A little bit country, a little bit viral.

Bronson Diamond has spent the last decade and change refining a neo-country sound that draws inspiration from artists contemporary and bygone. Johnny Cash’s lovelorn drawl, Charley Crockett’s dive bar storytelling, John Prine’s turn of phrase, Paul Kelly’s conviction.

Diamond is a barber by trade, hailing from Cairns in the tropical Far North Queensland, Australia, though in his formative years he was a steady hand on the side, playing bass for artists across the state. He spends his days listening to country greats at the barber shop and recording his own songs in the hills inland from Cairns with his friend Mark Myers, who also plays in indie cult band The Middle East.

What began as a bedroom project putting together a loosely threaded collection of songs on the beauty of loving harder than you drink, quickly and beyond all expectations found a global audience. Alongside long-time partner and renowned artist Greta Stanley came the razor-sharp duet ‘Stay In Your Lane,’ invoking the acerbic back and forths between Johnny and June, Prine and Dement. The out of the blue success of “Stay In Your Lane” has found Diamond’s voice reaching far-flung corners and unexpected places. The demand for more is growing.

Sometimes all it takes is for lightning to strike a lucky tree. It doesn’t often strike twice, but Bronson Diamond is going to have a good crack at bottling it.