Diamond Rings to release new album ‘Free Dimensional’ on October 23!‏

ON OCTOBER 23RD ON ASTRALWERKS

 Exclusive LIVE August Showcases in LA, SF, and Seattle

Fall Tour Dates As Special Guests of Stars

Brand New Single & Video for “I’m Just Me” Out Now

Download the YELLE Remix here

(New York, NY – July 18th, 2012) - Astralwerks is proud to announce the highly-anticipated release of Diamond Rings’ brand new album, Free Dimensional, on October 23rd, 2012, co-produced by the Grammy-nominated Damian Taylor (Bjork, The Killers, Prodigy, UNKLE, Robyn, Austra).  We have also just confirmed exclusive live showcases in LA, SF, and Seattle during the month of August as well as an extensive fall tour as special guests of Stars (see dates below).

The first single from the album, “I’m Just Me” as well as the video are out now. The track was remixed by French electro-pop sensation YELLE and was recently premiered on RollingStone.com. The track is available as a free download here.

Free Dimensional retains the melodicism, clever juxtapositions, and lyrical honesty that garnered kudos for Special Affections. What’s different this time around is how the songs were conceived and produced. “I wanted the first album to have that homespun quality,” John O explains. Back then, he was wary of too many high-tech bells and whistles. “A big part of being afraid of something is not understanding it,” he admits. “Once I became more comfortable with the medium of electronic music, it was only natural to want to improve.”

Critics and fans often like to categorize music according to the technology, timbres and techniques that defined an era, but John O aspires to circumnavigate that. ”The intention was to try and create a sound that was, as much as possible, not beholden to any specific time or space.” There are elements sprinkled throughout Free Dimensional that hint at genres or artists that have inspired Diamond Rings, but synthesized in a wholly unique, timeless manner. “I really wanted the album to feel as though it was very much of the here-and-now, but also indistinguishable from what’s come before—and what is yet to come—in music.”

Diamond Rings is the solo-project of John O who burst onto the scene with an inventive home recorded video for his debut single “All Yr Songs“.  Featuring amateur green screen camera trickery, over the top choreography, and daring androgynous outfits and makeup, the video received international praise from both music nerds and fashionistas alike.  Audiences soon began to identify with Diamond Rings’ uniquely lyrical brand of pop songwriting and his overtly glamorous live sets.  But there’s something surprisingly mature shimmering beneath the glamour, hidden in John O’s immediately iconic voice, and whip-smart lyrics.

The unique melodies and heartfelt lyrics of 2010’s Special Affections, garnered widespread critical praise from not only Pitchfork but also The New York Times and NME. This praise was topped off with head-turning performances at SXSW and CMJ as well as international tours with pop princess Robyn, dazzling new-waver, Twin Shadow and fellow Canadians, Junior Boys.

Acclaim for Diamond Rings’ first album Special Affections:
8.2 out of 10 – Pitchfork
8 out of 10 – SPIN
“One of Best New Bands Of 2010” – NME

Acclaim for “I’m Just Me”:
“…it’s a must-download for us.” - MTV.com
“Smokey and glam” - Stereogum.com
“If you’re looking for the future of glam pop, look no further than Diamond Rings.” - ChartAttack.com

DIAMOND RINGS AUGUST LIVE DATES
8/13      Los Angeles, CA      School Night @ Bardot
8/15       San Francisco, CA Hotel Utah
8/17       Seattle, WA           Barboza