IN CONVERSATION WITH DIVA SMITH

interview by JANA LETONJA

With the release of her debut EP, Sunny Surrender, rising singer-songwriter Diva Smith is introducing herself through a collection of songs that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. Across five tracks, the project explores the uncertainty, wonder, and emotional contradictions of life in your twenties — falling in love, leaving home, confronting anxiety, and realising that the child you once were never entirely disappears. A preschool teacher by day and musician by night, she draws inspiration from both her own experiences and the wide-eyed perspective of the children she teaches, creating music that feels intimate, reflective, and full of heart. As she brings these songs to audiences on tour with Holly Humberstone, Sunny Surrender marks the arrival of an artist finding beauty in uncertainty and learning to hold life’s complexities a little more lightly.

Congratulations on releasing Sunny Surrender. How does it feel to finally shareyour debut EP with the world?

Thank you! To be honest, putting out music at this stage of my career is strange. It all feels very new and very online. But being on the road throughout this process has been incredible, because I get to see real faces every night. The timing worked out perfectly. Performing the music and meeting new people have brought the EP a whole new meaning for me. Getting to see and hear people react and connect with the music in real time has been magical, and I feel really lucky to be able to experience that so early in my career.

The title itself feels optimistic and intentional. What does “Sunny Surrender”mean to you?

It initially came to be in reference to surrendering to the happiness of a relationship. But it’s become bigger than that to me. I think it is about trying to look on the brighter side, moving through life with a glass half full, and letting yourself feel the feelings. It’s definitely easier said than done, and I by no means do it consistently, but when I do, it makes everything a lot more doable. It’s kind of become an inspirational quote I keep in my back pocket, a reminder to focus on the positive.

You’ve described the EP as learning to accept uncertainty rather than fighting it.Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired that mindset?

I often think the greatest things come from being a little bit scared. I think entering the relationship I was in at the time felt both exciting and daunting, and I had to make a choice to go for it or regret not trying. Same with moving to New York at 18, starting my career in music. Sometimes you need to accept the uncertainty in order to grow.

Across the project, there’s a strong theme of growing up while still feelingconnected to your younger self. Why was that idea important for you to explore?

I always wanted to be a pop star when I was little. I remember falling asleep dreaming of being Hilary Duff every night. But as I grew up, my anxiety got worse, and I didn’t really feel that dream was going to be possible. Through lots of therapy and my incredible family and friends, I was able to move to New York, and it completely changed me. I feel more myself than ever. I feel connected to that 5 year old that wanted to be Hilary Duff again, and it makes me feel whole to think that I am making her proud.

Still The Kid is one of your most vulnerable songs to date. What inspired you towrite it?

I wanted to write a song about growing up, and about how different I thought life would be now than it is. I thought you grew out of insecurities, kept all your childhood friends forever, and that everything just kind of fell into place as you got older. I know now that all of these things take time, self-reflection, and work. This song is about how I thought I’d have it all figured out by 26, but I actually feel more like my 5-year-old self than ever.

You work as a preschool teacher while building your music career. How have yourstudents influenced your perspective and your songwriting?

Being a teacher really forces you to get out of your head, something I do not do enough of. Working in a classroom of fifteen 3-year-olds, all you have space to think about is “Are they safe, are they fed, are they happy, and how can I make their day better?” You exist as a caretaker and a friend. In these early stages of being an artist, I am used to thinking, talking, singing and writing about myself all the time, which can feel really unnatural and insular. Having a greater purpose and the tiniest hand in shaping the minds of the next generation is the most rewarding choice I have made in my young adulthood. I really hope to make them proud and to be a role model for them for years to come.

Do children have a way of reminding us of things adults tend to forget?

Kids see things a lot more clearly, with less nuance. They see their dreams as destiny, and their confidence is inspiring. They have big ideas, no filter, and unadulterated creativity. If we tapped into those feelings more, we’d have a lot more hope.

Anxiety is a thread that runs through parts of the EP, but so is hope. How do youstrike that balance in your writing?

Finding hope is the only way to cope, and I think that’s a true reflection of the work I’ve done on myself. But I don’t really think about how to find that balance when I’m writing; I think it’s just how my brain processes. At the time of writing this project, I felt hopeful, and this next project will likely be more heartbroken. It’s always a reflection of my emotional state. But looking on the positive side of things will always be something I have to remind myself to do, because my overthinking, perfectionist brain tends to do the opposite.

You grew up in a musical household listening to artists like Bread and FleetwoodMac. What impact did those early influences have on your sound?

I have a real obsession with songwriting that can stand on its own and translate clearly with just an acoustic guitar and voice. Bread and Fleetwood Mac always achieve that. The production enhances the song, the production isn’t the song. I’d be just as content hearing their discography with only vocals and acoustic guitar. I really hope to be an artist like that.

Looking back, when did music first become something you knew you wanted topursue seriously?

I took guitar, piano, and vocal lessons my whole life, and always loved to write. English was my favourite subject. I didn’t bring all of those passions together until I moved to New York for college, where I began by studying music, psychology, and writing. After two years, I realised I needed to pursue music, and transferred into the music school to study Recorded Music.

You’re currently touring with Holly Humberstone. What has that experience beenlike, and what have you learned from performing these songs live?

These songs have been mine for so long, it’s really nice for them to be someone else’s. Getting to talk to people after the shows and hear what lyrics or stories they connected with has given me a new purpose.

Holly is a real professional. She handles everything with such grace, humanity, and care. You can tell she is a sister. She’s always looking out for the girls around her. I can’t believe my leg of the tour is over already. It feels like the end of summer camp.

How does your relationship with a song change once it leaves the studio andbecomes something shared with an audience?

I’ve come to accept that being a sensitive, emotional person has always and will always be a part of me. And I’ve spent a lot of years building my toolkit. Songwriting for me is one of those tools, and it allows me to process my life experiences and emotions. I like to think of my songs as a time capsule, a full and honest expression of what I was feeling at the time, tied up with a bow, ready to be given to someone else. I am a chronic overthinker, so it’s actually a hugely important part of the process for me to kind of “give away” these songs. It allows me to tap into the fandoms I was a part of growing up, and remember that feeling. I feel lucky to know what it feels like on the other side, and it informs my music and performance a lot.

What do you hope listeners take away from Sunny Surrender after hearing it forthe first time?

Sometimes the most therapeutic music is the stuff that makes you want to dance, but also makes you think. I hope this EP makes you do both of those things.

If this EP captures one chapter of your life, what do you think the next chaptermight sound like?

Heartbroken. And not avoiding the feelings. Processing it every step of the way, and hopefully finding humour and lightness within it. Maybe a little sassiness, too.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography NINA LJETI