Diamond Rings (musician)
Encyclopedia
John O'Regan is a Canadian artist and musician best known by his stage name Diamond Rings. In addition to writing, recording, and producing his own music, he is also noted for transcending traditional representations of gender and identity in his live performances and videos.
quartet The D'Urbervilles
, where he was known as John O alongside Tim Bruton, Kyle Donnelly and Greg Santilly. He also formed the Casio-pop duo Habitat in 2006 with his partner at the time, Sylvie Smith of The Barmitzvah Brothers
.
O'Regan began writing Diamond Rings songs in the summer of 2008 after graduating with a degree in Studio Arts from the University of Guelph
. The inception of the new moniker and his earliest songs were written during a lengthy hospital stay while being diagnosed and treated for Crohn's disease
.
were featured on the opposite side of the single. A music video for "All Yr Songs" was featured by CBC Radio 3
, Exclaim!
, and Pitchfork Media
. The music video attracted controversy in December 2009 when it was removed from YouTube at the behest of Sony/BMG on grounds of copyright infringement. Apparently this was due to confusion between O'Regan's stage name and the song "Diamond Rings" by UK based rapper and Sony UK artist Chipmunk
. When word of the slip up caught on throughout the blogosphere Sony/BMG withdrew its claim and issued O'Regan and Medley a formal apology.
In March 2010, Diamond Rings released a new 7" single with German label Tomlab
entitled "Wait & See", which features backing vocals from Toronto musician Gentleman Reg
. The B-side features a cover of Sebadoh
's "On Fire". The video for "Wait & See" was premiered on Pitchfork Media
in February 2010. His next single was a 12" Chicago House inspired dance track titled "Show Me Your Stuff", which was released in June 2010 on Fucked Up
guitarist Mike Haliechuk's One Big Silence imprint. The corresponding video also featured a cameo from Fucked Up
vocalist Damian Abraham and has drawn comparisons to disparate artists such as Klaus Nomi
, Nirvana
, and Britney Spears
, was released in North America on October 25, 2010 by Montreal's Secret City Records
. Thus far it has attracted positive reviews from Pitchfork
, Exclaim!
, and AllMusic and he has been called "a genius" in several reviews. Lead single "Something Else" was released a month prior and features a cover of the Milla Jovovich
song "The Gentleman Who Fell", with string arrangements by Canadian musician and Polaris Prize winner Owen Pallett
. Following the album release Diamond Rings opened for Swedish pop star Robyn
for the duration of her North American Body Talk
tour in the winter of 2011. He also toured with PS I Love You
in support of "Leftovers", a single that was cowritten by both O'Regan and the band and released on Toronto based Paper Bag Records
.
In May 2011, Diamond Rings began a six-week remix series entitled, "Remix Rainbow." Remix Rainbow was conceived as a thank-you to a select group of musicians whose recent work gave Diamond Rings a sense of new-found inspiration. Among those featured in the series were Theophilus London
, Junior Boys
, Handsome Furs
. The artwork for each remix represents a different color of the Diamond Rings rainbow.
Diamond Rings has since signed with New York City based Astralwerks Records, who rereleased Special Affections
on June 21, 2011.
2003 - 2008: Early Years
O'Regan got his start in music as one of the founding members of post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
quartet The D'Urbervilles
The D'Urbervilles
Matters are a Canadian indie rock band from Guelph, Ontario. The band consists of Tim Bruton , Kyle Donnelly , John O'Regan and Greg Santilly...
, where he was known as John O alongside Tim Bruton, Kyle Donnelly and Greg Santilly. He also formed the Casio-pop duo Habitat in 2006 with his partner at the time, Sylvie Smith of The Barmitzvah Brothers
The Barmitzvah Brothers
The Barmitzvah Brothers are an indie pop band from Guelph, Ontario. Known for their use of unusual instruments, the group has a distinct sound that has generated buzz in the Canadian music scene. The Barmitzvah Brothers’ upbeat music features everything from the fiddle to homemade instruments...
.
O'Regan began writing Diamond Rings songs in the summer of 2008 after graduating with a degree in Studio Arts from the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
. The inception of the new moniker and his earliest songs were written during a lengthy hospital stay while being diagnosed and treated for Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms...
.
2009 - 2010: Singles
His first release was a limited edition split 7" vinyl single titled "All Yr Songs" that was distributed through his own boutique label Hype Lighter in August 2009. His friends PS I Love YouPS I Love You (band)
PS I Love You is a Canadian indie rock band from Kingston, Ontario. The band is signed to Paper Bag Records, which is a top Canadian independent record label...
were featured on the opposite side of the single. A music video for "All Yr Songs" was featured by CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
, Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
, and Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
. The music video attracted controversy in December 2009 when it was removed from YouTube at the behest of Sony/BMG on grounds of copyright infringement. Apparently this was due to confusion between O'Regan's stage name and the song "Diamond Rings" by UK based rapper and Sony UK artist Chipmunk
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
. When word of the slip up caught on throughout the blogosphere Sony/BMG withdrew its claim and issued O'Regan and Medley a formal apology.
In March 2010, Diamond Rings released a new 7" single with German label Tomlab
Tomlab
Tomlab is a German record label based in Köln. It has released works by bands such as The Books, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Deerhoof, Thee Oh Sees, Les Georges Leningrad, and acts associated with Blocks Recording Club, such as Final Fantasy, Ninja High School, and The Hank...
entitled "Wait & See", which features backing vocals from Toronto musician Gentleman Reg
Gentleman Reg
Reg Vermue is a Canadian indie rock singer from Guelph, Ontario. Born in Trenton, Ontario, he records as Gentleman Reg. His musical style has been compared to Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, The Smiths and Cat Power...
. The B-side features a cover of Sebadoh
Sebadoh
Sebadoh is an American indie rock band, formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts by Eric Gaffney and Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided by Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi music, a style of indie rock characterized by low-fidelity recording...
's "On Fire". The video for "Wait & See" was premiered on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
in February 2010. His next single was a 12" Chicago House inspired dance track titled "Show Me Your Stuff", which was released in June 2010 on Fucked Up
Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
guitarist Mike Haliechuk's One Big Silence imprint. The corresponding video also featured a cameo from Fucked Up
Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
vocalist Damian Abraham and has drawn comparisons to disparate artists such as Klaus Nomi
Klaus Nomi
Klaus Sperber , better known as Klaus Nomi, was a German countertenor noted for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona....
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, and Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
2011: Special Affections
His debut full length album, Special AffectionsSpecial Affections (album)
Diamond Rings' debut album, Special Affections, was released on October 25, 2010.Special Affections received a nod from Exclaim! as the No. 11 Pop & Rock Album of 2010. The album was also named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.-Track listing:...
, was released in North America on October 25, 2010 by Montreal's Secret City Records
Secret City Records
Secret City Records is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The music label was founded in 2006 by Andrew Rose and Justin West, originally as sublabel of Justin Time Records. It became fully independent in late 2008....
. Thus far it has attracted positive reviews from Pitchfork
Pitchfork
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines used to lift and pitch loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines...
, Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
, and AllMusic and he has been called "a genius" in several reviews. Lead single "Something Else" was released a month prior and features a cover of the Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich December 17, 1975)is an American model, actress, musician, and fashion designer. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, for which music channel VH1 has referred to her as the "reigning queen of kick-butt".Milla Jovovich began...
song "The Gentleman Who Fell", with string arrangements by Canadian musician and Polaris Prize winner Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett
Michael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Toronto, Ontario. He won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds....
. Following the album release Diamond Rings opened for Swedish pop star Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
for the duration of her North American Body Talk
Body Talk (Robyn album)
Body Talk is the seventh studio album by Swedish recording artist Robyn. The album was released on 22 November 2010 by Konichiwa Records. Robyn first announced plans in early 2010 that she would was planning on releasing three mini-albums throughout the course of 2010. The first two mini-albums, of...
tour in the winter of 2011. He also toured with PS I Love You
PS I Love You (band)
PS I Love You is a Canadian indie rock band from Kingston, Ontario. The band is signed to Paper Bag Records, which is a top Canadian independent record label...
in support of "Leftovers", a single that was cowritten by both O'Regan and the band and released on Toronto based Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
.
In May 2011, Diamond Rings began a six-week remix series entitled, "Remix Rainbow." Remix Rainbow was conceived as a thank-you to a select group of musicians whose recent work gave Diamond Rings a sense of new-found inspiration. Among those featured in the series were Theophilus London
Theophilus London
Theophilus London is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City.-Early life:London was born on the island Trinidad, on February 23 of 1987 and was raised in Brooklyn briefly, then moved to the suburbs of the Poconos.-Records:...
, Junior Boys
Junior Boys
-History:Junior Boys formed in 1999 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as a duo of Jeremy Greenspan and Johnny Dark. Years of collaboration followed and a demo was produced, but after many rejections and near-misses, they were resigned to being bedroom beat constructors. Soon after, Johnny Dark left the...
, Handsome Furs
Handsome Furs
Handsome Furs is a Montreal-based indie rock duo which consists of Dan Boeckner, of Wolf Parade and Atlas Strategic, and his wife, writer Alexei Perry.-Music:...
. The artwork for each remix represents a different color of the Diamond Rings rainbow.
Diamond Rings has since signed with New York City based Astralwerks Records, who rereleased Special Affections
Special Affections (album)
Diamond Rings' debut album, Special Affections, was released on October 25, 2010.Special Affections received a nod from Exclaim! as the No. 11 Pop & Rock Album of 2010. The album was also named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.-Track listing:...
on June 21, 2011.
Albums
- Special AffectionsSpecial Affections (album)Diamond Rings' debut album, Special Affections, was released on October 25, 2010.Special Affections received a nod from Exclaim! as the No. 11 Pop & Rock Album of 2010. The album was also named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.-Track listing:...
- released by Secret City RecordsSecret City RecordsSecret City Records is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The music label was founded in 2006 by Andrew Rose and Justin West, originally as sublabel of Justin Time Records. It became fully independent in late 2008....
(October 2010) and re-released by AstralwerksAstralwerksAstralwerks is a New York-based record label that releases primarily electronic music. It is owned by Virgin Records/EMI and distributed by Caroline Distribution in the United States....
(June 2011)
Singles
- All Yr Songs 7"- released by Hype Lighter (August 2009)
- Wait & See b/w "On Fire" (SebadohSebadohSebadoh is an American indie rock band, formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts by Eric Gaffney and Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided by Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi music, a style of indie rock characterized by low-fidelity recording...
cover) 7"- released by TomlabTomlabTomlab is a German record label based in Köln. It has released works by bands such as The Books, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Deerhoof, Thee Oh Sees, Les Georges Leningrad, and acts associated with Blocks Recording Club, such as Final Fantasy, Ninja High School, and The Hank...
(March 2010) - Show Me Your Stuff b/w "You Oughta Know" 12"- released by One Big Silence (June 2010)
- Something Else b/w "Gentleman Who Fell" (Milla JovovichMilla JovovichMilla Jovovich December 17, 1975)is an American model, actress, musician, and fashion designer. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, for which music channel VH1 has referred to her as the "reigning queen of kick-butt".Milla Jovovich began...
cover) 7"- released by Secret City RecordsSecret City RecordsSecret City Records is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The music label was founded in 2006 by Andrew Rose and Justin West, originally as sublabel of Justin Time Records. It became fully independent in late 2008....
(September 2010) - It's Not My Party Flexi-disc 7"- released by Flaunt MagazineFlauntFlaunt is a monthly American fashion culture magazine founded by the current editor-in-chief, Luis Barajas, and creative director, Jim Turner, also the founders of Detour magazine. Long Nguyen, a third founder and style director, also was working on Detour for four years...
(March 2011) - You & Me b/w "Mellow Doubt" (Teenage FanclubTeenage FanclubTeenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
cover) 7"- released by AstralwerksAstralwerksAstralwerks is a New York-based record label that releases primarily electronic music. It is owned by Virgin Records/EMI and distributed by Caroline Distribution in the United States....
(November 2011)
Collaborations
- Leftovers 7"- (single with PS I Love YouPS I Love You (band)PS I Love You is a Canadian indie rock band from Kingston, Ontario. The band is signed to Paper Bag Records, which is a top Canadian independent record label...
) released by Paper Bag RecordsPaper Bag RecordsPaper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
(March 2010)
External links
- Diamond Rings
- Diamond Rings interview by The Block magazine http://www.theblock-mag.com/interview-diamond-rings