Adjunct Professor, The Craft and Business of Songwriting
Professor and lifetime songwriter Kristin Diable started writing songs when she was a kid. After her first show at a teenage battle of the bands, she knew her calling was in music. Diable’s 20 years of experience as a performing artist, songwriter and independent manager of Speakeasy Records has given her a unique skillset in the pursuit of music as both an art and business.
She is passionate about supporting and mentoring students in carving out their own unique paths in music. Diable’s last release "Create Your Own Mythology" (recorded in Nashville with producer Dave Cobb) was applauded by NPR, American Songwriter and Southern Living as one of the best of the year. A southern original, Diable’s voice bends as whimsical and unyielding as the Mississippi River, as her timeless melodies and lyrics channel the mystical within the everyday, the transcendent silver lining within the ordinary, weaving an intricate web of singularity that is Diable’s calling card.
Along with her band, The City, highlight touring performances over the years range from intimate listening rooms, clubs and theaters to Austin City Limits, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest, French Quarter Festival, and many stops in between. Beyond the stage, songs from her studio have been featured in films and TV such as CBS prime time’s Hawaii-Five-0, Magnum P.I. and MacGuyver, Amazon's One Mississippi (Tig Notaro), Netflix’s Virgin River, HBO's True Blood and Treme, and others. On-screen, Diable co-wrote and starred in the award winning short-film “Forever Waves.” Director and producer Jeffrey Roedel enlisted Diable on the project as a co-writer and composer as well. The film earned an Award of Excellence in the Best Shorts Competition and was featured at Louisiana International Film Festival and French Quarter Festival.
"Kristin Diable is a natural fit for the lead. Her story is relatable and engrossing." - MATTHEW JACOBS (The Huffington Post) Following the film, Diable was recruited as a judge and mentor for the New Orleans based CBS TV show “Sing Like a Star,” hosted by Arthel Neville. Alongside fellow Louisiana legacy artists, Terence Simien and Marc Broussard, she mentored and supported other artists in finding their unique voices on stage.
Diable’s own record label, Speakeasy Records has been the home for album and single releases, publishing, syncs for film and television, and live productions including The Speakeasy Songwriter’s Revue, a weekly series showcasing local and touring songwriters in New Orleans, sponsored by BMI.
Outside the classroom and studio, Diable is passionate about children’s mentoring and support organizations, social equity, gender equality, and is a card carrying member of the ACLU.
Diable lives in New Orleans with her daughter Lucinda and has found motherhood to be her most creative work to date. She enjoys tending to their backyard butterfly garden, cooking delicious meals, spending time in nature, and embarking on regular adventure travels.
