Matthew Hornell's busy year easy on him

Salmon Fest, NL Folk Festival, Canadian tour upcoming

By Ryan Belbin

Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds are part of a young community of artists that are redefining the scope of Newfoundland and Labrador folk music. The group, whose live shows and stellar songwriting have already made an impression on local music lovers, are preparing to take their music to new audiences.

Having developed his songwriting skills in high school and later as a member of the band Dead Language, chance circumstances had Hornell scrambling to assemble a set at The Ship last year with friend Jonathan Bungay. The collaboration worked; realizing they should continue writing, the two built on their original songs.

The current line-up, which includes Hornell on vocals, guitar, and harmonica, Bungay on mandolin and lead guitar, Paddy Byrne on bass, and Joshua Bourden on percussion, finally came together in June 2009, and released their self-titled debut in February.

Despite the alternative-folk influence in the band’s sound, it is difficult to classify the group into any particular genre. Influenced by artists ranging from jazz musician Nina Simone to folk rockers Wilco, the Diamond Minds create a fusion of country, bluegrass, Americana, and rock, with an emphasis on the stories and lyrical base behind the tunes.

“Music is not incestuous,” Hornell explains. “It’s more of a marriage. That’s what makes it accessible.”

Excitement has been growing steadily since the group’s formation. Sharing the stage with the likes of Said the Whale, the Novaks, and Hey Rosetta!, Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds have earned a reputation as a band that captures the essence of live music and makes it their own.

“On almost every level, playing live is probably the most important,” Hornell says. “Live shows are a real energy exchange. We love getting people out dancing.”

That doesn’t mean that the band is pigeonholed to the pub scene. Hornell and his bandmates are constantly tweaking their arrangements to keep their sound fresh for different musical settings, which includes festivals and sit-down events. The necessity to constantly adapt allows the group to have fun exploring their music, as well as maintain their excitement about playing live.

The coming months should provide the group with plenty of such opportunities. It was announced on the same day last week that the Diamond Minds will perform at the annual Exploits Valley Salmon Festival concert in Grand Falls-Windsor on July 17, as well as at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival in St. John’s on August 7.

Perhaps the biggest musical events in the province, the former will feature major acts such as Classified, Matthew Good, and Three Days Grace, while the latter will include many prominent Newfoundland musicians, including Juno winner Amelia Curran and the Wonderful Grand Band. Hornell calls the whole experience “surreal.”

The Diamond Minds are eager to begin touring to promote their album this fall, beginning in British Columbia. By winter, Hornell suspects that the band will be ready to return playing for local audiences before heading back to the studio to work on a second album. The disc, which will be more atmospheric and involve greater pre-production, could be available as early as this time next year.

In the meantime, the group is content solidifying their reputation as a band that is dedicated to creating a palpable vibe that needs to be experienced. Their hectic schedule and commitment to their craft appears effortless, because they are having so much fun in the process.

“We wouldn’t be doing it if we didn’t love it,” Hornell says.

More information about Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds, including song samples, go to http://www.matthewhornell.com. For tickets and schedule information for the Salmon Festival, visit http://www.salmonfestival.com, or for the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, check out http://www.nlfolk.com/fest2010/fest2010test.html.

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