The latest Cardboard Sessions goes cosmic.
October 28, 2025
Where ancient meets undiscovered.
Sam Babayan has been on the music scene for years, but the awe and wonder in his lyrics is closer to how a child might see the world. When you hear his words come to life, it transports you to a place that we all somehow remember. And although the ethereal feeling is young, Sam’s native Armenian roots and rich melodies prove he’s an old soul. The combined effect is a sound that feels effortless, transcendent and truly uplifting.
Ladies and gentlemen…The Dirty Diamond!
With Sam’s brother Orbel Babayan on guitar, Fernando Perdomo on bass and Ben Lecourt on drums, The Dirty Diamond shines in the Sessions studio. And this Cali-based crew are no strangers to that shine. They’ve sold-out shows at the Troubadour, The Viper Room and The House of Blues. They’ve scored music for the big screen. And they’ve been moving people all across the globe with their clean, honest sound. As a testament to their cool vibes and professionalism, they were kind enough to play new two new tracks with two wildly unfamiliar new instruments.
“I knew it felt funny, but it plays amazing.”
Like the many Cardboard Sessions bands who came before them, The Dirty Diamond plugged in, turned it up and proved once again that paper rocks. With “Sea of Stars” and “The Thing That’s True,” the band took our Fender Telecaster, Fender bass and Masters of Maple drum kit to a whole different plane. In a mix of blues, a little bit of psych rock and the poetry of Sam, this first-ever performance of their two new singles a tapestry of sound. And with Sam on a 10-string acoustic guitar, the blend was something gentle and magical.
Their aura continues.
The essence of their music is something we don’t always see today, filled with positivity, gentleness and just plain honesty. We hope you enjoy these two never-before-heard tracks and encourage you to explore more of The Dirty Diamond discography: “To the Stars,” “From the Stars,” “Our Divine & Sovereign Mother,” and their first, eponymous album, “The Dirty Diamond.”
