“Up Next” Artist Review – Diet Cig

By Roxy Augeri

Diet Cig is a self proclaimed “slop pop” indie duo that took the world by storm with their upbeat tales of being young. The pair met at SUNY New Paltz in 2014 when lead drummer Noah Bowman met vocalist and guitarist Alex Luciano at a party and they hit it off. Bowman took Luciano’s acoustic songs and infused them with drums and electric guitar, creating the EP “Over Easy” later that summer.

This band allows you to just take a moment to pause and enjoy a good beat. I can’t put it any better than First Avenue & 7th Street: “They’re here to tear you away from the soul-sucking sanctity of your dumpster-fire life and replace it with pop-blessed punk jams about navigating the impending doom of adulthood when all you want is to have ice cream on your birthday.” Ironically, this is exactly how you feel when listening to the music; slightly out of control, but certainly enjoying yourself.

This music gives off a distinct punk vibe. It seems as if Luciano is screaming a lot of the lyrics, which I find kind of grating. She has such a lovely voice, and I think the lyrical style feels a little forced. Paired with an aggressive set of drums and electric guitar, this isn’t the same calm indie music I expected when I first started listening to them. To some degree that’s refreshing, but it’s just a little too aggressive for my taste. 

That being said, this is the kind of music I would play if I just need to put my headphones on and escape; the lyrics are extremely smart, and there’s something to be said for having a strong backtrack. I found their newest album “Do You Wonder About Me?” the easiest to listen to, as it feels like it circles back to their EP “Over Easy,” which better represents their upbeat indie sound. They come back to a calmer disposition and Bowman’s drums feel like they are supporting the tracks, not overtaking them. 

Personally, my favorite song is “Thriving” on their latest album. It has a 1990’s punk-pop vibe that feels like it would be the backtrack to a movie like Clueless. It has just the right ratio of lyrics-to-guitar-to-drums, making for a more exciting dance. Other honorable mentions include “Who Are You” for a good girl power bop, “Worth the Wait” for staring at the wall and contemplating life, and “Maid of the Mist” for driving with the windows down. 

Overall, while this isn’t exactly my favorite genre of music, I respect how Diet Cig has been able to carve something out for themselves. I can confidently say that their sound is extremely unique; and that’s the sign of a good artist, whether I prefer the style or not. 3.3 stars out of 5.

Sources: dietcig.com | first-avenue.com | bluebirdtheater.net |Spotify | facebook.com/dietcigmusic | Twitter @dietcig