Canadian duo cleopatrick is a story straight out of an indie coming-of-age film. Childhood friends from Cobourg, Ontario, Luke Gruntz (vocals/guitar) and Ian Fraser (drums) formed a band and rose to global underground fame against all odds. Their 2017 breakout track “hometown,” a song about feeling unheard, ironically catapulted them into the spotlight, earning over 77 million streams and a devoted fanbase—all without major label backing.
Meeting at age four and bonding over music, the pair received guitars for Christmas at eight and started playing together. Their shared love of rock legends like AC/DC and later hip-hop artists like Drake and Kendrick Lamar shaped their unique sound: heavy-hitting rock with the energy of hip-hop and raw, relatable lyrics. Struggles in their small-town scene fueled their DIY ethos, booking sports bar gigs and navigating rejection, which became a key part of their identity.
cleopatrick’s rise has included sold-out tours across North America and Europe, appearances at major festivals like Reading & Leeds, and Spotify playlist features. Their debut album BUMMER embodies two decades of friendship, blending emotional honesty with booming, unapologetic rock. Through their New Rock Mafia collective, the duo champions inclusivity and authenticity in a genre often plagued by clichés. With BUMMER, cleopatrick proves the power of sticking to your roots and doing things your way.
