Cleopatrick Family Van

THE STORY: Two friends (guitarist/vocalist Luke Gruntz and drummer Ian Fraser) meet aged four in Hicksville, Nowheretown (real name: Cobourg, Ontario, population 19,000), grow up completely inseparable, form a band and, against numerous obstacles, blossom into a genuine, global underground sensation. There are heroes and villains, highs and lows and, crucially, some of the most poetic plot twists that could seem almost too perfect, were they not completely true.

Since breakthrough track "hometown", cleopatrick have logged 77 million streams and counting - all from an increasingly dedicated fanbase who've found the duo on their own way: no major label, no big budget, just two best pals knuckling down, cementing a unique sonic alchemy and filling a space of honest, empathetic yet undeniably heavy-hitting rock music that they'd been searching for themselves for years.

THE SOUND: Luke and Ian's blossoming love of AC/DC's 'Back In Black' and hip hop (the pair cite Drake and Kendrick Lamar as particular obsessions) quickly seeped into their songwriting. Cemented in their abilities as a duo ("I don't know how we could find a third member it worked as well with, even if we tried"), it became as integral an element within the sonic mix as the bands they'd first fallen in love with. And so, with the MO of making rock music that hit as strongly as the hip hop tracks they loved, but spoke honestly about the things they knew.

THE COLLECTIVE: cleopatrick created the loose DIY collective 'New Rock Mafia' as a means to offer support to one another. NRM is a collection of bands and fans who share the same morals and beliefs; they are all inclusive, gender neutral, and supportive of affiliated bands and fans - with the aim to grow and cultivate a space within rock music that is open and safe for all. cleopatrick took the ethos of the collective and imbued it with the sonic ambition and ferocity of a record designed to be played hard and loud.

THE ALBUM: BUMMER, cleopatrick's debut full-length, was written, recorded and produced by the band and their close friend Jig Dubé. It will be released on the band's own label Nowhere Special Recordings (via The Orchard / Thirty Tigers / Cooking Vinyl Australia) on June 4 (Pre-Order Here). "Just three kids with some fuzz pedals and a point to prove," explains Luke. Between multiple sold out tours in the US, Canada and the UK/EU, appearances at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Reading/Leeds, a recent Amazon Ones to Watch 2021 tip and inclusion on Apple Music playlists, the pair have been crafting BUMMER. It sees cleopatrick harness all the magic they've been brewing over their two-decade friendship and funnel it into a record that aims to reinvigorate the rock landscape from the ground up.

THE SINGLE: Heavy hitting single, "FAMILY VAN" was born out of frustration. "It's an exercise in anger, and a conscious acknowledgement of the humble beginnings, independence, and DIY mentality that makes our band what we are," comments Luke.

THE GAME: Complete with an 8-bit soundtrack composed completely by the band themselves, the FAMILY VAN: THE GAME game sees cleopatrick wake up in their hometown of Coburg, Ontario, late for a headline show in Toronto. The player has to drive the duo's trusty van Vannah Montanah to the gig on time, dodging various obstacles and challenges along the way including picking up the band and crew, major label contracts and clingy groupies.

About the game frontman Luke Gruntz explains "Growing up, Ian and I were always playing video games. I have countless memories of our childhood sleepovers spent drinking root beer, listening to music, and shredding through some newly rented title from the local Blockbuster. We loved these shared digital adventures, always grinding through "one more level" - until we realized our eyes were red and the sun was coming up. Those were some of the best nights.

After this whack last year, we felt like both ourselves, and our friends could really use a little piece of that juvenile escapism we enjoyed so often in our youth. And so we made 'FAMILY VAN: THE GAME'. It's an 8-bit adventure for all ages and it's a dose of much needed escapism. It's a nod to those innocent childhood nights, a vehicle for our new single, and most of all; it's just dope."