Musician
Diamond Balazhi is a US/Macedonian guitarist, composer, and songwriter, renowned not only for his technical versatility across blues, rock, and jazz, but for the rare emotional authenticity, pure heart, and unreserved passion he pours into everything he creates.
Character, Emotion, and Roots
What immediately resonates in Balazhi’s music is a profound sincerity – a quality deeply anchored in his upbringing in Macedonia. The warm, nurturing family environment in which he was raised cultivated not only his early fascination with guitar-driven music, but also the grounded, generous character that defines him as a person. That personal integrity translates directly into his playing, filling every composition with genuine feeling, warmth, and depth.
From Macedonia to the USA
Born in Macedonia, Diamond Balazhi discovered his passion for music at an early age. One of his earliest memories was finding a record player at home and randomly putting on albums by ZZ Top and Deep Purple. That moment sparked a lifelong love for rock, blues, and guitar-driven music.
At 15, Diamond began studying classical guitar, eventually pursuing college studies in jazz music. During his college years, he became an accomplished gigging musician, performing across a wide range of genres including jazz, blues, metal, and rock ’n’ roll. These experiences helped shape his versatile playing style and musical identity.
In 2015, Diamond moved to the United States, bringing his guitar, his passion, and a growing collection of songs with him. His debut album, Lies, a collaboration with Bojan Veljanoski, was completed in 2015 and released in 2016. He continued recording and producing for artists and projects across the U.S. and Europe, while releasing solo music including As Years Go Passing By, Wayfarer, and Rise Up.
Songwriters: Diamond Balazhi / Bojan Veljanoski
Mix, recording, artwork: Slave Viktorijoski
Songwriters: Diamond Balazhi / Bojan Veljanoski
Produced/Recorded by: Diamond Balazhi
Mixed by: Larry Millas
Mastered by: Gregor Zemljic
Vocals: Bojan Veljanoski
Guitars/Bass: Diamond Balazhi
Horns/Trumpets: Kenzie MacKillop
Drums: Nikola Dimitrovski
Artwork: Slave Viktorijoski
Diamond later joined forces with his lifelong friend Kenzie MacKillop to create the project Trees Will Bind. Their debut album, Better in Time, was released in December 2023.
Live acoustic session recorded at The Basement Studio (Studio Podrumot) in Skopje, Macedonia.
Featuring:
- Bojan Veljanoski — vocals
- Diamond Balazhi — guitar, vocals
Mixing & Mastering by Angel Kjosev
Video production by Gjorgji Vacev (Pinestel)
Today, Diamond is also the driving force behind Marbled In Stone, his collaboration with Bojan Veljanoski. Their three-song cinematic trilogy – Unbreakable, Men of Silver Soul, and Not Gonna Run Away – blends rock music with storytelling through a series of connected short films.
Pushing sound forward
Based in the Chicago area, Diamond continues performing across Chicagoland and the U.S. with various projects, including Matt Keen and Whiskey Road, while continuing to develop his own music and artistic vision.
From discovering ZZ Top and Deep Purple on a record player in Macedonia to building a life and career in the United States, Diamond Balazhi’s journey is defined by a deep connection to music, a passion for guitar, and an ongoing commitment to creating, performing, and pushing his sound forward.
Photograph: Pece Zdravkovski