>RIDING
THE WAVE
OF HERE
AND NOW
DIEMONDS
PRIY
A
PANDA
words by OLA
MAZZUCA
photographer MARK SZKUDLAREK
location SNEAKY DEES RESTAURANT & CONCERT VENUE
hair and make up artist NATALIE VENTOLA
using M.A.C Cosmetics/TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray for TRESemmé Hair Care/Plutino Group
Priya Panda likes her food hot. At Sneaky Dee’s, a
Toronto institution for live music and Mexican fare,
the lead vocalist of Diemonds orders two vegetarian
tacos with rice, beans and salad. She asks for them
“extra spicy,” so the waitress brings a bottle of their
signature Habanero sauce.
Diemonds, a Toronto-based hard rock band, is supplying real “party rock” with heavy riffs and sixers of
Pabst Blue Ribbon. Last year, the band played nearly
100 shows, but Panda yearns for more. As she digs
into crunchy shells of cheese, avocado and tomato,
she explains that her current appetite transcends
what she eats for lunch.
“One of the things I’ve always wanted to commit my
life to, other than music, is travel,” the vocalist says.
“I’m that much more hungry to write more songs,
play better live and stay in better shape for the longer
tours.”