ARTISTIC PERSONA

​

John Black Wolf, is a Portuguese composer and musician who uniquely blends elements of Western, folk, rock, and classical music. His songs are associated with themes such as love, loss, regret, redemption, and social justice.

His art is rooted in his ability to tell stories through his lyrics, using metaphors and poetic imagery to convey deep emotions. He often incorporates social and political themes into his music, reflecting on social injustice, poverty, imprisonment, and death.

With a distinctive, deep, and resonant voice that complements his music and his image as a rock outlaw, John Black Wolf often dresses in black, earning him the nickname "Black Wolf." This is a symbol of solidarity with the oppressed and needy.

In addition to music, John Black Wolf is also involved in other artistic projects, such as acting in films and musical theater productions. It is in musical theater where he draws upon the classical and epic vein of his themes.

In summary, the art of John Black Wolf is based on his ability to tell stories and evoke emotions through music and the image of his alter-ego, in a unique blend of Anglo-Saxon roots. His distinctive voice and his ability to incorporate social and political themes into his lyrics are constant concerns in his artistic endeavor.

​

LONG BIO

​

After a few garage bands, Diogo Lima began his professional music career with an internationally released album in 2003 as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band "Nordica". In 2004, he went to Germany, where he recorded his first solo album with the renowned producer Tommy Newton (two gold albums worldwide), writing all the songs in both Portuguese and English versions. Upon arriving in Portugal in 2006, he formed "Dust" and signed a contract with a Portuguese record label that released the English-language work domestically. That same year, he received two honorable mentions from the prestigious American entity "Song of the Year" for the song "I Run Tonight". Also in 2006, he topped the radio charts as the best of the week on Rádio Atlantis (Azores) with the track "My Heart and Soul". Among other concerts, the following stand out: "Hard Club" with "Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) & Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)" and a live acoustic performance on Rádio Antena 1 (Azores), and again at the Hard Club as the supporting band for Mr. Big.

Since 2009, Diogo Lima has also been an actor, primarily in musicals, and has participated in several national productions: "A Christmas Tale", "Rock You Now", "Puss in Boots", "Tarzan", "The Chronicle of the Good Tricksters", "Fame", "The Little Mermaid", "The Little Prince", among others. He has also appeared in short films, such as playing the antagonist in "Insomnia" and in the feature film "Uma Vida Sublime". He has had small roles in some Portuguese soap operas, namely "Mundo ao Contrário" (TVI), "I Love It" (TVI), and more recently in the SIC production "Coração D'Ouro".

In 2017, Diogo Lima released a folk-pop EP with Portuguese lyrics and competed on RTP1's talent show "The Voice" (Portugal). In 2019, he released the debut album of John Black Wolf, probably his most solid and honest work to date, with all the songs produced and written by him. The album was mostly mixed and mastered by Diogo, and he played almost all the instruments on the 12-track album.

With a sound within rock, folk, and Americana, John Black Wolf blends various musical elements. In his sound, one can discover layers of Tarantino's imagination, a soundtrack for a fantasy film, a piece of a classic musical, lyrics that take us to places, sensations, and stories of our imagination, while not neglecting social and political critique. With songs full of catchy choruses and carefully crafted arrangements, his musical style does not overlook the birth of rock'n'roll nor the experimentation of new musical approaches.

Aimed only at large stages and self-productions, they sold out the CCOP (Porto) in 2019 and, in 2021, during the pandemic, filled room 1 of the Hard Club. With an energy and synergy with the audience that is above normal, John Black Wolf's shows are unique.

John Black Wolf & The Bandits have three albums released so far. They were nominated by the IPMA (International Portuguese Music Awards) for Best Rock Song of 2021 with the track "Hey God I Am Feeling Better" and for Best Music Video of 2021 with "Father, Son and The Holy Spirit".

In 2023, they released their third album of original songs. In 2024, with The Bandits, they did a 10-date tour in Spain and recently released two singles, "Shadows & Dust" with The Bandits and "Sweeping All My Blues Away" as a solo artist, featuring Helena Mendes on vocals.

In 2024, he starred in a film set to be released in 2025, where his character is a famous singer, and his original songs as John Black Wolf are part of the soundtrack.

 

​