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She Went Silent for 8 Years…Then John Legend Turned Around 👀🎤
Sometimes the biggest glow-ups happen in silence.
On Episode 41 of Sculpt N Create, we sit down with singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and The Voice alum Dia Malai to talk independent artistry, personal growth, and rebuilding while nobody’s watching.
From Queens, NY to Raleigh, NC, Dia opens up about her evolution as an artist, the story behind The Loop, surviving the lonely independent grind, losing a parent, finding purpose again, and learning to treat herself not just as an artist — but as the brand and business.
We dive into:
• Her 8-year project hiatus
• Working with John Legend on The Voice
• Independent music marketing
• Why friends & family may not be your audience
• Accountability, visibility, and networking
• Building a creative ecosystem for artists
• Turning pain, love, and growth into purpose
Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, creative, or someone rebuilding behind the scenes — this episode is packed with gems.
💎 Key Takeaways
✅ Independent artistry requires treating yourself like the artist and the business.
✅ Your environment may not be your target audience.
✅ Consistency and accountability matter more than motivation.
✅ The “silent years” can be where the real transformation happens.
✅ Pain, love, growth, and loss can all become creative fuel.
🔥 Bars From The Episode
🎤 “You are signing yourself up to be the product.”
🎤 “The people around you may not be your audience.”
🎤 “You can’t wait for people to discover you — you have to go find your listeners.”
🎤 “Three people should know your name every time you leave your house.”
🎤 “You have to become the resource you wish existed.”
🕰️Episode Chapters
00:00 – Your Friends Aren’t Your Audience
00:34 – You Can’t Hate People & Want Fame
00:47 – The Silent Glow-Up Nobody Saw Coming
02:35 – Meet Dia Malai
04:47 – Leaving New York Changed Everything
09:17 – What “Pop Soul” Really Means
15:22 – The Dark Meaning Behind The Loop
18:47 – Life After Toxic Cycles
21:02 – The 8-Year Silence Explained
22:47 – Losing a Parent Changed Her Perspective
25:32 – The Lonely Truth About Independent Artists
28:47 – Why Most Artists Stay Invisible
32:17 – Treat Yourself Like the Brand
36:02 – Stop Marketing Only to Friends & Family
39:02 – Building Her Own Creative Ecosystem
42:57 – The Truth About Auditioning for The Voice
46:47 – Working With John Legend
50:47 – How The Voice Became Her Resume
53:47 – From Poetry to Finding Her Voice
58:17 – The Artists Who Shaped Her Sound
1:01:32 – What’s Next for Dia Malai
🔗 Connect w/ Dia Malai
👉🏾https://www.facebook.com/diamalai
Instagram👉🏾https://www.instagram.com/diamalai
TikTok 👉🏾https://www.tiktok.com/@dazewithdilai
🔗 Connect w/ Trea Da Fit Artist
Fit Masterpiece Score
👉🏾 https://rebrand.ly/fmpscore
Nutrition & Fitness Coaching
👉🏾https://pocketsuite.io/book/nextworldfitness/item/masterpiece-sculpting-call
Fit Masterpiece Collabs (2-Week Experience)
👉🏾 https://pocketsuite.io/book/nextworldfitness/item/fit-masterpiece-collabs--2week-network-experience
More Episodes
👉🏾 https://gopod.io/p/ggpeaX
Be a Guest
👉🏾 https://pocketsuite.io/form/dxO
🎧 Follow, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway.
View all episodes
By Trea Da Fit ArtistSometimes the biggest glow-ups happen in silence.
On Episode 41 of Sculpt N Create, we sit down with singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and The Voice alum Dia Malai to talk independent artistry, personal growth, and rebuilding while nobody’s watching.
From Queens, NY to Raleigh, NC, Dia opens up about her evolution as an artist, the story behind The Loop, surviving the lonely independent grind, losing a parent, finding purpose again, and learning to treat herself not just as an artist — but as the brand and business.
We dive into:
• Her 8-year project hiatus
• Working with John Legend on The Voice
• Independent music marketing
• Why friends & family may not be your audience
• Accountability, visibility, and networking
• Building a creative ecosystem for artists
• Turning pain, love, and growth into purpose
Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, creative, or someone rebuilding behind the scenes — this episode is packed with gems.
💎 Key Takeaways
✅ Independent artistry requires treating yourself like the artist and the business.
✅ Your environment may not be your target audience.
✅ Consistency and accountability matter more than motivation.
✅ The “silent years” can be where the real transformation happens.
✅ Pain, love, growth, and loss can all become creative fuel.
🔥 Bars From The Episode
🎤 “You are signing yourself up to be the product.”
🎤 “The people around you may not be your audience.”
🎤 “You can’t wait for people to discover you — you have to go find your listeners.”
🎤 “Three people should know your name every time you leave your house.”
🎤 “You have to become the resource you wish existed.”
🕰️Episode Chapters
00:00 – Your Friends Aren’t Your Audience
00:34 – You Can’t Hate People & Want Fame
00:47 – The Silent Glow-Up Nobody Saw Coming
02:35 – Meet Dia Malai
04:47 – Leaving New York Changed Everything
09:17 – What “Pop Soul” Really Means
15:22 – The Dark Meaning Behind The Loop
18:47 – Life After Toxic Cycles
21:02 – The 8-Year Silence Explained
22:47 – Losing a Parent Changed Her Perspective
25:32 – The Lonely Truth About Independent Artists
28:47 – Why Most Artists Stay Invisible
32:17 – Treat Yourself Like the Brand
36:02 – Stop Marketing Only to Friends & Family
39:02 – Building Her Own Creative Ecosystem
42:57 – The Truth About Auditioning for The Voice
46:47 – Working With John Legend
50:47 – How The Voice Became Her Resume
53:47 – From Poetry to Finding Her Voice
58:17 – The Artists Who Shaped Her Sound
1:01:32 – What’s Next for Dia Malai
🔗 Connect w/ Dia Malai
👉🏾https://www.facebook.com/diamalai
Instagram👉🏾https://www.instagram.com/diamalai
TikTok 👉🏾https://www.tiktok.com/@dazewithdilai
🔗 Connect w/ Trea Da Fit Artist
Fit Masterpiece Score
👉🏾 https://rebrand.ly/fmpscore
Nutrition & Fitness Coaching
👉🏾https://pocketsuite.io/book/nextworldfitness/item/masterpiece-sculpting-call
Fit Masterpiece Collabs (2-Week Experience)
👉🏾 https://pocketsuite.io/book/nextworldfitness/item/fit-masterpiece-collabs--2week-network-experience
More Episodes
👉🏾 https://gopod.io/p/ggpeaX
Be a Guest
👉🏾 https://pocketsuite.io/form/dxO
🎧 Follow, subscribe, and share your biggest takeaway.