Grammy-nominated songwriter Madi Diaz has released her seventh studio album, ‘Fatal Optimist’, a project that strips away production layers to reveal the rawest emotional core of her career. Out now via ANTI- Records, the album was recorded with co-producer Gabe Wax at his Infinite Family Studio and marks the final chapter in a trilogy of heartache that began with 2021’s breakthrough ‘History of a Feeling’. Following the end of a long-term relationship, Diaz retreated to an island for a period of deep introspection, emerging with a collection of songs that find her alone in a room with her acoustic guitar. This minimalist approach allows her brutal lyrical observations and finely crafted melodies to take center stage, creating a hauntingly intimate listening experience that explores the risk and “weird faith” required to keep a heart open.
The album’s release was preceded by the quietly anthemic single “Ambivalence,” which dissects the unsettling feeling of being caught in romantic indecision. It follows the lead track “Feel Something,” an urgent acoustic number exploring the desperate need for connection. Since the record’s debut, Diaz has taken these songs on the road, including a major North American fall tour and high-profile festival appearances. Looking ahead, she is set to bring the ‘Fatal Optimist’ tour to the UK and Europe in early 2026, starting with dates in London, Paris, and Berlin. By leaning into the starkness of her own isolation, Diaz has created a body of work that celebrates inner wholeness and the resilience found in being a “fatal optimist.”
Madi Diaz 2026 European Tour Dates:
- Jan 19 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake Underground
- Feb 4 – Edinburgh, UK @ Cabaret Voltaire
- Feb 5 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
- Feb 7 – Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade
- Feb 9 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange
- Feb 10 – Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
- Feb 11 – London, UK @ Oslo Hackney
- Feb 14 – Paris, FR @ Les Etoiles
- Feb 18 – Berlin, DE @ Mikropol
- Feb 19 – Cologne, DE @ Blue Shell