Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds are gaining momentum intently and tenaciously. In a short amount of time, they’ve fostered a loyal following of concert goers eager to move to their relentless offering of raw energy and euphonious melodies. Their accessible fusion of folk and alternative music has allowed them to play with a variety of groups such as Said the Whale, The Novaks, Elliott Brood and Hey Rosetta! Albums are available online at www.matthewhornell.com, iTunes and any physical location in Canada (just ask for it). In St. John’s, NL they can be found at Fred’s Records and CD Plus (Avalon Mall), O’Brien’s Music Store and other local shops. 2010 will include a variety of festivals and shows around Canada with some of their most beloved musicians – more details to come.

Some highlights for the end of year:

-2009’s Best New Band in The Scope’s annual Best of St. John’s Issue. -The Newfoundland Herald’s Band to Watch for 2010.

“Hornell is intimate with his audience…people are dancing and singing along to his catchy folk songs. Seemingly out of nowhere, Hornell has established not only a fan base, but a community around his music.”
The Scope

“They have an energetic radiance that fills the largest of rooms and warms the coldest of hearts. It would be a challenge to find anyone in the audience who isn’t smiling after one of their uplifting performances.” North By East West

“The music is marked by Hornell’s honest and poetic lyrics, sometimes elegiac and often esoteric, and consistently infectious upbeat melodies attributed to a vivacity rooted in the band’s live performances..”
The Telegram

“Like all great songwriters Hornell has captured the ability to tell stories. Rarely does a band get buzz and hype surrounding them this big and this fast…the album has great depth, it’s more than songs to dance and sing too – that’s just the bonus. ” Current Magazine

Emily Jill West has passed the last year touring across Canada with fellow musicians, recording her debut EP – And Human, Besides – and filming an independent music video for the track ‘As I Go’. The album is currently available at Emily Jill’s live shows and a proper release is planned for both the video and the EP come early fall..