Inteview: Diamond Rings: Riding The Wave Between Artist And Role-Model

By: Curtis Sindrey –

John O’Regan (aka Diamond Rings) (Photo: Norman Wong)

Role models are in less supply than they used to be. The people who were often looked up to found a way to allow that admiration to evaporate into thin air. Toronto-based Diamond Rings (aka John O’Regan) has enveloped a cult following due to his straightforward demeanor and his desire to “present myself in a way that make people think outside of the norm and make them imagine something that is beyond what they are accustomed to seeing both on stage and in the world.”

Diamond Rings’ new album Free Dimensional shows a developed songwriter and a performer who has fully embraced every bit of his existence; whereas on his self-titled debut, it showed an artist who was still coming to terms with his identity and his range as an artist. “Free Dimensional is about celebrating new found self-awareness and self-confidence,” said O’Regan. “And hopefully inspiring others to do the same within their own lives.”

The Toronto music scene can be a very nurturing environment for budding artists, but Diamond Rings asserts that while having a community is good, artists themselves must get to where they want to be. “It’s diverse, open and energetic and it’s a really healthy place to make music,” said O’Regan. “But when it’s time for me to write an album, that’s my time to go into myself and discover what I want to say as an artist. It’s about trying to draw something special and unique out of me so as great as it is having a community, at some point artistically you have to be willing and able to get there yourself.”

Working with producer Damian Taylor (The Killers, Arcade Fire), Diamond Rings benefited from Taylor’s years of experience by allowing him to flesh out the sounds he ultimately wanted to hear on the album. “He’s really patient, caring and was able to  exaggerate those qualities in the songs that I wanted to be exaggerated and do a lot of subtle things as well.”

Since he began his music career with The D’Urbervilles at the University of Guelph, Diamond Rings’ songwriting has evolved with confidence. “Like anything with practice over time you become more proficient and better in tuned to create immediately from what you’re hearing in your mind,” said O’Regan.

Throughout the recordings of his first two albums, the experiences of creating an album have always been a building process. “The more experiences that we have in our lives both good and bad, personally, artistically or otherwise, the better off we ultimately are,” said O’Regan. “I never anticipated making one Diamond Rings album yet alone two and the fact that I’m still able to do this and I’m able to go on tour and hire a band that’s a dream come true.”

 “The more experiences that we have in our lives both good and bad, personally, artistically or otherwise, the better off we ultimately are.”

Since his debut album under the Diamond Rings moniker, O’Regan has been a solo act, rarely taking the stage with a backing band but with his current tour he got back into the swing of having a band surround him again. “It’s really great because there’s something to be said about getting on stage by oneself and doing something unique and special but having a band that lets me lose myself more and engage with the audience more so in that respect it is a real blessing,” said O’Regan.

While Diamond Rings sees the potential of social media as an effective tool for musicians, he refuses to let it compromise his art. “Music always has to come first,” said O’Regan. “The other stuff is nice but it can’t become the focus because it’s like anything else, it’s a tool, and it has to be used and directed in a way that is positive and ultimately enhances the work and not detracts from it.”

Diamond Rings doesn’t see himself as a role model, but simply as an artist who dares to challenge himself. “Hopefully as an artist and as a person I’m not afraid to challenge myself and to do things that may not be popular at the time,” he said.

Diamond Rings will perform in Toronto on November 29 at MOD Club.