Diamond Mountain

Standard edition album cover

## Singles from *Diamond Mountain*

1. "Pop!"
Released: December 16, 2016
2. "Deer"
Released: January 20, 2017
3. "Mountain"
Released: February 24, 2017
4. "Enemy"
Released: March 3, 2017
5. "Memories"
Released: March 10, 2017
6. "Pendulum"
Released: March 17, 2017
7. "Diamond"
Released: March 24, 2017

***Diamond Mountain*** is the third studio album by Australian singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Aurora. It was released on March 31, 2017, through Red Rose Records. *Diamond Mountain* is an indie pop, alternative, and folk record, stepping away from Aurora's commercially viable formulas in favour of deeper, more emotive concepts. Lyrically, it explores themes of delusion, grief, and self doubt, as well as inner strength and overcoming adversities. It was primarily independently written and produced by Aurora.

## Background and development

Directly following the successful consecutive *Platinum Heart* and *Silhouettes* album campaigns, Aurora signed on as a judge for the eighth season of popular singing reality competition series Platinum Voice in October 2015.

After the conclusion of Platinum Voice in February 2016, Aurora announced plans to embark on her first concert tour, The Heartstorm Tour, in support of her albums *Platinum Heart* and *Silhouettes*. The tour began in May 2016 in Platvia, concluding in August 2016 in Aurora's home continent of Australia, with select dates throughout North America, Europe, and Asia during the tour's near four month span. The tour was considered a landmark success.

Four months after the conclusion of The Heartstorm Tour, Aurora began scheduling studio sessions in December 2016 for what would become her third studio album. Now afforded more creative freedom, Aurora experimented with new themes, drawing inspiration from the alternative and folk genres. In an interview with *Mode* magazine, Aurora revealed she wanted to, "push [herself] creatively, and continue to grow [her] flourishing global fanbase."

## Singles and promotion

"Pop!" was released as the lead single from *Diamond Mountain* on December 16, 2016. Upon its release the single was praised for its minimalistic delivery and clever utilisation of metaphors and onomatopoeia. It debuted at #2 on the Platvia HitList, receiving a rating of 8.4 by Platvian music critics.

"Deer" was released as the second single from the album on January 20, 2017. It was favourably received, with most critics praising its usage of extended rhyme schemes and mysterious, metaphorical nature. It peaked at #2 on the Platvia HitList, and received an 8.833 rating by Platvian music critics.

"Mountain" was released as the album's third single on February 24, 2017. After a conspiracy theory insisting "Mountain" was a metaphor for the struggles faced by the people of Mexico began circulating on Stan Twitter, the single became especially popular in the country, and received a Spanglish remix with Tijuana-based singer-songwriter ughgabriel. It received an 8.06 rating by Platvian music critics, and initially charted at #3 on the Platvia HitList.

"Enemy" was released as the fourth single from the album on March 3, 2017. Impressed by its production and Aurora's continual experimentation with the hip hop genre, critics praised its urban vibe and rap verse. It received a rating of 8.8375 by Platvian music critics, peaking at #4 on the Platvia HitList.

"Memories" was released as the album's fifth single on March 10, 2017. Platvian music critics revered the track for its psychedelic influences and unconventional themes, lyricism, and style of storytelling. Debuting at #1 on the Platvia HitList, the song received a rating of 9 by Platvian music critics, becoming Aurora's best selling and most acclaimed single since the 2015 *Silhouettes* single "Set Sail", and remains one of Aurora's signature songs.

"Pendulum" was released as the sixth single from the album on March 17, 2017. Initially marketed as a promotional single alongside the Temporal-assisted "Pyramid", it was praised for its themes of self-reflection and overcoming one's own demons. Receiving a rating of 7.7 by Platvian music critics, it was upgraded to official single, with "Pyramid" serving as its B-side. It peaked at #3 on the Platvia HitList, while topping the alternative component chart.

"Diamond" was released as the album's seventh and final single on March 24, 2017. Also serving as the lead single and title track of the album's pre-release EP, *Diamond*, it was met with praise by critics, who considered it both a fitting album opener and era closer on the whole due to its themes of strength and resilience. It received a rating of 8 by Platvian music critics and peaked at #5 on the Platvia HitList, while topping the electronic component chart.

### **Promotional singles**

"Snowflake Secrets" was released as the first promotional single from the album on December 9, 2016. It peaked at #8, receiving a rating of 7.375.

"Dear Diary" was released as the album's second promotional single on January 27, 2017. It peaked at #8, receiving a rating of 6.4875.

"Poles Apart" was released as the third promotional single from the album on February 17, 2017. It peaked at #5, receiving a rating of 7.6.

"Pyramid" featuring Temporal was released as the fourth and final promotional single on March 17, 2017. It peaked at #7, receiving a rating of 6.9.

### **Other charted songs**

"Stars to Freedom" was released as part of the *Diamond* EP on March 24, 2017. It peaked at #3 on the charity component chart, receiving a rating of 7.75. Simultaneously, the extended album version of single "Mountain" helped the song reach a new peak of #2 on the Platvia HitList, receiving a rating of 8.75.

### **Mexican edition**

Due to Aurora's rise to fame in Mexico, a special edition of *Diamond Mountain* was released in the country alongside its standard edition on March 31, 2017. The Mexican edition of the album includes the ughgabriel-assisted Spanglish version of "Mountain" and the Temporal-assisted "Pyramid" as bonus tracks.

## Aurora chronology

### ***Diamond Mountain: Deluxe***

Following her split from Red Rose Records in 2020, Aurora announced the launch of her own independent label Aurora Records in 2021, and that she would be re-recording and reissuing all of her past studio albums, with each reissued album featuring bonus tracks left off their standard track list.

*Diamond Mountain: Deluxe* was released on May 15, 2021. Among the deluxe edition bonus tracks are the Spanglish remix version of "Mountain" featuring ughgabriel, the "Pendulum" B-side "Pyramid" featuring Temporal, an acoustic version of "Katrina", written by Aurora for British singer Kayn, and the classic holiday song "Alone at Christmastime". A hidden track, "Breadcrumbs", is only included on physical editions, following a moment of silence.

## Critical reception

*Diamond Mountain* received generally favourable reviews from Platvian music critics, naming "Memories" a career highlight. Tracks "Enemy", "Deer", and "Mountain" were considered album highlights, while critics questioned the inclusion of the freeverse rap track "Dear Diary". The album received a combined Platacritic Platascore of 78/100.

## Commercial performance

*Diamond Mountain* debuted at #1 on the Platvian Albums Chart dated April 11, 2017, where it remained at the top for a total of five weeks. The album has spent a combined total of 124 weeks on the chart.

It was ranked at #2 on the Platvian Year End Albums Chart for 2017.

## Track listing

All tracks are written and produced by Aurora Renée Jaymesson, except where noted.

* Standard edition
* Mexican edition
* Deluxe edition

**Standard edition**

**Mexican edition**

**Deluxe edition**

### **Notes**

* "Pyramid" was co-written with Temporal.
* "Breadcrumbs" was written by Moonchild, and is only included on physical editions.

## Release history

 Various
 May 15, 2021

## Packaging

Front of jewel case packaging for Aurora's album *Diamond Mountain: Deluxe* (2021).Back of jewel case packaging for Aurora's album *Diamond Mountain: Deluxe* (2021).