DIET CIG: A DYNAMIC DUO
The Rising Indie Stars + Their Second Album
Two New Yorkers, Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman make up the duo Diet Cig. Together, they’ve mastered the kind of gritty authenticity that’s become all the rage in the era of the DIY live show trend. And that’s made them the perfect candidates to become rising stars in the indie scene that reveres vintage sound and self-made success.
Diet Cig released its second full-length studio album May 1, Do You Wonder About Me? Takes a deep dive into the original, realistic ideas and emotions they explore in their first EP and debut album.
According to an interview Diet Cig gave to Pitchfork after the release of its first EP, the pair met at a house show when Luciano interrupted the performance to ask Bowman for a lighter (yes, really). That thoroughly alternative origin story kicked off a career of making music that fits their unapologetic character types.
Anger and other overwhelming emotions have always been welcome in Diet Cig’s world. Their breakout single “Harvard” defies the idea of a proverbial Ivy League trophy girlfriend that Luciano’s former flame seems to prefer with half screams and insistent curses. Do You Wonder About Me? retains the angst and honesty but refines it.
Make no musical mistake–these are indeed the same artists that performed “Harvard” and other early works at South by Southwest in 2016 and 2017. The common thread of dense guitar melodies that wash over you in waves of 90s-inspired nostalgia continues to permeate their newest release.
The lead single for the album “Night Terrors” is an absolute highlight of Do You Wonder About Me? Luciano explained to Dork in January that the track explores her frequent insomnia. The lyrics are vulnerable and even refreshingly tender at times. Another favorite on the 10-track record is “Thriving,” an accusatory tune with a repeated promise of resilience.
Diet Cig’s spring tour is now on hold. They’ll kick off their trek across the U.S. and the U.K. in October with the first concert in Pittsburgh.
