Interdisciplinary Artist
Aminata Jordan Diop (aka puma) is an interdisciplinary creative, whose artistic mediums have ranged from singing/songwriting, musical theater, dancing, directing, community building and experimental video making. They received a B.A. in World Arts + Cultures as well as African American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, puma has been immersed in music and the arts since age 4. She found her love for music through theatre and car rides on the way to school, listening to iconic neo-soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop musicians that deeply inspired her. Many of their songs start off as poems that get interworked with textural sonic landscapes that get composed vocally or in collaboration with other instrumentalists. Many themes in their work surround topics of identity, introspection, growing pains, healing, love and social justice. They are a firm believer in radical imagination and believe that art has the power to bring people together, educate, and transform the mind. body, and spirit. Aminata is currently the lead singer in an 8-piece alternative jazz band called WST CMPLX and was formerly a singer of the neo-soul duo JORDAN.