Diamond Rings' Got Special Affections
The indie-pop golden child on his new documentary, his new album and his nana.
By Nicole Rallis
Photographed by Jared Raab
John O'Regan, the glittery indie-pop musician behind the moniker Diamond Rings, is a busy fellow. This week marks the both the release of Tunnelvision, a Pitchfork.tv documentary capturing a live show in Brooklyn earlier in the year, as well as Special Affections, his much anticipated debut. Throw in the countless shows and engagements on his plate -- including appearances at this year' s past New York Fashion Week and CMJ music festival -- and it' s no surprise that Diamond Rings is one of this year's biggest music blog darlings. Keyboard in tow and signature kaleidoscopic makeup painted on his porcelain complexion, the Toronto-bred Diamond Rings creates upbeat, synth-laden pop music that blows past typical dance tunes, utilizing lyrics that boast substance and nostalgia over shock-value. He keeps his influences close to home, collaborating with cohorts Damian Abraham of Fucked Up and Owen Pallett, and draws style inspiration from fortuitous sources, his family. PAPERMAG recently caught up with the 24-year-old on the heels of Special Affections' October 26 release, to talk about high school talent show beginnings, surrealist art films and the musician who he wants to be played at his funeral.
You recently made a documentary with Pitchfork TV called Tunnelvision. How did this come about?
I was performing a few shows in Brooklyn a few months back and was approached by one of their videographers who was a fan of my music. Pitchfork puts out some awesome stuff and I love acting for the camera, so I said yes. It was fairly spontaneous.
In the documentary, you mention that you always pick something up from the places you play in. Have you gotten anything interesting as of late?
I just got back from Montreal and brought home a big sack of bagels. That's always been a
tradition of mine.
What's been your favorite city to perform in?
London, UK. Over the summer I played at an old burlesque theatre in the gay village and tons of kids showed up wearing crazy outfits. There was a fog machine and everyone had a really good time dancing.
What was the inspiration behind the music video for "Show Me Your Stuff?"
We wanted to combine Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with Britney's "Baby One More Time". I'm also really into basketball, Klaus Nomi and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Those are all fabulous inspirations to have. How did Damian from Fucked Up end up getting involved?
His bandmate Mike Haliechuk (10,000 Marbles) was releasing the single on his 12" label One Big Silence, so I'd met Damian a handful of times just by association. I always thought he'd be a great character for a cameo role, but I wasn't going to ask him because I was too nervous! Coincidentally, a few days before the shoot I found out that we were going to be filming the entire thing in his old high school in downtown Toronto! It seemed like fate, so I sent him an email and he showed up and did his thing perfectly.
You've also collaborated with Owen Pallett.
I try to work with people who I know personally and also respect as musicians. I'm always blown away by how talented Owen is, and how much he supports the Toronto scene despite being away all the time. I managed to catch him on one of the very few days that he was actually around in his home studio, and he laid the string and piano parts down in like one or two takes, basically.
Do you have plans for any future collaborations?
I'd love to start working with some rappers, though. That'd be next level.
You recently released a great cover of Milla Jovovich's "Gentlemen Who Fell." What made you decide to cover this track?
A friend of mine showed me the video for the song at a party and I thought it was amazing. The whole thing is based on a short film called "Meshes Of The Afternoon" by Maya Deren, who was an American director who made these crazy surrealist art films in the 1940' s and 1950's. Way ahead of her time, obviously. Anyhow, Milla had basically taken most of the imagery and style from the Deren film and put herself in the starring role. Surprisingly the video holds up pretty well, but most importantly I just really think it's a fantastic song and I thought Owen would be the perfect choice to recreate the string parts.
What's the inspiration behind your stage name?
Robert Fripp once likened himself, David Bowie and Brian Eno to diamonds in a really poignant way. I don't have the exact quote with me right now, but it basically implied that although diamonds are bright and beautiful, they're also complex, multi-faceted and can cut sharper than a knife. Combining the diamond with the power that the ring symbolizes just seemed to capture everything that I wanted to convey through my music and performances.
How did you get started playing music?
I started playing guitar near the end of high school because a bunch of my friends who could already played did a cover of Weezer's "Say It Ain't So" at the talent show. I was really jealous and that ended up being the first song I learned how to strum. Before that I played piano and saxophone in the school band, but I didn't really consider them rock instruments at the time. Nowadays all I want to do is play piano and saxophone!
You have a unique style that works well with your music, so how did this personae come about? Who or what has influenced your style?
Probably my Nana Gwen. She was just a really vibrant personality, and was also involved with a local theatre group in Oshawa, which is asuburb of Toronto where I grew up. I'd go see her act in these plays and [would] be blown away by how powerful she seemed on stage. She'd always be wearing these totally wild outfits and had a huge collection of really crazy shoes. Just having someone in the family who wasn't afraid to be big and bold was really inspiring and becomes more inspiring as I get older. Otherwise, I basically just find what I like and go for it. Right now I'm really into Salt 'N' Pepa and Dennis Rodman.
Where do you get your make-up inspiration?
My cousin Lisa is a professional make-up artist and keeps me looking good for the stage. She can't always come along on tour though, so I've learned to do a pretty decent job myself. Lately, I've been reading more fashion magazines and trying to replicate some of the looks that I find. Again, most of what I do is really based upon trying to find something interesting and replicate it in a way that is unique and true to who I am. Having someone like my big cousin around is amazing though. We work really well together.
Have you always liked dance music, and are there any artists from that genre that you particularly admire?
Dance music is the most fun! I've never liked it as much as I do right now, though. My eighteen-year-old self wouldn't have been caught dead listening to Kylie Minogue, but now I'd probably have that shit played at my funeral.
In the Pitchfork documentary, you mentioned you don't think writing about sex is all that interesting to you. What do you like to write and can we expect any particular themes on Special Affections?
I strive to write lyrics that are heartfelt, personal and also leave a little to the imagination. So much pop music seems really overt and crass, and that's just not a style of writing that I'm into,personally. I've always enjoyed listening to songs where things are left open-ended enough and almost invite the listener to create their own interpretations, or even apply aspects of the lyrics to their own lives and experiences. It's hard to do but ultimately feels more rewarding.
You recently made a documentary with Pitchfork TV called Tunnelvision. How did this come about?
I was performing a few shows in Brooklyn a few months back and was approached by one of their videographers who was a fan of my music. Pitchfork puts out some awesome stuff and I love acting for the camera, so I said yes. It was fairly spontaneous.
In the documentary, you mention that you always pick something up from the places you play in. Have you gotten anything interesting as of late?
I just got back from Montreal and brought home a big sack of bagels. That's always been a
tradition of mine.
What's been your favorite city to perform in?
London, UK. Over the summer I played at an old burlesque theatre in the gay village and tons of kids showed up wearing crazy outfits. There was a fog machine and everyone had a really good time dancing.
What was the inspiration behind the music video for "Show Me Your Stuff?"
We wanted to combine Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with Britney's "Baby One More Time". I'm also really into basketball, Klaus Nomi and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Those are all fabulous inspirations to have. How did Damian from Fucked Up end up getting involved?
His bandmate Mike Haliechuk (10,000 Marbles) was releasing the single on his 12" label One Big Silence, so I'd met Damian a handful of times just by association. I always thought he'd be a great character for a cameo role, but I wasn't going to ask him because I was too nervous! Coincidentally, a few days before the shoot I found out that we were going to be filming the entire thing in his old high school in downtown Toronto! It seemed like fate, so I sent him an email and he showed up and did his thing perfectly.
You've also collaborated with Owen Pallett.
I try to work with people who I know personally and also respect as musicians. I'm always blown away by how talented Owen is, and how much he supports the Toronto scene despite being away all the time. I managed to catch him on one of the very few days that he was actually around in his home studio, and he laid the string and piano parts down in like one or two takes, basically.
Do you have plans for any future collaborations?
I'd love to start working with some rappers, though. That'd be next level.
You recently released a great cover of Milla Jovovich's "Gentlemen Who Fell." What made you decide to cover this track?
A friend of mine showed me the video for the song at a party and I thought it was amazing. The whole thing is based on a short film called "Meshes Of The Afternoon" by Maya Deren, who was an American director who made these crazy surrealist art films in the 1940' s and 1950's. Way ahead of her time, obviously. Anyhow, Milla had basically taken most of the imagery and style from the Deren film and put herself in the starring role. Surprisingly the video holds up pretty well, but most importantly I just really think it's a fantastic song and I thought Owen would be the perfect choice to recreate the string parts.
What's the inspiration behind your stage name?
Robert Fripp once likened himself, David Bowie and Brian Eno to diamonds in a really poignant way. I don't have the exact quote with me right now, but it basically implied that although diamonds are bright and beautiful, they're also complex, multi-faceted and can cut sharper than a knife. Combining the diamond with the power that the ring symbolizes just seemed to capture everything that I wanted to convey through my music and performances.
How did you get started playing music?
I started playing guitar near the end of high school because a bunch of my friends who could already played did a cover of Weezer's "Say It Ain't So" at the talent show. I was really jealous and that ended up being the first song I learned how to strum. Before that I played piano and saxophone in the school band, but I didn't really consider them rock instruments at the time. Nowadays all I want to do is play piano and saxophone!
You have a unique style that works well with your music, so how did this personae come about? Who or what has influenced your style?
Probably my Nana Gwen. She was just a really vibrant personality, and was also involved with a local theatre group in Oshawa, which is asuburb of Toronto where I grew up. I'd go see her act in these plays and [would] be blown away by how powerful she seemed on stage. She'd always be wearing these totally wild outfits and had a huge collection of really crazy shoes. Just having someone in the family who wasn't afraid to be big and bold was really inspiring and becomes more inspiring as I get older. Otherwise, I basically just find what I like and go for it. Right now I'm really into Salt 'N' Pepa and Dennis Rodman.
Where do you get your make-up inspiration?
My cousin Lisa is a professional make-up artist and keeps me looking good for the stage. She can't always come along on tour though, so I've learned to do a pretty decent job myself. Lately, I've been reading more fashion magazines and trying to replicate some of the looks that I find. Again, most of what I do is really based upon trying to find something interesting and replicate it in a way that is unique and true to who I am. Having someone like my big cousin around is amazing though. We work really well together.
Have you always liked dance music, and are there any artists from that genre that you particularly admire?
Dance music is the most fun! I've never liked it as much as I do right now, though. My eighteen-year-old self wouldn't have been caught dead listening to Kylie Minogue, but now I'd probably have that shit played at my funeral.
In the Pitchfork documentary, you mentioned you don't think writing about sex is all that interesting to you. What do you like to write and can we expect any particular themes on Special Affections?
I strive to write lyrics that are heartfelt, personal and also leave a little to the imagination. So much pop music seems really overt and crass, and that's just not a style of writing that I'm into,personally. I've always enjoyed listening to songs where things are left open-ended enough and almost invite the listener to create their own interpretations, or even apply aspects of the lyrics to their own lives and experiences. It's hard to do but ultimately feels more rewarding.
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