Diamond Atlas is a Toronto based music website founded by Max Mohenu in 2011.

This blog is kind of like an adventure. The mission is to showcase artist who's sounds look to challenge the sub-conscious and visually stimulate the listener, but also build connections with vibrant, new spirits in the D.I.Y/Grassroots community.

I often fuse narratives into the introduction of our post. Artist usually featured on Diamond Atlas are ones that experiment with different variants of pop music(atmospheric, dreamy, futuristic, drone, minimal, ect.); artist who channel a more spiritual/cosmic element, futuristic beat freaks and more than not, just kids that really love making music. Nothing is off the table, just have to feel the vibe.

I do monthly mixes and have the monthly column: Landscape Review. Diamond Atlas is also apart of the Portals collective. You can find my weekly post and the column on there.

In 2013, Diamond Atlas will be relaunching with a few new features and contributors. Stay tune for monthly updates starting August 2012

Music submissions, questions, comments, and love can be sent to the address below:

Max Mohenu: diamondatlas.pr@gmail.com

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/diamondatlas

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/diamondatlas

Thank you

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SLOW MAGIC W/BEAT CULTURE AT GLASSLANDS

Lately, most of the Diamond Atlas action has been happening in Portals land, but that’s all about to change. 

With the relaunch back on track, business will continue on both ends and you can expect the brand new site to launch sometime in June. 

The new site welcomes our friends Suburban Tours , a new contributing editor and some other awesome folks that’ll help take us into phase 2. 

We’re very excited to share the new site with all of you. It’s gonna be something special. 

There’s also some announcements coming about the next Diamond Atlas showcase, which will happen at NXNE. 

More on that coming soon. 

A recent trip to Brooklyn allowed us all to marvel in the greatness of the masked beat genius known to the world as Slow Magic. 

Last week, his show brought us lights, love, drums, and a lot of guest appearances. 

The images below tell the whole story: 

(THE WHOLE SET HERE) 

Words & Photos by: Max Mohenu 

xx

//NEW VISIONS// SLAVA - WERK

Slava’s last effort, Soft Control, kept things smooth, sexy and laced with a few Britney Spears vocal samples along the way. Nonetheless, his lucid production style gave his house jams a dreamy element that was both alluring and simply addictive. 

Now, back at the Slave offices, the Russian producer is gearing for his next release titled Raw Solutions. 

The video for the first single, “Werk”, takes into the day in the life of a cool cat named Slava. From the looks of things, that entails having a hot receptionist pour you vodka(take a close look at the label), and being an expert computer hacker. 

As the video progresses, Slava floats between a cyberspace Adidas track suit fashion show and dj-ing for some slick body movers in the Matrix.

This gives new meaning to the saying “the world is at your finger tips”. 

For more tips on how to be a boss, please consult Raw Solutions when it drops on April 23rd(via Software) 

Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx

ALCHEMY

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Berlin has a new offering rumbling deep in the atmosphere. 

It’s the newest signs of life on Teams genre bending, electronic playground. 

In the beginning, the vocal samples play their part, leading the song into a pool of deep, heart pounding, hypnotic bass and slightly mutated synth grooves.

Without warning, the track dives head first into a barrage of untamed, jungly break-beat and warped, sped-up vocals, continuing until the song reaches the height of this all-out, sonic melee. 

Leaving nothing in it’s path, this 6 minutes of chaos can be referred to as “interconnected crisis electronica”. 

A destructive club banger that only exist on One World. 

Take the plunge at your own risk.  

After releasing his Sierra City Center (Diamond Club) project and working on some other one-off remixes, Teams is ready to introduce us to One World.

Never afraid to blur the lines, “Alchemy” takes everything we’ve grown to love about the Berlin based producer to a whole new level. 

This track is wild. Makes the anticipation for this next release even greater.  

One World will be released via Fin Records on June 18th. 

Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx

//NEW VISIONS// DOSE - HRTBTS 

Ohio producer, Dose, next album is titled Empathy In The After Glow.

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from him, but from the looks of it, the new album will drop sometime in the coming weeks. 

The deep, vocally first single, “Hrt Bts”, just got the visual treatment and from the looks of it, Dose decided to keep things nice and simple for this one. 

The video features the most precious heartbeats of them all, indulging in a little arts and crafts action. 

The chilled out vocals and crisp, sped up beats work well with this video montage.

Definitely one of the coolest class video you’ll ever see. 

Look for Empathy In The After Glow to drop later this month. 

Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx 

NIGHTRIDER

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Deep in the Netherlands, a leopard print goddess named V has been chanting her love spell for ages.

Several rituals have been performed, but nothing strong enough to lure the one she’s been searching for.

One night, she took to the highest pillar with drums and a swollen heart, ready to perform one last spell. The second she opened her mouth, a hazy burst of emotions filled the air. This enchanting mist made contact with her motorcycle boy, as he rode not too far away from where she was chanting. His heart synced with her smooth, hypnotic drum beats, as he began to ride closer to her.

He stops and drops to his knees, looking above, completely enamored by the sight of this glowing, statuesque figure.

He’s become a slave to her beauty. Their divine love unearthed after lifetimes of yearning and thirsting for his affection. She moves to lower ground, only to find him waiting for her.

As she drops to one knee, she leans in close to him, repeating the chant that has rendered him motionless in the presence of her transfixing ora:

Nightrider, have we met before ? We both move fast like fire, take my hand. 

Cosmo V is a gorgeous artist of Moluccan heritage based in Utrecht. After releasing a bunch of songs on her Bandcamp, V is finally releasing her debut EP, No Name Street. The Ep sees Cosmo V take a few steps away from her earlier work.

Her angelic vocals are a spiritual meeting between Lykke Li and the hazy, lo-fi simplicities of PJ Harvey—swimming in a wave of slick drum loops, light reverb, and 80’s inspired pop. A lot of her stories are heartfelt, re-imagined bits of war-era literature, all given a modern twist through her ethereal sound and catchy songwriting.

While she’s still making her presence known on the blogs, it’s safe to say this EP will be turning a lot of heads in the coming months.

No Name Street is available now through Rush Hour.

Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx

//NEW VISIONS// AUTRE NE VEUT - PLAY BY PLAY 

The energy from Autre Ne Veut’s performance at Wrongbar on Friday is still being felt today. For those who missed the magic, please check out the photos from the show here. 

With the help of Urban Outfitters ongoing video series, the glitched out, off-kilter R&B pretty boy’s karaoke inspired banger, “Play By Play”, has just received the visual treatment. 

Needless to say, this video is perfection. Probably one of the best videos to come from the Urban Outfitters crew to date.

Directors Geremy Jasper & Georgie Greville attention to detail in the area of slick lighting and wardrobe gave the video a nostalgic ring that almost rewinds back to the days of early 90’s video gold from Case and Missy Elliot. 

Keeping the karaoke theme in mind, Arthur Ashin is dressed to the nines, competing in the ultimate karaoke showdown between him and about a bunch of karaoke screens of himself; singing the same gorgeous tune.  

Autre Ne Veut’s latest LP, Anxiety, is now available on the Software Label.  

Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx 

AUTRE NE VEUT W/ MAJICAL CLOUDZ @ WRONGBAR

This past Friday, a room of about 100+ people got to marvel in the greatness of a little stage act known as Anxiety. 

This act featured a charismatic crooner known to the world as Arthur, a stunning Zambri sister, an incredible drummer, and a lot of earth shattering high notes and body rocking. 

Majical Cloudz started the night off, easing us into the beauty with a super engaging set of their own. 

This whole experience can be relived below: 

MAJICAL CLOUDZ:

AUTRE NE VEUT:

(MORE PHOTOS HERE) 

Words & Photos by: Max Mohenu 

xx

//NEW VISIONS// DANIEL KLAG - MOTH WINGS 

As time shifts slowly, the moth flaps to reveal its true colors. This causes the skies to ignite, most likely from the dazzling embers created when the wings open and the colors melt into the atmosphere.

An arial acrobat, the imperial insect; its presence refines our visual palette and draws us further into a state of unity between ourselves and the organisms around us.

For 5 minutes, you can watch this event unfold before your very eyes.

It’s a showcase of life, the unveiling of truth, and a glance into the Inner Earth. 

Daniel Klag’s last LP, Weird Fiction, was the epitome of lush, transcendent noise. The frequencies were both smooth and mind bending; with enormous, stinging glitches that bubbled through your ear drums at the height of these purling, effervescent sonics.

His next record, Inner Earth, looks to be more of the same from the sounds of his first single, “Moth Wings”, but we’ll just have to wait and see what else he’s got in store.

The visuals, done by Klag himself, are incredible. A lot of color, a lot of life. A pristine match with the sounds on the song itself. Headphones and a clear mind are all you need for this one.

Inner Earth will be Klag’s first cassette release. Look out for it sometime next month on Constellation Tatsu.

 Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx

//NEW VISIONS// HOME ALONE - WISHFUL SINKING 


If Orchid Tapes has taught us anything over the years, it’s that when it comes to releases, they always hold off for the juiciest fruit. 

Freshly picked from the ever blossoming tree of Toronto talent, Home Alone is a new project by Thomas Mazurkiewicz. From what his facebook states, music and marijuana seem to go hand and hand, which kind of make sense based on the vibes felt on his new EP, Teddybears & Weed. 

Mastered by Foxes & Fiction’s Warren Hildebrand, many of the songs seem to dwell in chronic induced dreamland. The arrangements inhabit a lot of very early shoegaze influences, all while building on the raw, unpolished landscapes most dreamy, bedroom endeavours are formed on. Dense, reverby guitar feels like it was kissed by the lips of Bradford Cox’s first fantasies of rising to prominence, and the fleeting vocals tap you on the shoulder, tauntingly leading you into Thomas smokey, atmospheric playground. 

The visuals for “Wishful Sinking” are compiled clips of different events, thoughts, and feelings of life. From the fun-filled, horny antics of teenagers, to petting horses, to interpretative dance; a lot of ground is covered in five minutes. The main theme seems to be to always have a well brushed head of hair, which is obviously very important. 

Band dudes, please take note. 

Teddybears & Weed is out now digitally. Tapes will be available in the near future. 

Words by: Max Mohenu 

xx

Solange @ Danforth Music Hall

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Toronto was blessed by the presence of the angelic Solange this past weekend at the Danforth Music Hall. Her set took us backwards, forwards, and featured some serious fashion from all her bandmates. 

All these stills are True.

Lets reminisce: 

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(MORE PHOTOS HERE) 

Words & Photos by: Max Mohenu 

xx