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The 19th annual Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) has announced the winner for this year’s “Discovery Award:” Niña Dioz. She received the award this week during the LAMC in New York City following her performance at the “Thursday Night” showcase at Highline Ballroom. Previous LAMC “Discovery Award” winners include Kinky, Carla Morrison, El Mató a un Policía Motorizado, Los Rakas, iLe, A.CHAL, Jesse Baez, and AJ Davila. Referred to as the “Sundance of Latin music,” the LAMC serves as a continuous
indicator of what is up and coming.

This year’s LAMC “Discovery Award,” is presented by Shure, PioneerDJ, Taylor Guitars, CD Baby, DashGo, and Berklee Online.

Niña Dioz has grown accustomed to breaking barriers. Having broken into Mexico’s predominantly male hip-hop scene as an openly queer rapper, she is now looking towards establishing herself in the U.S.

Born Carla Reyna in Monterrey, a woman at a coffee shop dubbed her as “la niña Dioz” at random, saying that she looked like the baby Jesus. Soon after, she became one of the most exciting performers in a scene dominated by men thanks to her stage presence and lyrical flow, earning her the respect of her peers.

Her recent single, “Tambalea,” marked a new beginning for Dioz as she is finally in a place where she feels fully comfortable to share her truth, completely and unapologetically. Ceci Bastida and Lido Pimienta joined Dioz on the empowering anthem dedicated to women and marginalized people everywhere in the era of #MeToo and Donald Trump. “‘Tambalea” was inspired by different events that I saw around me, from witnessing all the femicidios, massacres of women, that happen every day in Mexico,” she explains, “where being a woman and being alive another day is a blessing, to being a queer immigrant from Mexico in Trump’s era, where racism and discrimination are more and more evident.”

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