Madi Diaz covers Blink-182’s ‘Enema of the State’ for immigration aid

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Singer Madi Diaz recently released her album, “Fatal Optimist,” and now she’s sharing an older project with a special meaning. It’s not new music, but it’s being released for an important reason.

In a surprising announcement on Monday, the 39-year-old Grammy nominee revealed she’s recorded an entire album – a cover of Blink-182’s classic 1999 album, “Enema of the State.” Her version, called “Enema of the Garden State,” will benefit the Defending Our Neighbors Fund, providing legal help to immigrants.

Diaz shared on Instagram that these recordings began as a playful project inspired by their passion for the band Blink-182 and their album ‘Enema Of The State.’

So, she told me the story behind the album’s title – it turns out it was recorded in a studio in New Jersey! That’s why she playfully added ‘Garden State’ – she was working on it right alongside her other album, ‘Fatal Optimist,’ at the time.

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The singer-songwriter, based in Nashville, talks about the raw, emotional breakup songs on her latest album, ‘Fatal Optimist.’

She decided to play some old songs and see if she could remember the lyrics, letting nostalgia guide her. She wanted a raw, acoustic performance – no practice, no overthinking, just playing straight through them. It was a lot of fun, and she hadn’t planned on sharing the recordings until recently.

“Enema of the State” is quite different from what fans typically expect from this singer-songwriter. According to Mikael Wood, a pop music critic for The Times, Diaz’s newest album features simple, heartfelt songs about love and moving on, accompanied mainly by her voice and acoustic guitar.

In a 1999 interview with The Times, Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus – the band’s singer and bassist – offered a very different take on their album “Enema of the State.”

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The band’s new album and personal lives reveal a growing maturity, though they still happily embrace a playful, youthful spirit.

According to Hoppus, this song covers similar themes as their previous work: heartbreak caused by girls and the freedom of self-pleasure.

Even though their musical styles were very different, Diaz and her producer agreed that the album title “Enema of the State” was brilliant. They started thinking about how surprisingly relevant the name felt given the political situation in the U.S. at the time.

Diaz expressed concern about the current situation in America, particularly the distress caused by ICE raids and unfair accusations against both American citizens and undocumented immigrants. They suggested using a performance – referred to as ‘enema of the (garden) state’ – to raise awareness and funds for legal support and aid for those fighting to remain and work in the United States.

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Even after a difficult lineup change in 2015, this band continues to be a rock music favorite. Their latest album explores contemporary sounds and addresses the serious issue of mass shootings.

As a huge movie fan, I was really struck by what Jenna Diaz said. She talked about how the US is built by people from all over the world – her own family’s story, with roots in Peru and Denmark, being a perfect example. It really resonated with me how she emphasized that we shouldn’t judge anyone for simply being born in a different place.

She also discussed the Defending Our Neighbors Fund and shared her thoughts on the government’s recent actions regarding immigrants.

Diaz announced that all proceeds from their new project on Bandcamp will be donated to @defendingourneighborsfund, an organization supporting immigrant families and providing them with legal resources and assistance. Diaz emphasized this cause is deeply important to them, going beyond personal feelings, and expressed strong opposition to ICE with a defiant message.

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2025-11-13 03:02