NEW ALBUM: On Diamond 'Melon On The Vine' + upcoming launch show
On Diamond release their LP Melon on the Vine, out via Eastmint records, + upcoming launch show at Cross Street Music Hall with Oliver Mann
Lifting the veil on their anticipated second album, On Diamond’s newest LP, Melon on the Vine, is out now on Northcote based label Eastmint records, exploring themes of time, grief, and desire, centred in their pursuit of connection. To celebrate, the experimental pop collective will launch the release on Saturday 8 November at Cross Street Music Hall with special guest Oliver Mann, bringing his perfect alchemy of opera, folk, and improvisation.
Recorded by Joe Talia in Naarm at Head Gap studio, before it sadly burned down last year, Melon on the Vine incorporates the joys, pressures, and conundrums of time lyrically but also visually through the album’s cover art, depicting fresh and rotting fruit together. Shifting moods between light and shadow, revealing perspectives that carry the listener seamlessly through each unfolding journey, the intricate melodies balance melancholy with affirmation and care, allowing beauty to emerge through the act of growing.
Opening with the album's first single, ‘Letting the Wheel Go By’, a candid exploration of trauma and its many cycles, the album moves through messages of deep connection in ‘Not On Your Own’, to ‘I Cry To Think’; a song about the emptiness found in letting go and affirming a new direction. ‘In a way, the entire album describes moving away from my past trauma and documents this process’ - Lisa Salvo. The album’s title track, ‘Melon on the Vine’, speaks to a familial or collective vine and a fable of colonial principles failing and nature’s inevitable push back, while ‘It’s Me Calling’ calls for a greater meaning and connection in life, and previous single ‘Downslide’ marks the point of collapse, where progress feels perpetually out of reach. Touching on dreams and desire, ‘Hold the Cloak of Time’ talks about patience and contentment through the passing of time, and album closer ‘Another Sip’ touches on personal goals and ambitions. ‘There’s so much wonder to be found in everyday life. I want to fulfil my potential, but it’s up to me to set the terms and conditions of my ambition, and to channel the drive to pursue my dreams’ - Lisa Salvo
On Diamond features an evolving line-up of esteemed musicians, with the current ensemble including Lisa Salvo (vocals), Scott McConnachie (guitar and synth), Myka Wallace (drums), Jules Pascoe (bass), Duré Dara (percussion), and Genevieve Fry (harp), all featuring on the record. Their sound encompasses a range of genres, including folk, pop, rock, jazz, and improvised music, with lyrics that draw on personal experiences for poetic expression. Their self-titled debut album, released in 2019 on Eastmint Records, was widely celebrated as one of the year’s best. Together with their recent singles, On Diamond has garnered support from community radio stations across the country, including ads on Triple R, 4ZZZ, PBSFM, and RTRFM, as well as plays on FBI, Three D, and more.
Join Eastmint records at Cross Street Music Hall for an evening of improvisational and experimental music as On Diamond launches their new album.
Melon on the Vine out Thursday 9 October via Eastmint records
Saturday 8 November - Cross Street Music Hall
Doors open at 7:30 pm
Oliver Mann - 8:00 - 8:45 pm
On Diamond - 9:00 - 9:45 pm
Cross Street Music Hall
16-22 Cross Street, Brunswick East (aka Merri-bek City Band Room)
Tickets