Artist Spotlight
Premiere: Cigar Club Presents Newest Track “COLD”
Cigar Club’s newest track “COLD,” is a raucous thrill ride about loving someone who shows adoration in frigid ways.
The track from the Toronto four-piece has a punk rock energy to it—featuring blistering guitar bends, bombastic drum fills, smooth bass, and vocals that echo The Stooges’ early work. The singer has clearly been hurt and you feel it during the first line—”Maybe it’s true that I’m already your dog” and you immediately feel for the guy trapped in this icy coffin of a relationship. Still, lust rules during this hard alt-rock epic.
The vocals harmonies on “I” and “no” during the chorus are also pretty damn glam rock. Think T.Rex meets a heavy counterpart like Black Sabbath and you’re close.
The drum and bass combo are ridiculously tight allowing the guitar to dive head-first into heavy, chaotic, dimensions of distortion. Also, keep your ears alert for the little two-second bass fill—a highlight of the track.
Then comes the outro guitar solo, which sounds like it was meticulously crafted to bounce off the dark tone of “COLD” perfectly. The solo sounds like it could live on the Era Vulgaris Queens of the Stone Age record and really sends the song home. Yes, “COLD” is a banger of a track and will hauntingly stay with you hours after your first listen.
Though Cigar Club sounds like they have been playing together for nigh on a decade, the young band got its start in 2016 from the mutual interest in guitar maestro John Mayer. The sound quickly shifted into a heavier alt-rock with a bit of blues and soul.
They recorded their debut self-titled EP and started getting traction in Toronto playing live shows in 2019. The EP caught the notice of Billy Talent’s guitarist, Ian D’sa, who invited Cigar Club to play a curated show at the Bovine Sex Club. Cigar Club also recently made it into the semi-finals out of 100+ bands during 97.7 HTZ FM’s 2020 ROCKSEARCH.
“COLD” is the last single, following the previous singles “…Aliens” and “Swimmin’ in Gold,” and “From a Southeast Asian Two Bedroom Condo.” Cigar Club will unleash their highly anticipated full-length, Day, Now, in August. The debut LP promises to be an onslaught of hard rock tunes with a psychedelic, experimental edge.
“It takes the listener through all ends of the music spectrum, from heavy hard rock to soft ambient soundscapes,” Cigar Club says. “We really aimed to display our dynamic ability in this record and I think we managed to pull it off.”
Artist Spotlight
Cali Tucker Unwraps Christmas Magic With Her New EP “Santa Baby”
Cali Tucker is back in the spotlight this season with “Santa Baby,” a beautifully made holiday EP that captures the heart, warmth, and timeless glow of Christmas classics. Cali is known for singing the National Anthem at NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400 in front of 80,000 fans and more than three million people at home. She brings the same powerful presence and emotional depth to this holiday project.
“Santa Baby” is a great holiday release for music lovers, bloggers, and new artist discovery sites. It has six tracks and lasts 20 minutes. It mixes nostalgia with Cali’s signature smooth vocals. Each song shows off her talent, but “O Holy Night” and “The Christmas Song” are two that stand out as favorites. Both performances show off her range, control, and ability to bring classic songs into modern emotional spaces without losing their original charm.
“O Holy Night” stands out as the EP’s spiritual center, with a glowing performance full of dynamics, warmth, and a cinematic stillness that draws people in. Cali gives the song both respect and a unique touch, breathing new life into a well-known hymn. “The Christmas Song,” on the other hand, makes you feel like you’re sitting next to a fire. It’s soft, heartfelt, and full of stories that make you feel nostalgic. Cali’s voice flows effortlessly through every note, making it impossible not to feel the magic of the season.
The whole EP flows easily and has a mix of fun sparkle, soulful warmth, and classic Christmas music. “Santa Baby” is the perfect song for the season, whether people are making holiday playlists, looking for new Christmas music, or discovering new vocal talents. This EP adds a new but familiar sound to today’s holiday music scene. It has a comforting feel and is easy to listen to repeatedly.
Artist Spotlight
Kalpee Honors Heritage and Heart on His Emotion-Rich New EP Dougla Boi
Kalpee is back with Dougla Boi, a beautiful new EP that is both personal and powerful. It gives listeners a close look at the layers of identity, heritage, and emotion that make him who he is. The Trinidad and Tobago artist is confident in his own space, which is rooted in New Calypso and polished with hints of dancehall, R&B, and afrobeats. In this space, genre bends, but emotion leads.
Named after the Trinidadian word for someone of mixed African and Indian heritage, Dougla Boi is honest, proud, and warm about the complexities of culture. Kalpee opens a window into the dualities that define him across six tracks, turning personal truth into universal resonance. The EP is just under 19 minutes long, but every second is carefully planned to take listeners on a journey through courage, joy, healing, and the quiet strength that comes from accepting all parts of yourself.
The first single, “Under,” stands out right away for its calming yet emotionally charged experience. Kalpee’s voice flows over a beat that sounds both new and old, fitting the EP’s theme of bringing cultures together. It’s one of the best examples of how he can mix soft and hard sounds, which is what makes his New Calypso sound so unique.
“Everybody,” which features Full Blown, is another excellent song that has already done very well. It has a happy vibe and an infectious bounce, making it one of the EP’s most replayable songs. “Everybody” captures the spirit of community and shared experience, which is what Kalpee means when he says that identity is not a box but a rhythm.
Connect with Kalpee: Instagram
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