Diamond Dust
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2017 | SELF
Music
Press
"Diamond Dust is a band that can't be categorized. Songs from its self-titled debut album weave in and out of folk ("Down the Coast") and pure rock ‘n' roll ("Push It"). "Summertime," the band's first single, starts with quaint talk.
"Get Along" is another foot-tapping song. St-Onge's voice gets progressively stronger, complemented by the crescendo of country guitar.
Tracks "Rock and Roll" and "Bring Me Down" are reminiscent of classic rock. Their grooving bass and catchy riffs show off the band's vigor.
- Nicole La Hoz, U. of Florida's "The Independent Florida Alligator" (Jan 19, 2012) - U. of Florida's "The Independent Florida Alligator" (Jan 19, 2012)
"Very cool music..very cool people. Definitely a "don't miss" show. Played with them in Jacksonville. Don't miss them! Make sure you buy their C.D. as well...worth every penny."
- Josh Salestrom, Pilotwave (Dec 09, 2011) - Pilotwave (Dec 09, 2011)
Chemistry, musical diversity combine for compelling Diamond Dust debut
With the great combination of vocals and guitar, St-Onge and Hare seem to have found the perfect match that is already getting noticed, as the band performed at the SXSW Festival recently held in Austin. The diversity in the music, from country to folk to rock, makes the band stand out even more than St-Onge's killer voice already does.
....by Jayme Wheeler, Entertainment Editor, The Plainsman Press Monday, April 16, 2012, - The Plainsman Press Monday, April 16, 2012,
"This has been one of the most fulfilling interviews as of late. I have been heavily down on how the music world is going to sh*t whenever I turn on the radio.
Jo and Riffer REALLY reminded me how dumb that was. Two people intertwined in a world of an ever-changing sound but the beat—-the purpose, has remained the same.
I really feel something special for Diamond Dust. I feel something for the same love of real music that the performers of Woodstock ‘69 and that romantic era share with this group.
This band took the sound back to a place where all music— rock, soul, country, hip hop started… The need for love. I encourage everyone regardless of music taste, creed, color, preference to feel that love again. Peace, Love, and Rock & Roll…-Bi."
- Bianca Brooks, The Bittersweet Beat (Aug 02, 2011) - The Bittersweet Beat (Aug 02, 2011)
Jo St-Onge and Craig "Riffer" Hare, a.k.a. Diamond Dust, remind one of peak period Led Zeppelin in their ability to dish out both blistering, full-bore rock, and lively, foot-stomping folk. More importantly, the songs are strong enough to keep fans of either style of music consistently - and highly - engaged. A very impressive debut.....CBC Radio Canada - CBC Radio
"Very good quality stuff here! Excellent production! there is true talent here that deserves to get noticed (...) I wanna check these guys out live!"
First review of Debut Album - Diamond Dust - DJ Noah Live 88.5 Ottawa
Jo St-Onge and Craig "Riffer" Hare, a.k.a. Diamond Dust, remind one of peak period Led Zeppelin in their ability to dish out both blistering, full-bore rock, and lively, foot-stomping folk. More importantly, the songs are strong enough to keep fans of either style of music consistently - and highly - engaged. A very impressive debut. - CBC Radio
Discography
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/01 - Summertime.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/02 - Down the Coast.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/03 - Push It.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/04 - Southwest.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/05 - Clair de Lune.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/06 - Get Along.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/07 - Rock and Roll.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/08 - Better to Find Out.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/09 - Trying to Bring me Down.mp3
[2011] Diamond Dust - Diamond Dust/10 - Dream with Me.mp3
Photos
Bio
If classic rock had a love child with a singer-songwriter, you would expect the result to be strange, disturbing even. Somehow, when you listen to Diamond Dusts debut album, the lines get blurred and what seem to be two completely opposite genres collide and melt into something that is actually quite extraordinary.
Opposites do attract and this is exactly how this story is told; A sweet-voiced singer-songwriter simply named Jo, meets a free-spirited rock n roll guitar player, nick-named, Riffer and through the push and pull action they come up with something very magical. The difference in musical opinions has finally settled somewhere near the middle to create Diamond Dust, the bands first self-titled album.
So Diamond Dust isnt your typical rock band, nor is it a cookie cutter country, folk or even pop band. The dilemma led the band to consider its very existence from inception. Where can you go if you dont really fit in anywhere completely, but sorta fit everywhere at the same time? One producer calls it Led Zeppelin meets Sarah McLachlan, others compare them to Edie Brickell, Sheryl Crow or even Jewel but with some humf. So the solution? Go everywhere, because you sorta fit in there!
At first glance, Diamond Dust might appear and feel a little retro. Their absolute love for the 60s and 70s music is blatantly apparent, and in their opinion, they dont make music like that anymore and its a crying shame. So in the spirit of "real music", all throughout the process of recording their debut album, they used only actual physical instruments with vintage gear to record them. They also categorically refused to have any sort of loops or modern trickery done to their songs. They even went as far as renting a vintage tape machine and buying the required tape rolls to run the entire record through tape to give it an added warmth and vintage feel.
Diamond Dust's self-titled debut album has made a triumphant entry on the underground music scene being called "A very impressive debut" that "reminds on of peak period Led Zeppelin". The Independent Florida Alligator calls it "reminiscent of classic rock (...) with grooving bass and catchy riffs". New Slang calls it "gritty rock that seems to ooze out the very soul of that famously defining era of revolution, love and peace". The Plainsman Press writes to be: "stunned by this unique voice" and that "With the great combination of vocals and guitar (Diamond Dust) seem to have found the perfect match".
Diamond Dust is currently touring extensively across North America and began recording a second album in the Summer of 2012, with plans to release it in 2013.
Band Members
Links
