DIET CIG – photo Emily Dubin
photo Emily Dubin

Diet Cig prep new LP, tell us about what they're listening to during quarantine

Indie rock duo Diet Cig release their new album Do You Wonder About Me? on May 1 via Frenchkiss. You can check out their fizzy new single “Who Are You?” below. The band were supposed to be on tour in May, but the coronavirus has pushed that to the fall (hopefully), including a NYC show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 5. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile, we’ve been asking artists what they’ve been listening to during coronavirus isolation and Diet Cig have given us a playlist featuring Sad13 and Thin Lips (who are joining them on select East Coast dates of the tour), plus Adult Mom, The Presidents of the United States of America, Ben Folds, Kimya Dawson and more. Check that out, complete with track-by-track commentary, below.

DIET CIG – WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO DURING QUARANTINE

Caroline Rose – “Feel The Way I Want To”
This song makes me want to dance like crazy in my house, it’s been so cathartic to just let loose to it. This whole album is so blissful, it makes my brain happy.

Charmpit – “Wild Wild Westfield”
Charmpit is the best! Their songwriting is cheeky and funny and so smart. Wild Wild Westfield is a celebration of THE MALL and I cant believe how badly I wish I could go to the mall right now. I want to listen to this song while I’m at claire’s getting my third earring hole.

Adult Mom – “Berlin”
The doubled vocal hook of this song gives me goosebumps! Stevie writes such amazing melodies and this song is no exception. This makes me feel all nostalgic and fuzzy and its a great song to try to feel hopeful to while stuck inside.

Personal Trainer – “Obsessed” ft Huck
I’ve had this song on like all my playlists this year, it’s so catchy and I loveeee the sounds. Such a messy room relatable anthem, we’ve all either been the messy partner or had a messy partner. It feels especially pointed right now while I’m stuck in my house haha.

Kimya Dawson – “Will You Be Me?”
My mom introduced me to Kimya Dawson when I was in middle school, it was right before Juno came out and I remember watching it with her in a hotel room and she was just losing her mind that this artist she loved was in such a big movie. I always feel closer to my mom when I listen to Kimya and it’s been hard to be so far from family right now. I think a lot of my love for songwriting has been inspired by songs like this one, its been especially comforting to listen to stuff like this right now.

The Presidents of the United States of America – “Volcano”
the guitars!!! can you even believe??? this album has perfect guitars. we are so lucky to listen to this album. My uncle found this CD in his car when I was young and passed it off to me, I think this was the first album where I realized I liked the songs specifically because of the way the guitars sounded. It flipped a switch in my brain for sure.

Sad13 – “Hype”
I’ve been listening to a lot of the bands we’re supposed to tour with later this year to keep me from getting too sad about the shows being postponed, and this song really gets me stoked!! I love Sad13 and can’t wait to play some shows with them later in 2020 (fingers crossed!).

Ben Folds – “Best Imitation of Myself”
The intro melody to this song gets stuck in my head ALL THE TIME and I think of it any time I’m trying to write a song. Ben Folds is a melodic genius and this whole song is just so catchy. It’s a classic that never ever gets old. I really love the message of being unabashedly yourself too.

Thin Lips – “I Know That I’m The Asshole”
I love the uptempo drums and aching vocals in this song. It just makes me feel good. A good set of “oohs” really boosts my mood and these lyrics are so relatable.

Elah Hale – “Gentle”
What a soft bop!! This is the one you need to listen to while you’re cozying up all day in bed, having a guilt-free day of flipping around in the comforters with your hunny (or laptop lol). Elah Hale is just pumping out hit after hit!!!

Diet Cig – 2020 Tour
Oct 3 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Andy Warhol Museum
Oct 4 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
Oct 6 – Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward
Oct 7 – St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
Oct 8 – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
Oct 10 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Oct 13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Oct 14 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Oct 16 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Oct 17 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Oct 18 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Oct 21 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Oct 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Nov 03 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat #^
Nov 04 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #^
Nov 05 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #^
Nov 18 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
Nov 19 – Nottingham, UK @ The Bodega
Nov 20 – Manchester, UK @ YES
Nov 22 – Birmingham, UK @ The Hare and Hounds
Nov 23 – Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast
Nov 24 – Leeds, UK @ Belgrave Music Hall
Nov 26 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope and Ruin
Nov 27 – London, UK @ The Dome
Nov 28 – Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach
# = w/ Sad13
^ = w/ Thin Lips