He opened for Bassnectar on New Year’s Eve 2011. He’s pals with Pretty Lights. The label he founded just sent Two Fresh on 41 tour dates with Skrillex. While the name Paper Diamond may not yet be on your radar, the producer/performer/man about Boulder is undeniably making his mark on the electronic scene. In the words of Paper Diamond mastermind Alex Botwin himself, “It’s been a whirlwind year.”
While Paper Diamond is a relatively new project for the man of many hats, Alex has been making electronic music since age 19, playing bass in the Pnuma Trio and producing as Alex B. At the moment, it appears the Paper Diamond project will be the one to stick. With his club-ready mixes and already packed tour schedule, “Paper Diamond is full steam ahead right now,” Alex said. “I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.”
He caught up with The Badger Herald just before getting back on the road to talk about his upcoming show at the Majestic and the future of Paper Diamond.
“Music is going to change, and people will either change with it or they won’t,” he said from his studio in Colorado. Going from playing live electronic sets with The Pnuma Trio to down-tempo studio work as Alex B to the now dance-emphasized m?lange of sounds he’s producing as Paper Diamond, Alex has proved he’s more than capable of changing with it.
Signed to Pretty Lights Music and his own label, Elm & Oak, Alex describes Paper Diamond’s sound as “dance music with intention.” “It’s a wide variety of genres, but it’s danceable music that flows together and still sounds like me,” he said.
His first EP, Levitate, featured a variety of influences, from dubstep to hip-hop to the chill electronic beats that seem to seep from Colorado. The soon-to-be-released EP, Paragon, promises to be just as diverse. “It’s very unique and very catchy,” Alex said. Both titles are available for free download at paper-diamond.com.
But Alex isn’t spending all of his time in the studio these days. His Winter Tour has him playing everywhere from Chicago to Pittsburg to Knoxville, Tenn. While dates have only been announced through March, Alex promised that there’s no end in sight for Paper Diamond shows.
“We have a bunch of festivals already lined up for this year and a bunch that we can’t announce yet, but we’re definitely going to be all over the place this summer,” he said. When asked where he saw himself in a year, Alex responded with a laugh “probably on an airplane somewhere.”
And what does Alex have to say about his shows? “I think the people that come to the shows are coming to have a good time and party, and if you like to have fun then Paper Diamond is something you can definitely get into.”
Even those that have seen Paper Diamond before can look forward to a whole new experience with the Winter Tour.
“My set is always different, so I’m able to improvise when I’m on stage and really go with the crowd and see how they’re feeling and adjust to however I want the show to be,” Alex explained. “This is the one time that I’m coming to Madison in the next little while, so I’m really planning something special for you guys.”
Thursday’s show will feature Paper Diamond’s own light setup and a brand new set. “I’m going to be playing a bunch of exclusive music that no one has heard yet from the new record, and I’ve got a couple of new remixes that I’ve been saving for tour,” Alex said.
While Alex says “the sky is the limit” for the future of Paper Diamond, for now he’s happy to be where he currently stands.
“I do everything for the love of music, and I’m just grateful to be able to tour and play shows and spread happiness and inspiration to people all over the world,” he said. “I definitely get excited about it every single night, and I can’t wait to get on the road. So yeah, I’ll see you in Madison soon.”
Paper Diamond will perform at the Majestic on Thursday, Jan. 26. Doors open at 9 pm. Tickets are $13 in advance or $15 at the door.
