Overview

Hello world! My name is John Diego and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Fredericksburg, VA.

I’ve been making music and performing for what feels like my whole life. This EP gave me hope at a time when giving up felt like the only option. The way it came together so naturally reminded me why I fell in love with music in the first place — and made me want to try again.

Back in high school, it was hard to relate to other guys because no one was really into music the way I was. All I wanted to do was sing and write songs all day. I’d write a new one every day and make my friends listen — even when they didn’t want to. Tough crowd. Looking back, those songs probably all sounded the same to them, but it didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that I was creating, improving, and taking one small step closer to my dreams.

I owe so much to my family for their constant love and support — for believing in me when I couldn’t, and for reminding me why I started in the first place. After years of learning, writing, and growing, I’ve poured everything I know into these songs.

This is what I have to offer — a piece of myself, shared through music.

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my first ever, professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Mike Davidson  in Boston, MA. Mike is a seasoned Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together,  and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life. 

We’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing one song, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This first song is called “Driving Me,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Driving Me” on my own, to create an album of songs of this quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts.  and I will start crafting the arrangements for each song slated for the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

It’s hard to describe just how much this project means to me.
As a songwriter and performer, these songs represent the next step in discovering who I am as an artist — a chance to refine my voice and take my work to a more professional level. With the right recordings, I’ll finally have something that truly reflects my vision and that I’m proud to share with the world.

Music has never been something I do alone. It’s been shaped by the incredible people around me — the musician friends who challenged me to grow, the classmates who sat through my earliest performances, and my family, who filled our home with every kind of music imaginable. They’ve all been part of this journey, and I hope this project helps me keep expanding that circle — to find new collaborators, new stories, and new creative connections.

There have been moments where I doubted whether this path was really meant for me — when giving up seemed easier. But music always finds its way back. It’s not just what I do; it’s a part of who I am.

This EP is my way of honoring that — a collection of songs that carry every lesson, every late night, and every bit of hope I’ve held onto. I can’t wait for you to hear them and be part of this next chapter with me.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to share this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.