Wynter Gordon

Diana Gordon, formerly known by the stage name Wynter Gordon, is an American singer and songwriter. She initially established her career writing songs for other recording artists before signing with Atlantic Records to record her own material. She is best known for her 2011 debut studio album With the Music I Die, as well as her songwriting and vocal contributions to major tracks by artists such as Beyoncé, Flo Rida, and Steve Lacy.

Gordon was born on August 25, 1985, in Queens, New York City, and was raised in South Jamaica as the middle child among six siblings. She began singing at a young age, performing in church alongside her brothers and sisters. During high school, she decided to pursue a music career and was accepted to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. While working as an intern at a record company, she wrote her first complete song, titled Daddy's Song, at the age of 15, later describing songwriting as an escape from poverty.

Beginning in 2004, Gordon worked closely with producer D'Mile. A track they wrote together, Gonna Breakthrough, became the title song for Mary J. Blige's 2005 album The Breakthrough. Soon after, Gordon signed with Atlantic Records through Don Pooh Music Group. In 2008, she wrote songs for Danity Kane's second album, Welcome to the Dollhouse. She subsequently co-wrote and was featured on Flo Rida's 2009 hit single Sugar, which reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, and co-wrote and performed on David Guetta's song Toyfriend. She also wrote four songs for Jennifer Lopez's 2011 album Love?.

On June 17, 2011, Gordon released her debut album, With the Music I Die. Its lead single, Dirty Talk, topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia, receiving triple platinum certification in Australia and platinum in the United Kingdom. Her follow-up single Til Death reached number three on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. To maintain creative independence, she self-released her Human Condition extended plays, Doleo in 2012 and Sanguine in 2013. In 2014, she formed the quintet The Righteous Young as an extension of her musical work, releasing the single Everything Burns. She followed this with her solo EP Five Needle in June 2015.

In 2016, Gordon co-wrote and produced several tracks on Beyoncé's album Lemonade, including Don't Hurt Yourself, Sorry, and Daddy Lessons. That July, she announced she was retiring her stage name to release music under her birth name, Diana Gordon. She released her single The Legend Of in July 2016, followed by the EPs Pure in 2018 and Wasted Youth in 2020. Her additional credits include co-writing and backing vocals on Electricity by Silk City and Dua Lipa and Bad Habit by Steve Lacy, as well as vocal contributions to Lil Yachty's 2023 album Let's Start Here.