Over the years, the notion of cool has evolved. Digable Cat, while evoking the image of an old-school “hep cat”, is decidedly not old-school cool. In fact, this six piece ensemble defines the new cool: intelligent, inspired, collaborative, world, and yes, great musicians and song writers.

Fronted by two prodigious songwriters, former Romanian pop star, the smart and sultry Alina Giurgiu (Jais) and the band’s founder and glue, talented guitarist, Gregg Mandel, Digable Cat’s original songs sweep the listener into densely melodic hooky music that spans genres but always winds back to a brew that is uniquely Digable. It’s a “dig-able” sound, defined by Alina’s powerful vocals, Nathan Syfrig’s soulful electric violin and keyboard virtuosity, and the energetic playing of guitar lead, Rich Valadez.

What makes Digable Cat so intriguing are those opposites…the yin/yang balance that ultimately makes a piece of art so enjoyable. Unlike many bands who write from similar influences, Digable Cat embraces its diversity: male/female; American/Romanian; youth/maturity. Digable Cat proves that great rock music can cross the pond, span generations and genres. Digable Cat’s youngest member, Rich Valadez contributes a powerful love song, “It’s All Done” that has ridden the indie charts to number one, while the more mature Brad Newton (“Dr. Brad”) the band’s drummer, a lyricist and songwriter of particular depth and originality, developed the clever concept of “My TV” (a song about an agoraphobic TV addict) and the haunting images of “The Inquisitor.” Alina, whose mother is a Romanian composer, has bravely faced assimilation into a new world, the difficulty of which she writes about in “Home”, a song about a longing for home but a feeling of alienation, and in “Soldier”, a song about violence (real and imagined), loss and redemption. Alina, whose previous band, Jais, sold 50,000 units in Romania, landed her on the cover of European Elle, and is still in airplay in heavy rotation there, is now concentrated on the American market.

Gregg, whose father is a St.Louis bluesman and pianist, has been writing songs since he was 16, leading Digable to its first writing and recording success with “Mary Poppins”, co-written by former Digable Cat vocalist, Susie Lofton. As a member of Digable Cat, Gregg has toured London and has lead the band in securing gigs at Chicago’s House of Blues main stage, and with his former band, Sister Child, has played Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The band’s second LP “Letters from My Dreams”, delivers an overall message slightly different from the band’s song “Letters From Your Dreams” which explores the imaginings of a long-time, long-distance friendship. Instead, the new LP is an intimate gift from the band to the listener. “Where,” according to Alina, “Every song is, in itself, a story, a message, from inside Digable Cat.”

Digable Cat's CDs are available at CDBaby.com

'Skratch Traxx'

'Digable Cat'

'Letters From My Dreams'