Turbo

Canadian singer/songwriter Turbo fused his affinity for hip-hop with his country background, shaping a distinctive style of trap-rooted, rock-tinged country on his 2021 album Cocaine & Fireworks.

Nicholas LaMonaca, who performs as Turbo, spent his early years in Calgary immersed in country sounds because his father, Al LaMonaca, performed on guitar and banjo with multiple local bluegrass ensembles. At the same time, he developed a strong interest in hip-hop and hard dance music; Avicii’s “Le7els” ultimately prompted him to begin producing tracks himself. Following high-school graduation, he turned to creating hip-hop material, initially intending to feature guest rappers before deciding to handle the vocals personally. Drawing once more on his country heritage, he combined trap-driven beats with guitar lines and alternated between rapping and singing. He issued his first full-length project, Sixth Gear, independently in 2019, and the song “Light Speed” attracted the attention of 10K and Homemade Projects. After signing with both labels, he released “Heart Stop” in 2020 as his inaugural single under the new arrangement. Additional tracks appeared in quick succession, culminating in the arrival of his second album, Cocaine & Fireworks, during the middle of 2021.