Meet Diego Taormina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diego Taormina. 

Hi Diego, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in San Jose California, I always loved music but never thought I could be one of the Disc Jockeys that I grew up listening to. I was a shy kid who was unpopular, overweight and walked with a limp due to having cerebral palsy. So, I decided to study law and pursue a career as a defense attorney. Needless to say, I lost the drive for that career path my junior year of high school when I moved to Tennessee and did the jilted teen thing, and rebelled in school and in life. After graduation, I jumped from dead-end job to dead-end job until at the age of 24 when I decided to go back to school for broadcasting and just see where it led me. I scored my first internship at the rock station in Nashville and haven’t really looked back since. 

I had a successful run in FM for about 8 years until I burned out from all the free drinks, late nights, and long travel that comes with festivals and such, so one day I just walked away from the whole idea of radio. 

For years I didn’t listen to the radio in car rides, in the gym, I didn’t go to live shows or anything. Not complete silence, but pretty close. 

Then one day I seen an ad for a DJ needed for a digital radio station (internet radio), so I applied. I got the position then quickly realized how much I’d missed it. 

After staying with that station for about a year, I departed with the realization that I could start my own station. One that plays all the music we know and love plus brand new music/artist that needed to be heard. Thus, the birth of The Asylum Radio Network! 

While putting together what I think is the best crew in radio, over the last six months we have been able to spotlight many new artist from all over the world giving them the airplay they deserve along with interviews and even some live shows around different cities and states. Although we are a worldwide station, we always find ourselves back home here in Nashville getting more love from listeners and fans than we could have ever imagined. We are humbled and honored to be tagged as Nashville’s Rock station by our crazy fan base. 

As of July 1st, The Asylum Radio Network is now officially syndicated on FM radio with the Sunday night show called The Asylum Breakouts. 

To say that this was all I’ve ever dreamed it would be is an understatement. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been as smooth as Interstate 40! It’s definitely been a long, bumpy road over the last 14 years in this industry. When you’re young and everything is free, you find yourself never turning away a drink, or shot, in my case. I’ve had to deal with egos, mainly my own, along with roadblocks and just day-to-day life in general. 

There are new challenges at every turn that give you every reason to tell yourself to just go home and quit and don’t come back. 

New technology and social media was really a pain in the ass before it was the essential tool, we know it as today. At one time, this was a real dog eat dog industry as everyone was trying to be heard and seen. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
On top of co/owning The Asylum Radio Network with Novella Stephens, I’m also the Program director of the station. I’m a DJ as well, with a show M-F 4-6 pm and a Saturday countdown show. I’m the kid that never grew out of the Grunge era until I got into the NuMetal era where I just kinda stayed ever since. Which is where the nickname Numetal Messiah comes into play. 

I was hosting a show in Virginia one night and one of the bands shouted me out as “OUR NUMETAL MESSIAH DIEGO” and it stuck, so that’s what I’m known for. 

I’m most proud of what we have built as a team at this station. It’s only six months old yet, it feels like it’s been around forever. 

The thing that sets me apart, I think, is just being me. You don’t have to try hard when you’re being yourself. I’m just a simple dude with my Dickies, flannels, flat bill San Fransisco hats, and lots of tattoos. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I know this will sound corny and perhaps cliche, but I truly believe you make your own luck, good or bad. So, I think it has played a big role in my life and business. Being in the right place at the right time. Introducing yourself to the right people. Being the right city, it’s all about the luck of timing in your life at that particular time frame. 

Everything happens for a reason. 

Contact Info:

• Email: diego@ttheasylumradionetwork.com
• Website: www.theasylumradionetwork.com
• Instagram: diego_numetalmessiah
• Facebook: diegotaormina