INTERVIEW: CLEOPATRICK IN CONVERSATION WITH LUKE GRUNTZ & IAN FRASER
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
No Barriers caught up with Canadian band Cleopatrick (Luke Gruntz and Ian Fraser) to talk about the ‘Guts’ of their ‘Fake Moon’ first ever tour of Australia and their plans for rock domination as they plan to deliver the “greatest rock concerts – better than AC/DC” here in Oz.
Cleopatrick is a rock band made up of Luke Gruntz on vocals and guitar and Ian Fraser on drums. They're from a small town called Cobourg in Ontario, Canada. And, the name of the band? “Well. We started our band in high school. We just smashed two names together – it was a thing and it wasn’t deep – and it’s too late to change it now” stated Luke Gruntz.
Other than the interesting name, Cleopatrick have an amazing and distinctive rock sound as a duo, they use low tuned, heavy guitar solos and gritty drum beat drops in their music. The distorted chords wrap around interesting and introspective lyrics that ricocheted around your head when you are listening to their music. These sonic forces, or “musical language” as Luke Gruntz described it, along with transparent song writing really shows their dynamic and organic soundscape in the newly released single ‘Guts’.
“We wanted to have a song that fans could bounce to,” explained vocalist and guitarist Luke Gruntz. “It has been great to share the song with fans and watch their reactions. I am actually spending too much time on my phone. We have been working on ‘Guts’ and it was ready to get it out. It is different sonically from ‘Fake Moon’ but we work on a song-by-song basis. Each song gets its own treatment and we trust in the process of getting it right for that song. ‘Guts’ is good fun”.
Cleopatrick will be touring Australia for the first time this September as they deliver their ‘Fake Moon’ album and other songs to fans. ‘Fake Moon’ has a delicious indie-rock sound that leaves the listener spiralling through the pixelated guitar chords. “The album was very personal to me and I had to get it out. I wanted to share it with fans,” said Luke Gruntz. “Through my music I want to tell my own story. I know the sound is different on ‘Fake Moon’ with its electric tensions but I don’t want to feel shy about experimenting with sounds and lyrics. This album - I needed to make it. I know it doesn’t fit the “grungy indie” cannon but it is a different sonic world: ‘Fake Moon’ feels like a place. It is the most meaningful and calculated thing that we have ever created in our lives”.
“When we tour, we will be sitting down today to work through a setlist. What we want to deliver is a good mix, as we have been a band for over 10 years now,” stated Luke Gruntz. “We usually deliver live shows that are relentless, high energy with our grungy-garage sounds, and we like punching fans in the face with our sound. So, we will try to move between our old songs with our heavily amped sounds and the newer songs where our guitars and drums are pumped straight into the PA with it tuned low. It’s great because it leaves space for the higher frequencies and the lyrics. We like experimenting with our sound so that fans remain surprised by the shift from songs from garage rock to those organic lo-fi vibes”.
Cleopatrick’s live shows are known for being dynamic and explosive. “We are looking forward to touring Australia,” exclaimed Luke Gruntz. “We have been touring Europe and the UK. We have done the Leeds and Reading festivals. They were on our bucket list. Australian fans have been messaging us to come on down and we are on our way soon. We have no idea what to expect in Australia. All I know about Australia is what I learned from the DVD’s I rented as a kid like ‘Scooby Doo: Legend of the Vampire’ (the Canadian connection being Simple Plan’s theme song) and ‘Kangaroo Jack’. Then, we are heading back to London”.
Known for their no-frills intensity and genre-defying style, Cleopatrick will be sure to rock the Australian venues as they fuse lo-fi crunch with expansive, emotional song writing. “We want to create a culture of honesty in guitar music,” stated Luke Gruntz. “We want to build a scene where fans can really trust what they’re hearing from musicians. It’s about being real and setting ourselves apart from the people that aren’t like that - not because we think we are better than everyone else, but because we know we are on a different mission with our music”.
Fans should check out Cleopatrick’s new song ‘Guts’ that has just been released and give ‘Fake Moon’ some well deserved time before heading out to see them here live. You won't want to miss it.
Cleopatrick – Debut Australian Tour 2025
September Thursday, 25 Sept 2025 – Crowbar – Brisbane
September Friday, 26 Sept 2025 – Corner Hotel – Melbourne
September Saturday, 27 Sept 2025 – Crowbar – Sydney
