Madi Diaz will release her latest album, Fatal Optimist, on October 10 via Anti. The record follows the 2024 Grammy nominated Weird Faith and finds her refining her stark confessional songcraft. “Fatal Optimism is the innate hope for something magical,” she explains. “It’s the weird faith that kicks in while knowing that there is just plain risk that comes with wanting someone or something. It’s when you have no control over the outcome, but still choose to experience every moment that happens, and put your whole heart in it.”
Recorded with co-producer Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy, Zach Bryan), the album mirrors the loneliness that Diaz experienced when she went through a hard breakup and relocated to a remote island. As she worked through the ensuing emotional devastation and restoration, the beginning flickers of Fatal Optimist began to appear to her.
In the wake of resonant lead single “Feel Something“, Diaz now offers “Ambivalence”, a stark showcase for her weary voice and its ability to hold you completely still. Over the slide and strum of her acoustic guitar, Diaz tears through feelings of uncertainty and doubt, desperate for answers but never giving in to easy comfort. She hopes, and in that hope, she finds a resolute conviction. She’s moving forward, step by step through the hurt and the gloom of a broken heart and never loses sight of what may yet reveal itself, of what wonderful things she truly deserves.
Listen to the song below and check out some upcoming tour dates.
Tour dates:
Fri. Sept. 12 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall *
Fri. Sept. 26 – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater (The September Shows)
Sat. Sept. 27 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (The September Shows)
Sat. Oct. 11 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East @
Mon. Oct. 13 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern Cafe & Music Hall #
Tue. Oct. 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry at The Fillmore Philadelphia #
Thu. Oct. 16 – Washington, D.C. @ Union Stage #
Fri. Oct. 17 – Lancaster, PA @ West Art #
Sat. Oct. 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #
Mon. Oct. 20 – Somerville, MA @ Arts at the Armory #
Tue. Oct. 21 – Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall #
Thu. Oct. 23 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark #
Sat. Oct. 25 – Evanston, IL @ SPACE #
Sun. Oct. 26 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre #
Mon. Oct. 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry #
Thu. Nov. 13 – Seattle, WA @ Fremont Abbey Arts Center ^
Fri. Nov. 14 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios ^
Sat. Nov. 15 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret ^
Tue. Nov. 18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent ^
Thu. Nov. 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Highland Park Ebell ^ +
Fri. Nov. 21 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s ^
* supporting Caamp
@ with Benjamin Francis Leftwich
# with Clover County
^ with Morgan Nagler
+ with Olivia Kaplan
Fatal Optimist is due out October 10 on Anti. You can pre-order the album here. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
