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 -

https://open.spotify.com/track/7gz4oRncAV8Yo1nNvk4vUu?si=31f53c9cfdad4839

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

This week’s Diamond Cast is going live with Adam and Natalie while Ben’s away — and we’re keeping things intentionally loose.

No rigid agenda, no overplanning. We’ll be chatting about whatever’s on our minds, including the Super Bowl, Oscar nominations, music, culture, and anything else that comes up along the way.

As always, the live chat is part of the show, so jump in, say hello, throw questions at us, and help steer the conversation wherever it wants to go.

Grab a drink, get comfy, and hang out with us.

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

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