the world loses the light and feels the desperation of not knowing who or what to believe in.