Nashville singer-songwriter Madi Diaz has released Enema of the Garden State, a full-album cover of Blink-182's Enema of the State, to benefit the Defending Our Neighbors Fund. The project, available exclusively on Bandcamp via Anti-, started as a nostalgic exercise but evolved into a political statement amid concerns over mass deportations. All proceeds from the album will support immigrant families and provide access to legal resources.
Album Details
Enema of the Garden State reimagines Blink-182's 1999 pop-punk classic with acoustic, punky arrangements. Diaz recorded the covers spontaneously, relying on memory and nostalgia without overthinking the process. Tracks like “Don’t Leave Me” and “Anthem” are highlighted for listening, with the full album available for purchase on Bandcamp.
Background and Inspiration
Diaz, who recently released her album Fatal Optimist last month, describes the project as initially "a fun light exercise fueled by an eternal love and fandom" for Blink-182. However, the release gained deeper purpose following the Trump administration's mass-deportation program. She notes the irony of the original album's title, Enema of the State, in the current political climate.
"I started thinking about how incredible the name Enema of the State is for a record," Diaz says in press materials. "How the title is somehow so current and politically, culturally, socially, insanely ironic. And we thought maybe we could use this version of Enema of the (Garden) State to raise awareness and money for people in need of defense and aid in their right to live and work and breathe and be and stay on American soil."
Charity Impact
Every penny generated from the album goes directly to the Defending Our Neighbors Fund, which provides advocates and resources for immigrants, including families, adults, and children. Diaz emphasizes the shift from teenage rebellion to real-world advocacy: "For me, it’s become so much more than just a nostalgia for teenage rebellion against mom and dad. Fuck ICE. Enema of the State Forever." The release underscores music's role in social issues, blending punk heritage with contemporary activism.