Diamond Rings: Juno Awards Let Electro-Pop Star Impress Grandma, Threaten Avril

Diamond Rings might not be in the music biz to win awards, but if snagging a shiny Juno makes him the fave at family dinners, then he's all for putting on a cool tux and strutting the red carpet Sunday night in Canada's capital.

"It's nice to know that you can make a record in your bedroom and be nominated for something that my Grandma would have recognized as an achievement in music," he tells Spinner. "I'm elated and very excited!"

Being the apple of grannie's eye isn't the only thing on the electro-popper's mind when it comes to his New Artist of the Year Juno nod.

"I don't write music to win awards; it's nice to be nominated but at the end of the day if it can inspire a kid to pick up a guitar or keyboard then that's great."

Toronto's indie glam-God is obviously happy to see the Juno buzz give his Special Affections album a bump but he's not just celebrating his own profile boost this award season.

"If some kid can go and buy the Austra album or the Azari & III album and just get into good music because of their Electronic Album nomination then that's awesome."

"But people are going to make good music whether or not they win some prize," he adds.

As for Diamond Rings' own "good music," the MAC-loving music-maker says his next album is already in the can and he has some words of advice for a certain former skater girl. "I have a new record in the bag and it sounds way better than this one, so hopefully I'll be back with some more nominations next time.

"Let's just say that Avril's got to watch her back."