Reviews & Accolades

• Pretty Lights Protégé – recently selected by Pretty Lights to be one of only four artists to release music on the ‘Pretty Lights Music’ label


• # 1 on Hype Machine: Paper Diamond's song, "Can We Go Up", hit #1 on Hype Machine within a week of its release in September 2011.


• Must See Artist: despite releasing his debut EP less than a year ago, already being compared to greats such as Diplo, Wolfgang Gartner and Thievery Corporation and being listed as a Must See Artist at many of America's mega music festivals.


• “2011 Summer Star”  -RELIX.  Chosen by Relix magazine as a must-see emerging artist at 2011 summer festivals. 

• “URB Next100” –URB 2009


• “Whether he is remixing Dilla or creating patchwork masterpieces, his resourcefulness is as prominent as his passion. Be on the lookout for his full-length album.” –URB


• Additional Highlights – Paper Diamond (previously known as Alex B): integral part of Los Angeles’ exploding beat scene, remixer of scene kingpin Flying Lotus, mad popular 2009 mix released under the Brainfeeder label (click here to download), frequent guest at the Low End Theory club and championed by influential UK DJ Mary Anne Hobbs

Hallowbaloo Preview

DJ. Musician. Producer. Paper Diamond is a new electronic artist with an old musical soul.

Born Alex Botwin, he first became known in the public eye as the bassist of the innovative electronic jam band Pnuma Trio, starting in the mid-2000s. Artvoice calls Pnuma Trio’s work “music of the future,” and the band often plays with members of veteran electronic collective STS9. It was in this band that fans could see hints of the musician Botwin would be, as he experimented much with music software, but relied on musicianship more than mere effects and sampling, to wow listeners.

Starting his own record label/promotion/design/clothing company Elm & Oak, Botwin also later released solo work under Alex B. in 2010. His Moments album leaned more toward layered, bass-heavy tracks with funk influences. Not even waiting a year to release another solo project under a different moniker — Paper Diamond — he first teased fans with a dubstep-heavy remix of Kanye West’s “Power.” The site ‘Indies and the Underground’ writes that the remix has “enough heavy-bottom bass, sped-up synth lines and driving drums to send the rave crowd into an electro feeding frenzy, while still retaining the hip hop swagger of the original.” With this hype, combined with touring with the likes of Pretty Lights and Bassnectar, it became clear that Paper Diamond’s time was coming.

Of the Paper Diamond EP Levitate, which came out this year and is free to download (see link above), electronic music website The Untz writes, “Levitate is an upbeat, jaunty, 30-minute romp. Its songs have more bounce and energy than Moments.” Of the EP’s title track, The Untz writes that it “sounds like a lovechild of Flying Lotus and Starkey. The track is at first, bucolic and carefree, a pleasant summer walk on a country road, but the lush gated synthesizers that begin the song turn into a heavy, viscous syrup. Triplet kicks and off-beat hand claps propel ‘Levitate’ from beginning to end.” It’s this kind of musical experience that has held the attention of crowds at music festivals such as Coachella, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco and Global Dance Festival. It’s common for those who have not heard of Paper Diamond to uncontrollably propel themselves toward his stage, fill the space to capacity and stay there. Following his performances at several of the above festivals, many attendees proclaimed his show to be the highlight of their festival experience. Paper Diamond’s beats and synth melodies are that catchy.

Aside from the Levitate EP and touring relentlessly, 2011 has also brought us two new videos and a new single. Speaking of new music, keep an ear out for that during his Honolulu set.  Paper Diamond has garnered much praise for creating new remixes for nearly every one of his major performances this year.

At Hallowbaloo, expect Paper Diamond to show off his extensive range likely moving from a celestial vibe, a la Warpaint who plays before him, to a more direct attack on your rhythmic soul - an approach that has earned him many, many fans while touring alongside Pretty Lights. Throughout, the energy will be delivered through multiple layers of sound. Paper Diamond isn’t just for electronic music fans. It’s for those who appreciate complicated music put together beautifully in a wash of spellbinding atmosphere.