B-Side Guys

Few genres are as deeply entrenched in America’s cultural identity as country. But for all its enduring popularity, country music has long been associated with a narrow, often exclusionary vision of what it means to be American. Enter Diaphane, the Long Island, NY born, South Dakota-based artist whose new EP, “God Ain’t A Man And Ain’t In The Dictionary,” is a bold and transgressive attempt to reclaim the genre for those who have been pushed to its margins.

Released on May 10, 2024, the five-track, 19-minute EP is a love/hate letter to country music, one that seeks to subvert its traditional tropes and themes while still paying homage to its rich musical history. Drawing on a diverse array of influences, from indie rock and shoegaze to chamber pop, Diaphane has crafted a sound that is both familiar and wholly unique, a testament to their ability to find beauty and meaning in the unexpected.

Thematically, the EP is a deeply personal exploration of queerness, alienation, and the search for belonging in a world that often feels hostile to those who don’t fit neatly into its prescribed boxes. As a queer artist living in a state where the LGBTQIA+ community is often pushed underground, Diaphane has had to navigate the complexities of self-discovery and self-expression in a way that is both challenging and deeply rewarding. And it is this experience that forms the emotional core of “God Ain’t A Man And Ain’t In The Dictionary.”

From the opening track, “Movin’ In With The Muse,” it’s clear that Diaphane is not interested in playing by the rules of traditional country music. The song’s lush, dreamy instrumentation and introspective lyrics set the tone for an EP that is more concerned with exploring the interior landscapes of the heart and mind than with telling simple, straightforward stories of love and loss.

This theme is further explored on tracks like “I Fell For Her, She Fell For Him, And He Fell For Me,” a poignant and deeply moving meditation on the fluidity of desire and the complexity of human relationships. With its shimmering, reverb-drenched guitars and haunting vocal harmonies, the song is a perfect example of how Diaphane is able to combine disparate musical elements into something that feels both timeless and utterly modern.

But it is on the EP’s title track that Diaphane’s vision truly comes into focus. “God Ain’t A Man And Ain’t In The Dictionary” is a searing indictment of the patriarchal and heteronormative structures that have long dominated country music and American culture more broadly. With its driving, punk-infused energy and unapologetically queer lyrics, the song is a rallying cry for those who have been marginalized and oppressed, a demand for recognition and respect in a world that has long denied them both.

Elsewhere on the EP, Diaphane pays tribute to the queer pioneers who have paved the way for artists like themselves. The closing track, a haunting cover of Ned Sublette’s “Cowboys Are Secretly Fond of Each Other,” is a particularly poignant example of this, a reminder that even in the most seemingly traditional and conservative of spaces, there have always been those who have dared to love and live outside the lines.

Ultimately, what makes “God Ain’t A Man And Ain’t In The Dictionary” such a powerful and necessary work of art is the way it uses the language and iconography of country music to tell a different kind of story, one that is more inclusive, more diverse, and more representative of the true complexity of the American experience. By combining the sounds of country, shoegaze, and chamber pop, Diaphane has created a musical landscape that is both hauntingly beautiful and deeply subversive, a testament to the enduring power of art to challenge our assumptions and expand our understanding of the world around us.

In a time when the very notion of what it means to be American is being hotly contested and debated, “God Ain’t A Man And Ain’t In The Dictionary” feels like a vital and necessary intervention, a reminder that the true strength of our nation lies in its diversity, its creativity, and its ability to embrace and celebrate difference in all its forms. With this EP, Diaphane has not only created a powerful work of art, but a rallying cry for a new kind of American music, one that is more honest, more inclusive, and more reflective of the beautiful, complex, and often messy reality of life in these United States.