Music

HIGH FIVES: Diamond Rings

by Sam Sutherland

Every week, High Fives asks five bands five themed questions over five days. This week, we’re probing the depths of the spookiest holiday of all, Halloween.

Diamond Rings exploded on to YouTube with the incredibly great and incredibly endearing video for “All Yr Songs.” The whole act (Androgyny! Cute dancing! Green screen!) would have written off as nothing more than a fun novelty were it not for the fact that the song is actually fucking awesome. And while early shows lacked the confidence necessary to pull off unrestrained joy present in those first songs, Diamond Rings has really grown into something unique in the Canadian pop landscape. It’s hard to picture the same guy ripping inventive post-punk in his other project, the D’ubervilles, but the real value in Diamond Rings lies in the challenging of expectations and perceptions. Also, the cuteness. Special Affections, the first Diamond Rings full-length, comes out today, and is supported by a short run through Southern Ontario and Quebec, including stops in Toronto tonight and Montreal on October 31.

What was the best costume from your childhood?

My parents were always really into Halloween, getting dressed up and decking out the house with fake cobwebs, spiders, pumpkins, the whole deal. Consequently, I had some pretty tight costumes. I’d say if I had to choose though it was the year I was the Magic Carpet from the movie Aladdin. My Mom sewed together a carpet and hung it straight across my shoulders with wire and pipe insulation foam. I think I got two years out of that one.

What was the best costume from your post-childhood?

Getting to just be myself as Diamond Rings for the “Wait & See” video shoot last year was really fun. All our friends came over and we just threw an awesome party. Only bad part was when my home stereo totally blew up while I was DJing Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants”.

What’s the most scared you’ve ever been in a movie?

Probably watching the Little Mermaid on the IMAX screen at Ontario Place when I was about five. Ursula the sea witch totally scared the crap out of me. I was never really one for scary movies, obviously.

What role, if any, do sexy costumes serve in our modern Halloween culture?

I was just talking with a friend about this and I really, truly, believe that they should all just go away. It’s way too easy to take some generic concept or profession and make it sexy. Like “sexy cop” or “sexy nurse” or whatever. Halloween should be about trying to be scary and theatrical. We’ve got 364 other days to dress sexy and go get drunk in some bar.

Where will you be on Halloween this year?

I’m playing a show with my best friends PS I Love You at Il Motore in Montreal. I really hope people come out and dress up, though. Halloween is a great time to let loose and shake off some inhibition. Not to mention eat way too many mini-Snickers bars.