EP Review: Don’t Gaslight Me!

Club Ruby is a five-piece band with a hunger to make music that actually means something. Blending pop-punk energy with indie rock, they come together to write about the stuff a lot of us carry quietly: mental health, grief, intergenerational trauma, loss of identity, and everything that sits in between. Their six-track EP Don’t Gaslight Me! speaks to anyone hauling that weight through daily life. It’s a release that really sticks, full of strong storytelling, clever ideas, and genuine grit. The band’s momentum hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with coverage from RNZ, VietQMedia (international), Tahi FM, and NZ Musician. Track two, Heartbreak Overtime, has already passed 55,000 streams on YouTube and hit #5 on the Aotearoa singles chart – not a bad boast so far. 

Shades of You is a post-breakup track that captures what’s left of a person after a painful chapter, sometimes the kind that hurts more than anything else. Sitting in a limbo of memories, grief, and quiet despair, the song carries an “it’s happening, but I’m dealing with it” energy, rather than wallowing. That’s the magic of pop-punk: even at its lowest points, it still leans somewhere hopeful.

Heartbreak Overtime is pure fun. It’s boppy, infectious, and impossible not to move to. The lead vocals are unique and charismatic, not to mention are lifted even further by the side vocals and theatrical background moments. The youthful energy is undeniable, driven by tight guitar solos and punchy drum fills that keep things lively. 

You Don’t Even Know is clever and wildly catchy. Maybe it’s the ADHD or CPTSD feeding its brilliance – a strange little gift in this life. The track shows a sharp ability to craft sticky melodies, memorable concepts, and lyrics that feel deeply “all in my head,” in the best possible way. The psychological tension you feel through the song borders on otherworldly at times, pushing it into something genuinely special.

Lament leans a bit into punk, notorious for turning the mundane into something energetic. It’s relentless, edgy, and clearly built for a live crowd, which I know the band does really well. Production-wise, the vocals fading in and out mirror the chaos of the album artwork, the sledgehammer colliding with a beaten-up drum kit. It feels playful, but also honest, like a nod to the ways we all scramble to survive.

Komorebi slows things down and turns inward. Sentimental and descriptive, it blends acoustic moments throughout while staying punky at heart. There are touches of millennial emo-rock and indie here, paired with thoughtful lyrics and fresh ideas that give the track real emotional weight.

What My Bones Know explores connection to homeland and ethnic roots, while acknowledging assimilation into Western culture and the quiet loss that can come with it. It’s theatrical, tender, and genuinely moving; a rare kind of sweetness. There’s a strong sense of preserving inner lineage, alongside deep empathy for others navigating the same space, which is where the song truly lands. Filmed in Vietnam and Thailand, the music video carries an edgy thoughtfulness that perfectly matches the track’s soul. 

Don’t Gaslight Me! is worth more than a casual listen. Dive into the live footage, the music videos, and the artwork too as it all adds layers and brings Club Ruby’s world into focus.