Karen Dió

Nothing is permanent. Karen Dió knows that better than most. “I have to be so unattached to friends, things, and objects,” she says, a mindset forged through constant moves growing up and carried with her into music. That transient energy runs through everything she does, and it’s only intensified since ‘Sick Ride’ exploded online. Now she’s back with Fugaz, a sophomore EP that cuts deeper than anything she’s released before. Across its songs, Dió explores the passage of time, personal freedom and eternal youth with a perspective shaped by experience rather than nostalgia. The buzz surrounding her is impossible to ignore. Sum 41, Incubus, KennyHoopla and Fred Durst have all taken notice. It’s an eclectic list, but fitting for an artist who refuses to sit comfortably within any one scene. Backed by Hopeless Records, Dió is also determined to shine a light on Brazil’s punk rock community on a global scale. For her, representing her Latin roots isn’t a talking point, it’s a responsibility. “If I can open that door for Latin American artists, then I’ve accomplished my goal,” she says.