DIAMOND CAST:

Go behind the scenes with Diamond Black, the dark rock band fronted by Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy), as they pull back the curtain on their creative journey. From songwriting secrets and recording sessions to the music industry’s hidden truths, Diamond Cast is where heavy riffs meet deep conversations. Join Ben, Adam, and Vincent as they discuss the stories behind the music, their influences, the highs and lows of band life, and the anthems that guide them through the darkness. Featuring special guests, fan Q&As, and uncensored banter, this podcast is more than just music—it's a community. New episodes every week. Tune in, turn it up, and let Diamond Cast guide you.

This week on Diamond Cast, we're talking about something younger music fans may never fully experience again:

Buying an entire album based on a single song.

Before streaming, playlists and algorithms, discovering music often meant taking a leap of faith. You'd hear one track on the radio, on MTV, in a film or from a friend... and then spend your hard-earned money on an album hoping the rest was just as good.

We discuss the albums that paid off, the albums that surprised us, and the records whose deep cuts ended up being even better than the singles.

Along the way we talk about The Pixies, Garbage, Babylon Zoo, Social Distortion, Marilyn Manson, W.A.S.P., The Lemon Twigs, discovering artists through remixes, hidden tracks, album sequencing, and the unique power music has to transport us back to a specific moment in our lives.

00:00 – Intro
00:48 – This week's topic: buying albums based on one song
01:38 – Natalie: Wave of Mutilation & The Pixies
09:05 – Southland Tales, The Pixies & unexpected connections
09:32 – Adam: Version 2.0 by Garbage
11:35 – Ben: Babylon Zoo & The Boy With The X-Ray Eyes
13:34 – Discovering bands through remixes
20:54 – Albums where the deep cuts beat the singles
23:20 – The Offspring & Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
26:55 – How music transports us through time
32:13 – Natalie: White Light, White Heat, White Trash
33:12 – How do we actually listen to albums?
41:52 – Adam's pick: Mechanical Animals
48:44 – Natalie's pick: The Crimson Idol
54:29 – Adam's pick: Everything Harmony

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we're talking about something younger music fans may never fully experience again:

Buying an entire album based on a single song.

Before streaming, playlists and algorithms, discovering music often meant taking a leap of faith. You'd hear one track on the radio, on MTV, in a film or from a friend... and then spend your hard-earned money on an album hoping the rest was just as good.

We discuss the albums that paid off, the albums that surprised us, and the records whose deep cuts ended up being even better than the singles.

Along the way we talk about The Pixies, Garbage, Babylon Zoo, Social Distortion, Marilyn Manson, W.A.S.P., The Lemon Twigs, discovering artists through remixes, hidden tracks, album sequencing, and the unique power music has to transport us back to a specific moment in our lives.

00:00 – Intro
00:48 – This week's topic: buying albums based on one song
01:38 – Natalie: Wave of Mutilation & The Pixies
09:05 – Southland Tales, The Pixies & unexpected connections
09:32 – Adam: Version 2.0 by Garbage
11:35 – Ben: Babylon Zoo & The Boy With The X-Ray Eyes
13:34 – Discovering bands through remixes
20:54 – Albums where the deep cuts beat the singles
23:20 – The Offspring & Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
26:55 – How music transports us through time
32:13 – Natalie: White Light, White Heat, White Trash
33:12 – How do we actually listen to albums?
41:52 – Adam's pick: Mechanical Animals
48:44 – Natalie's pick: The Crimson Idol
54:29 – Adam's pick: Everything Harmony

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

10 3

YouTube Video VVU0Q01lalc0Q01rUE9fWkpBeVBpVHlBLmV0Nm15Y0Z4eGl3

The Lost Art of Taking a Chance on an Album | Diamond Cast 074

Diamond Black June 7, 2026 7:00 pm

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the huge amount of work that happens behind the scenes in a modern independent band.

From editing Diamond Cast episodes and fixing websites, to building EPKs, managing merch, touring logistics, customs paperwork, and surviving endless service stations — we dive into everything the audience doesn’t usually see.

We also talk about:
– The realities of touring with The Sisters of Mercy
– The hidden costs of live shows
– What a carnet actually is
– Developing routines on tour
– Our different roles within Diamond Black

Along the way we somehow end up discussing He-Man, action figures, and moral messaging in media.

Plus: a small mental health tip that genuinely helps us — practising gratitude.

00:00 – Intro
00:36 – The first day of summer in the UK
06:08 – Diamond Black action figures & He-Man discussion
12:01 – Moral messaging in media
15:40 – This week’s topic: the work behind the scenes
17:01 – What fans never see
18:50 – Editing Diamond Cast & fixing websites
21:16 – Building our EPK
25:46 – Our daily work routine
29:34 – Touring with The Sisters of Mercy
31:51 – Ben’s customs disaster story
34:24 – What is a carnet?
36:18 – The real cost of touring
37:53 – Learning to love service stations
42:30 – The challenge of routines on tour
46:47 – Our different roles while touring
51:10 – Mental health tip: practising gratitude

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the huge amount of work that happens behind the scenes in a modern independent band.

From editing Diamond Cast episodes and fixing websites, to building EPKs, managing merch, touring logistics, customs paperwork, and surviving endless service stations — we dive into everything the audience doesn’t usually see.

We also talk about:
– The realities of touring with The Sisters of Mercy
– The hidden costs of live shows
– What a carnet actually is
– Developing routines on tour
– Our different roles within Diamond Black

Along the way we somehow end up discussing He-Man, action figures, and moral messaging in media.

Plus: a small mental health tip that genuinely helps us — practising gratitude.

00:00 – Intro
00:36 – The first day of summer in the UK
06:08 – Diamond Black action figures & He-Man discussion
12:01 – Moral messaging in media
15:40 – This week’s topic: the work behind the scenes
17:01 – What fans never see
18:50 – Editing Diamond Cast & fixing websites
21:16 – Building our EPK
25:46 – Our daily work routine
29:34 – Touring with The Sisters of Mercy
31:51 – Ben’s customs disaster story
34:24 – What is a carnet?
36:18 – The real cost of touring
37:53 – Learning to love service stations
42:30 – The challenge of routines on tour
46:47 – Our different roles while touring
51:10 – Mental health tip: practising gratitude

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

13 5

YouTube Video VVU0Q01lalc0Q01rUE9fWkpBeVBpVHlBLlRqVkctaWtmSDZN

The Reality of Life Behind the Scenes in a Band | Diamond Cast 073

Diamond Black May 24, 2026 7:00 pm

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re talking about identity — in music, in art, and in the instruments we carry with us for years.

Ben’s long-lost guitar has finally returned, which sparks a wider conversation about why certain guitars become deeply personal and tied to creativity itself. We also discuss dream guest guitarists, the artists who continue to influence our songwriting, and how identity is explored through films like The Cable Guy, The Fisher King, and the work of Andy Kaufman.

Along the way, Natalie goes on a passionate rant about Enduring Love, and Ben shares more details about his university songwriting lectures — including thoughts on formal music education, practice, performance, and whether there’s actually a “correct” way to hold a guitar pick.
A thoughtful and surprisingly wide-ranging episode about art, performance, and the strange things that shape us creatively.

00:00 – Intro
00:34 – Welcome to the Black Charade
02:29 – Ben’s long-lost guitar returns
05:40 – Why instruments become part of our identity
07:53 – Dream guest guitarists
13:43 – The artists who stay with us creatively
16:12 – Natalie’s Enduring Love rant
20:42 – Identity in art: The Cable Guy, Andy Kaufman & The Fisher King
26:18 – Update on Ben’s university songwriting lectures
31:15 – Inside Ben’s songwriting class
35:25 – Is there a “correct” way to hold a pick?
38:50 – Formal lessons vs teaching yourself
42:35 – Does performing arts school help or hinder?
45:33 – Practice makes perfect?
47:18 – Performing in lecture rooms vs onstage

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re talking about identity — in music, in art, and in the instruments we carry with us for years.

Ben’s long-lost guitar has finally returned, which sparks a wider conversation about why certain guitars become deeply personal and tied to creativity itself. We also discuss dream guest guitarists, the artists who continue to influence our songwriting, and how identity is explored through films like The Cable Guy, The Fisher King, and the work of Andy Kaufman.

Along the way, Natalie goes on a passionate rant about Enduring Love, and Ben shares more details about his university songwriting lectures — including thoughts on formal music education, practice, performance, and whether there’s actually a “correct” way to hold a guitar pick.
A thoughtful and surprisingly wide-ranging episode about art, performance, and the strange things that shape us creatively.

00:00 – Intro
00:34 – Welcome to the Black Charade
02:29 – Ben’s long-lost guitar returns
05:40 – Why instruments become part of our identity
07:53 – Dream guest guitarists
13:43 – The artists who stay with us creatively
16:12 – Natalie’s Enduring Love rant
20:42 – Identity in art: The Cable Guy, Andy Kaufman & The Fisher King
26:18 – Update on Ben’s university songwriting lectures
31:15 – Inside Ben’s songwriting class
35:25 – Is there a “correct” way to hold a pick?
38:50 – Formal lessons vs teaching yourself
42:35 – Does performing arts school help or hinder?
45:33 – Practice makes perfect?
47:18 – Performing in lecture rooms vs onstage

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

14 3

YouTube Video VVU0Q01lalc0Q01rUE9fWkpBeVBpVHlBLjVjV0YwTDRoS2o0

Songwriting, Identity & Ben’s Long-Lost Guitar Returns | Diamond Cast 072

Diamond Black May 17, 2026 7:00 pm

This week on Diamond Cast, we somehow end up deep in the psychology of school pencil cases, lunchboxes, band logos scribbled on bags, alternative fashion rebellion and the bizarre social hierarchies of growing up in the UK.

We also answer your questions about the future of Diamond Black, whether bands should keep going forever, artists growing older, Iron Maiden, Meat Loaf, AC/DC, and how modern rock music approaches mental health and emotional struggle differently than it used to.

Plus:
– Adam finds vintage STAR SCREAM merch in the garage
– School tie rebellion explained
– Why carrying a sports bag could ruin your social life
– Through The Misery’s original title
– The strange rules of being “cool” at school
– And a Patreon bonus segment involving “The Devil’s Flaming Hoof”...

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we somehow end up deep in the psychology of school pencil cases, lunchboxes, band logos scribbled on bags, alternative fashion rebellion and the bizarre social hierarchies of growing up in the UK.

We also answer your questions about the future of Diamond Black, whether bands should keep going forever, artists growing older, Iron Maiden, Meat Loaf, AC/DC, and how modern rock music approaches mental health and emotional struggle differently than it used to.

Plus:
– Adam finds vintage STAR SCREAM merch in the garage
– School tie rebellion explained
– Why carrying a sports bag could ruin your social life
– Through The Misery’s original title
– The strange rules of being “cool” at school
– And a Patreon bonus segment involving “The Devil’s Flaming Hoof”...

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

14 3

YouTube Video VVU0Q01lalc0Q01rUE9fWkpBeVBpVHlBLkNrQ0U3b3VIRTlR

Why School Was Basically Tribal Warfare & Mental Health in Rock Music | Diamond Cast 071

Diamond Black May 10, 2026 7:00 pm

This week on Diamond Cast, we cover a lot of ground — from AC/DC & Iron Maiden and life on tour to a bigger question:

Who actually gets to define rock music?

We talk about Ben being out on tour with Ricky Warwick, meeting Jacoby Shaddix, and some classic AC/DC discussions (including the important question… what’s in Angus Young’s satchel?).

From there, we dive into:
– Iron Maiden being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
– Whether awards and institutions really matter
– Who defines genres and cultural influence
– The idea of naming the sound Diamond Black is creating

We also get into festivals, Eurovision (yes, really), talent shows, and the strange world of music industry recognition.

Plus: new merch, upcoming shows, and a Patreon preview where Ben shares his story of appearing on a TV talent show.

00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Welcome
01:19 – Ben on tour with Ricky Warwick & AC/DC talk
02:57 – What’s in Angus Young’s satchel?
07:05 – Ignoring the naysayers
13:08 – Hanging out with Jacoby Shaddix
16:04 – New merch alert
18:36 – Jack In The Green & Hastings bike run
20:58 – Festivals: too hot or too wet?
26:16 – Iron Maiden & the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
31:20 – Who defines rock music?
37:03 – The most influential bands in culture
39:45 – Naming the Diamond Black sound
42:11 – Other Rock Hall inductees
45:50 – Eurovision: our thoughts
49:46 – Ben wrote a song for Eurovision
52:03 – Upcoming shows we're attending
54:20 – Do music awards matter?
56:05 – Talent shows: good or bad?
01:03:59 – Patreon preview: Ben’s talent show story

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we cover a lot of ground — from AC/DC & Iron Maiden and life on tour to a bigger question:

Who actually gets to define rock music?

We talk about Ben being out on tour with Ricky Warwick, meeting Jacoby Shaddix, and some classic AC/DC discussions (including the important question… what’s in Angus Young’s satchel?).

From there, we dive into:
– Iron Maiden being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
– Whether awards and institutions really matter
– Who defines genres and cultural influence
– The idea of naming the sound Diamond Black is creating

We also get into festivals, Eurovision (yes, really), talent shows, and the strange world of music industry recognition.

Plus: new merch, upcoming shows, and a Patreon preview where Ben shares his story of appearing on a TV talent show.

00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Welcome
01:19 – Ben on tour with Ricky Warwick & AC/DC talk
02:57 – What’s in Angus Young’s satchel?
07:05 – Ignoring the naysayers
13:08 – Hanging out with Jacoby Shaddix
16:04 – New merch alert
18:36 – Jack In The Green & Hastings bike run
20:58 – Festivals: too hot or too wet?
26:16 – Iron Maiden & the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
31:20 – Who defines rock music?
37:03 – The most influential bands in culture
39:45 – Naming the Diamond Black sound
42:11 – Other Rock Hall inductees
45:50 – Eurovision: our thoughts
49:46 – Ben wrote a song for Eurovision
52:03 – Upcoming shows we're attending
54:20 – Do music awards matter?
56:05 – Talent shows: good or bad?
01:03:59 – Patreon preview: Ben’s talent show story

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel
Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG
Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:
Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial
X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/
Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/
Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic
Adam - @adamhartist
Vincent - @vincentvdrums
Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps
Instagram - @diamondblackofficial
Facebook - @diamondblackofficial
X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

13 4

YouTube Video VVU0Q01lalc0Q01rUE9fWkpBeVBpVHlBLlpQa2NRMHJyV0NV

Who Defines Rock? | Diamond Cast 070

Diamond Black May 3, 2026 7:00 pm

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re talking about identity — in music, in art, and in the instruments we carry with us for years.

Ben’s long-lost guitar has finally returned, which sparks a wider conversation about why certain guitars become deeply personal and tied to creativity itself. We also discuss dream guest guitarists, the artists who continue to influence our songwriting, and how identity is explored through films like The Cable Guy, The Fisher King, and the work of Andy Kaufman.

Along the way, Natalie goes on a passionate rant about Enduring Love, and Ben shares more details about his university songwriting lectures — including thoughts on formal music education, practice, performance, and whether there’s actually a “correct” way to hold a guitar pick.

A thoughtful and surprisingly wide-ranging episode about art, performance, and the strange things that shape us creatively.

00:00 – Intro

00:34 – Welcome to the Black Charade

02:29 – Ben’s long-lost guitar returns

05:40 – Why instruments become part of our identity

07:53 – Dream guest guitarists

13:43 – The artists who stay with us creatively

16:12 – Natalie’s Enduring Love rant

20:42 – Identity in art: The Cable Guy, Andy Kaufman & The Fisher King

26:18 – Update on Ben’s university songwriting lectures

31:15 – Inside Ben’s songwriting class

35:25 – Is there a “correct” way to hold a pick?

38:50 – Formal lessons vs teaching yourself

42:35 – Does performing arts school help or hinder?

45:33 – Practice makes perfect?

47:18 – Performing in lecture rooms vs onstage

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we somehow end up deep in the psychology of school pencil cases, lunchboxes, band logos scribbled on bags, alternative fashion rebellion and the bizarre social hierarchies of growing up in the UK.

We also answer your questions about the future of Diamond Black, whether bands should keep going forever, artists growing older, Iron Maiden, Meat Loaf, AC/DC, and how modern rock music approaches mental health and emotional struggle differently than it used to.

Plus:

– Adam finds vintage STAR SCREAM merch in the garage

– School tie rebellion explained

– Why carrying a sports bag could ruin your social life

– Through The Misery’s original title

– The strange rules of being “cool” at school

– And a Patreon bonus segment involving “The Devil’s Flaming Hoof”...

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we cover a lot of ground — from AC/DC & Iron Maiden and life on tour to a bigger question:

Who actually gets to define rock music?

We talk about Ben being out on tour with Ricky Warwick, meeting Jacoby Shaddix, and some classic AC/DC discussions (including the important question… what’s in Angus Young’s satchel?).

From there, we dive into:

– Iron Maiden being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

– Whether awards and institutions really matter

– Who defines genres and cultural influence

– The idea of naming the sound Diamond Black is creating

We also get into festivals, Eurovision (yes, really), talent shows, and the strange world of music industry recognition.

Plus: new merch, upcoming shows, and a Patreon preview where Ben shares his story of appearing on a TV talent show.

00:00 – Intro

00:35 – Welcome

01:19 – Ben on tour with Ricky Warwick & AC/DC talk

02:57 – What’s in Angus Young’s satchel?

07:05 – Ignoring the naysayers

13:08 – Hanging out with Jacoby Shaddix

16:04 – New merch alert

18:36 – Jack In The Green & Hastings bike run

20:58 – Festivals: too hot or too wet?

26:16 – Iron Maiden & the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

31:20 – Who defines rock music?

37:03 – The most influential bands in culture

39:45 – Naming the Diamond Black sound

42:11 – Other Rock Hall inductees

45:50 – Eurovision: our thoughts

49:46 – Ben wrote a song for Eurovision

52:03 – Upcoming shows we're attending

54:20 – Do music awards matter?

56:05 – Talent shows: good or bad?

01:03:59 – Patreon preview: Ben’s talent show story

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re diving into collaboration — how it works, how it shapes music, and how you stay true to your identity while working with other artists.

We answer fan questions following last week’s episode and go deep on:

– How we work with guest musicians

– Dream collaborations

– Working with Andy from Therapy?

– How collabs influence the sound of Diamond Black

– Expanding creatively without losing identity

– Writing from different perspectives and characters

We also talk about some of our favourite collaborations in music, and the artists — even from completely different genres — we’d love to work with.

Plus: coffee, outfits, selling clothes online… and Adam being mysteriously hidden this week.

00:00 – Intro

00:55 – Coffee talk

05:08 – Outfits & selling clothes online

11:44 – Why Adam is hiding this week

13:00 – Fan questions from last week

13:24 – How we work with guest musicians

21:05 – Dream collaborations

26:10 – Working with Andy from Therapy?

29:07 – Diamond Black collaborating with other bands

30:14 – How collabs shape our sound & identity

33:34 – Expanding creatively while staying true

35:09 – Favourite collaborations in music

45:02 – Do we change our style when collaborating?

49:18 – Writing from a character perspective

50:51 – Unexpected dream collabs (different genres)

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we dive into collaboration — how we work with other artists, how guest vocals come together, and what it’s really like recording with musicians you’ve admired for years.

From Ben stepping into a teaching role and breaking down vocal approaches, to working with artists like Chris Harms (Lord of the Lost) and connections to The 69 Eyes and Therapy?, we explore how different styles, voices and personalities shape a song.

We also talk about:

– Singing in different languages

– How we choose guest vocalists

– Where guest vocals fit within a track

– The recording process behind collaborations

– Adapting to different vocal styles

– And the artists we’d love to collaborate with in the future

Plus: a quick update on an upcoming merch drop.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:48 – Ben becomes a university teacher

04:44 – Singing in different languages & Ben’s lesson approach

09:56 – Adam on Melissa Auf der Maur

14:25 – Collaborating with Andy from Therapy?

17:18 – How we choose guest vocalists

18:24 – Where guest vocals fit in a song

19:20 – Recording guest vocals: process & workflow

21:28 – Working with Chris Harms (Lord of the Lost)

23:15 – What it means to work with your heroes

28:49 – Different vocal styles and approaches

31:52 – Incorporating other artists’ styles

36:15 – The 69 Eyes guest guitar moment

38:11 – Dream collaborations: who’s next?

44:09 – Upcoming merch drop

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we dive into the myth of the tortured artist.

Do you actually need to suffer to create meaningful art — or is that just a story we’ve told ourselves for decades?


We explore emotional intensity, creativity, discipline, and whether pain is a source of great work or something artists are expected to perform. From Richey Edwards to Van Gogh and Beethoven, we look at how suffering has been tied to artistic legacy.


We also discuss how creativity evolves over time, whether songs change meaning depending on when they’re written, and the strange feeling of thinking something is incredible at night… then questioning it the next morning.


Plus: a look at our new track “Where The Night Crawls”, and Natalie shares her guide to building a mindset for creativity and happiness.


Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:35 – 67 meme & Virtuosity movie talk

04:51 – This week’s topic: the tortured artist

06:31 – Feeling things intensely

07:38 – Do you need suffering to create?

11:12 – Richey Edwards & the Manic Street Preachers

15:27 – Tin foil hat theories

17:32 – Van Gogh, Beethoven & artistic suffering

18:25 – The role of discipline in creativity

20:17 – Tortured artists & empathy

24:18 – New song: Where The Night Crawls

30:14 – Writing the same subject at different stages of life

37:30 – Late-night genius vs morning doubt

40:49 – Natalie’s guide to creativity & happiness

47:45 – Final thoughts

48:45 – Patreon bonus discussion


************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:


Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial


YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store


Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com


Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”


Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk


************************************************


Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ


Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms


************************************************


Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!


Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!


DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store


Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk


Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we dive into the myth of the tortured artist.

Do you actually need to suffer to create meaningful art — or is that just a story we’ve told ourselves for decades?

We explore emotional intensity, creativity, discipline, and whether pain is a source of great work or something artists are expected to perform. From Richey Edwards to Van Gogh and Beethoven, we look at how suffering has been tied to artistic legacy.

We also discuss how creativity evolves over time, whether songs change meaning depending on when they’re written, and the strange feeling of thinking something is incredible at night… then questioning it the next morning.

Plus: a look at our new track “Where The Night Crawls”, and Natalie shares her guide to building a mindset for creativity and happiness.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:35 – 67 meme & Virtuosity movie talk

04:51 – This week’s topic: the tortured artist

06:31 – Feeling things intensely

07:38 – Do you need suffering to create?

11:12 – Richey Edwards & the Manic Street Preachers

15:27 – Tin foil hat theories

17:32 – Van Gogh, Beethoven & artistic suffering

18:25 – The role of discipline in creativity

20:17 – Tortured artists & empathy

24:18 – New song: Where The Night Crawls

30:14 – Writing the same subject at different stages of life

37:30 – Late-night genius vs morning doubt

40:49 – Natalie’s guide to creativity & happiness

47:45 – Final thoughts

48:45 – Patreon bonus discussion

************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:

Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com

Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”

Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk

************************************************

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ

Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

************************************************

Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!

Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!

DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store

Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk

Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast we’re talking about our hometowns — and the surprising stories, strange history, and famous figures connected to them.

From Bristol’s incredible Clifton Suspension Bridge to Aleister Crowley dying in Hastings, we dive into some of the unusual cultural history tied to the places we grew up.

Along the way we discuss Star Trek, Black Mirror, H.G. Wells, Concorde, David Bowie, the birthplace of television, legendary bands like Madness and X-Ray Spex, and even Darwin’s On The Origin of Species.


It turns out the towns that shape us often have far stranger stories than we realise.


Timestamps:

00:00 – Start

01:12 – Ben’s caffeine-fuelled day

05:10 – This week’s topic: our hometowns

07:43 – Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge

12:00 – Aleister Crowley & Hastings history

16:37 – Our love of Star Trek & Black Mirror

24:47 – H.G. Wells

31:28 – Concorde: the supersonic plane

35:26 – The birthplace of television & Wetherspoons debate

42:22 – David Bowie

45:34 – Bristol accents

48:26 – Musical icons: Madness & X-Ray Spex

52:19 – Darwin’s On The Origin of Species


************************************************

Join the Diamond Black Community:


Support the band and get an extra 15 minutes of Diamond Cast every week on Patreon:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial


YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store


Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com


Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”


Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk


************************************************


Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ


Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms


************************************************


Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!


Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!


DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store


Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk


Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we take on a big question:

Is most art fundamentally about ego?


We explore what ego actually is, whether anything can truly be selfless, and what really drives the urge to create. Is it expression? Legacy? Recognition? Or something deeper?


We talk about:

– The excitement of creation

– The desire to be remembered

– Whether artists think about their audience while writing

– The difference between designing and songwriting

– Inspiration from “the greats”

– And whether ego is necessary to make meaningful music


Is art about the self — or about something bigger than the self?


Plus, we continue the conversation over on Patreon with a bonus segment on Diamond Black covers.


Never Wanted This by AKO -


Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:03 – This week’s topic: Is most art about ego?

02:12 – What is ego, really?

06:13 – Is anything truly selfless?

09:20 – The excitement of creation

13:18 – What drives us to create?

17:44 – Desire vs skill: which comes first?

21:54 – The desire to be remembered

27:47 – Being part of something bigger without being known

29:30 – Designer vs songwriter: Adam’s perspective

33:19 – Do you think about the audience when writing?

36:28 – Can you write in a genre you don’t like?

40:26 – Building an ideas bank

43:31 – Inspiration from “the greats”

48:11 – Do we need ego to create music?

49:24 – Is all music about the artist?

51:56 – Patreon bonus: Diamond Black covers


************************************************


Join the Diamond Black Community:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com


Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”


Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk


************************************************


Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ


Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms


************************************************


Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!


Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!


DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store


Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk


Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com

This week on Diamond Cast, we’re talking about sincerity — what it means in 2026, whether we’re living in a post-sincerity world, and why authenticity has become the new cultural currency.

Before that, we detour into Ben’s unexpected love of Titanic and Adam’s passion for Music Hall, then dive deep into branding, boundaries, public sharing, Taylor Swift lyrics, and the strange evolution of online identity.


Is authenticity real — or just another performance?

Where do personal boundaries sit in a world that rewards oversharing?

And what does the future of sincerity look like?


Plus: we’re launching an extra 15-minute Patreon-only segment each week.


Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:47 – Ben’s love of Titanic

14:45 – Adam on Music Hall

17:40 – Today’s topic: Sincerity Now

19:46 – Are we living in a post-sincerity world?

23:15 – Authenticity as modern currency

28:10 – Taylor Swift & lyrical honesty

30:19 – Being conscious of your brand

32:42 – Personal boundaries online

36:52 – The future of authenticity

40:45 – Online gamer streamers & digital personas

45:40 – Patreon bonus segment announcement


************************************************


Join the Diamond Black Community:

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

YouTube Memberships – Join via the “Join” button on our channel

Merch – https://diamondblackofficial.com/store

Bandcamp – https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com


Listen to Diamond Black:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5APKOSAXQZh2Kv46TnvEVG

Apple Music – Search “Diamond Black”


Follow us:

Instagram & Facebook – @diamondblackofficial

X (Twitter) – @dmondblk


************************************************


Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiamondBlackOfficial

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/N5t8ueajMJ


Merch: https://diamondblackofficial.com/store/

Bandcamp: https://diamondblack.bandcamp.com/

Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms


************************************************


Join our lovely DIAMOND BATS on YouTube in the live-chat!


Please ‘like’ the video if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment too as it really helps the band get more views and get spread around Youtube! We really appreciate all the support!


DIAMOND BLACK MERCH - www.diamondblackofficial.com/store


Ben - @benchristomusic

Adam - @adamhartist

Vincent - @vincentvdrums

Natalie - @diamondblacksnaps

Instagram - @diamondblackofficial

Facebook - @diamondblackofficial

X - @dmondblk


Email us! mail@diamondblackofficial.com