Clementine, punk-rockers from Rockford, IL release “Quinn Cicala” / Oct. 17, 2025

Alternative emo punk-rockers Clementine have just released their latest track, “Quinn Cicala,” today, October 17, 2025.

“Quinn Cicala” is an adrenaline rush of a track featuring addictive guitar leads, dynamic rhythm, and vocals that show prowess through both soft and powerfully belted moments. The track starts with the aforementioned soft vocals alongside a crisp, buzzy electric guitar lead. Then a kick drum ushers in a full band sound, which includes a second guitar layer alongside the drums and bass. 

This sound then fades down to nothing, just for the end of a lyrical bar that goes, “I’ll never learn to make them agree, the parts of me that hate each other.” This works well with the track, as the pull-back gives extra depth to the sense of introspection that comes from the lyric. It also works well, because what immediately follows is a speedy chorus with every member hitting complex rhythms while weaving each intricacy into the next cleanly. At the end of the chorus, the lyrics fade away to give a thrashy guitar lead a chance to shine. The way the verses and chorus work together gives an entrancing nature to things, as it builds a sense of anticipation for the second chorus and in future listens.

After the second chorus, there’s a captivating bridge with strikingly powerful belted vocals that bend around and hold out notes with clean stability. The last note of this bridge reverberates and slowly fades away before the guitar then follows and delivers the same kind of energetic intricacy before the chorus fades in for one last hit with a quick instrumental fading things back and ushering out the track.

It isn’t just the music that makes this track come across as a standout in the Clementine discography; it’s also the lyrics. Lyrically, it seems to capture a tale of loss of self-identity, interpersonal struggle, and disconnect from others, as well as the self. The intro of the track includes the lines, “I keep my answers on a sheet / The questions they asked me now I ask me.” This shows a shift in one’s mindset, the things that once seemed solid in one’s mind moving from being answers to questions. This concept in the track is further explored in the verse after the first chorus with, “I hold what I can / But everything is anything.” This is tied to aging, as the second line of this verse explores graying hair. Throughout the track, there are different explorations of thoughts and feelings slipping away.

The chorus explores a feeling of having to be fine, “Outside, out of my small life

I’m fine, I have to be,” which suggests that the narrator feels they must put aside their personal struggles to interact with those that aren’t in their inner circle. The next part of this verse mentions walking or asking a friend named Quinn, though it expresses that this friend won’t know, “The state I’m in.” This plays more into the disconnect from others. The bridge plays into the idea that whatever struggle the narrator is going through, it’s gotten worse over time, but they still need to go out and live like things are fine. Overall, there’s a lot to look into in the lyrics, and they are crafted in a poetic way that gives space for interpretation from one’s own experiences.

If there’s any way to describe this track, it would be dynamic. The instrumental portions freshen up the structure, the second verse is a more lively take on the first verse, and the latter portion of the track breaks away from the verses to distinguish itself from the rest of the track. Just when you think there aren’t any more corners to turn, “Quinn Cicala” keeps evolving. Also, every bit of the song benefits from the production of Seth Henderson, who has also worked with Knuckle Puck, Real Friends, and State Champs. This production effectively builds upon the DIY feel heard in Clementine’s debut EP, “This Will Hurt,” and adds an extra layer of depth.

Clementine has come a long way since their roots in the underground scene of Rockford, Illinois. Their more recent string of releases has ended up in editorial Spotify Playlists such as Emo Right Now and Fresh Finds Rock, and they’ve performed alongside artists such as Bearings, Homesafe, and Bilmuri. Recently, they finished a tour across the U.S. and have continued to play shows in the Midwest. 

Next, they’ll be playing at the High Spirits Art + Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio, tomorrow. This will be alongside acts such as DeathbyRomy and Davvn. Aside from that, they seem to remain busy. In 2026, they plan on dropping their debut album, Juvenoia. Additionally, they have a 3-month tour planned for next year, which begins in March. “Quinn Cicala” is a really strong release, and there’s so much more to come for anyone who vibes with it.

Written by Sage Plapp