Diamonds Under Fire (in the studio/new song up!) on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

Rock outfit Diamonds Under Fire is the musical heart of singer/songwriter Vanessa Silberman.

Taking major influences from 90's alternative groups, Diamonds Under Fire leads the way from where the few female fronted rock groups left off. Her surefire performance is akin to the confidence & spirit of Chrissie Hynde, the rawness of PJ Harvey, the bare bones rock 'n roll of Nirvana and the pop production sensibilities of Pink. Songs such as the anxious bitter sweetness of "Binge Thinking" and "Reverie" showcase Vanessa with a heavy heart. Like Dashboard Confessional, she does it without wearing it on her sleeve while adding a hearty dose of enthusiasm and the intensity of her heroes in Silverchair.

Her band's namesake says it all. The fact that diamonds are made from coal under great pressure & heat deep in the heart of the earth is an apt analogy for Diamonds Under Fire’s Vanessa finding her footing as an artist.

The Californian singer/songwriter spent her formative years as a bohemian of sorts. Split between living with her mother in Hawaii, & living with her father in the Bay Area, Vanessa's developing identity was different from the start. Growing up in Hawaii , she did not have MTV or Radio to hear the latest buzz band. Vanessa got her first CDs from Columbia House (10 CDs for a penny), which she found in Rolling Stone and Spin magazines at the library. By age 17, she was sent off to school in Arizona where she dabbled with drugs & was kicked out.

Starting Diamonds Under Fire in her late teens was Vanessa’s way of waving the white flag. She’s surrendered to her own dreams, her own heart, and her own passion. Vanessa found a way to confront the confusion of the world around her with ease and distinctive observation while embracing life’s unique beauty with a sincere and honest approach.

For the last three years, Diamonds Under Fire's songs have been featured on the Vans Off the Wall compilation CD. 100,000 copies are distributed at the Vans Warped Tour each summer. Off the Wall is also available at hundreds of Vans retail shops across the globe. The song "Empty Walls" became very popular with Vans customers, employees, and key lifestyle retail. Vans Marketing Manager Kurt Soto says, "Peers kept asking about "Empty Walls" and referred to it as one of their favorite tracks." In 2005, Diamonds Under Fire was also one of eight bands selected for the House of Blues/"McDonalds's Big Mac" Contest. Diamonds Under Fire were the only unsigned act featured & had the most downloads with over 500k. Most recently, Diamonds Under Fire has a feature & Cover Call Out in the June 2007 issue of Guitar Player.

She's not old enough to rent a car in the U.S., but Vanessa has toured the country & overseas, performing shows (sponsored by Vans and Gibson) at such venues as the Double Door in Chicago, the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Sin-é in New York & the Spice Of Life in London. Wherever she plays, Vanessa is heating up the stage and proving to be more than a diamond-in-the-rough.

Credits: MacKenzie Wilson, Robyn Matthew

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