“My Life Is a Movie”. “Goosebumps”. “Levitate”. “Make Out Jams”. These are just some of the countless mood-based Spotify playlists that American indie legends Cigarettes After Sex find their music a fitting part of.
The band’s frontman and sweet-voiced Greg Gonzalez has long been a master of melancholy fantasies, with each track reflecting his distinctive seductive charm that has spoken to the depths of many. His voice is often described as androgynous, with a haunting melody, and it remains the band’s defining identity.
Determined to be a part of something bigger than himself, Greg founded Cigarettes After Sex with his bandmates, bassist Randall Miller and drummer Jacob Tomsky, in his hometown in 2008. Fast forward four years and their first EP, I., emerged from the most unexpected studio – a four-floor stairwell at the University of Texas at El Paso. Cigarettes After Sex has since carved out a significant niche within the indie music landscape.
His latest work, XReleased last month, the album offers a new palette for their unabashedly dreamy sound — a heady mix of ambient pop, shoegaze and languid rock that feels like an after-hours rendezvous. This third studio effort continues their exploration of vulnerability but with a new texture that combines the sounds of alternating decades: ’70s dance pop and ’90s nostalgia.
The band’s moody serenades have long been loved by audiences in India. From their debut at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Pune to their most recent set at Lollapalooza India in Mumbai, the association has been a stellar one. Now, BookMyShow is planning the band’s next Indian adventure, as their much-awaited show X The tour is set to hit Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru in January next year.
While on tour, we caught up with Greg to find out the idea behind the creation of this tour. X and explore the magnetic allure of his music that seems to wrap even the most ordinary moments in velvet.
Part:
From what I’ve heard so far, the song “X” sounds very bittersweet, and you’ve mentioned before that it reflects the ups and downs of a relationship. Was there a specific moment or memory that was the most challenging for you to relive by putting it into song?
Greg: It’s always hard for me to face a memory, no matter how sweet it is, because a happy memory can seem sad later. You felt a certain way at a certain time, and then later, things may have changed. So, that memory seems sad because all your dreams didn’t come true.
There’s a song called ‘Dreams From Bunker Hill’ that was very difficult to write. I finished it much later, after the romance was over. It was really sad to be with this person for the first time and talk about things like that. When we first started living together everything was so happy. When we finished it the song made me cry; it makes me really sad every time I play it. But, you know, that’s the way it’s supposed to be done.
We’ve come a long way since your debut album, and Cigarettes After Sex remains timeless. What elements do you think are necessary to achieve this timelessness that is so important to your music? And how do you ensure that each new album maintains that aesthetic while also exploring new territories?
Greg: It’s strange that the band has been successful, but it’s what I always thought. I studied music and thought, why is Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ still so powerful? It has a certain feeling that never gets old. It’s so beautifully done, so simple, so sad and emotional.
That’s what I wanted our music to be – simple, incredibly emotional and melancholic, dealing honestly with romance. But it should still be pop music, with verses and choruses that people want to sing along to. It shouldn’t be obscure. The songs are written to be classics, mimicking those classic songs. Honesty about relationships and romance helps people feel something special, whether it helps them sleep, dance, sing, miss someone or share it with others. It’s meant to serve love and be romantic at its core.
Greg Gonzalez performing live | Photo credit: Christs Luhauers
The band’s name has always evoked a certain vibe and image. From spearheading the mood-based playlist movement on Spotify to creating a distinct brand of musical sexuality, do you feel these perceptions of Cigarettes After Sex ever limit the diversity of your music?
Greg: It doesn’t seem like that happened. Initially, the record label told us they would sign us if we changed our name. They said the name would create obstacles. And maybe it did, but keeping it felt more honest. The name felt like a flash of lightning, like a path had opened up. And if I hadn’t taken that path, it would have been disastrous, so I had to trust my intuition and say, “This feels interesting; it’s a beautiful feeling and a beautiful statement.”
I know this is a bit confusing, but basically it’s [Cigarettes After Sex] It’s actually a very sweet thing to do, to share something so intimate. It could have gone something like this Sex PistolsWhich is a more vulgar name, but it didn’t limit them. They were influential and important. So, I thought our name wouldn’t limit us either.
You’re also a huge movie buff; how did your early exposure to cinema influence your approach to songwriting, particularly in creating music with a dreamy and soulful quality?
Greg: I grew up with a huge stockpile of VHS tapes because my dad worked in video distribution. We had millions of movies, and I would play music inspired by them. I wanted to make songs that sounded like those movies. I wanted listeners to hear a song and create a picture of a movie in their mind. It’s one of my favorite things when a song creates a scene in your mind. I wanted Cigarettes After Sex to have that power.
All these pictures in your mind make the film. The film inspired me to make music that feels like the film. For years I watched films and thought, “This film evokes emotions that I want to capture in a song.” This happens over and over again with the films I watch; I think, “This film looks incredible — maybe I can write a song that captures this feeling.” That’s how film and music go together for me.
Have you ever thought of composing music for films or doing music composition work?
Greg: I’ve thought about that. There are a lot of great composers who were in rock bands before, like Danny Elfman, Jonny Greenwood and Mark Mothersbaugh. But I thought I should do a better job. I want to direct movies. So, if Cigarettes After Sex gets finished, I want to start directing movies and maybe do my own scores along the lines of John Carpenter.
India is not new to you as you have performed here many times before. What are you most looking forward to in your upcoming tour? Have Indian audiences particularly influenced your music or performances in the last few years?
Greg: India has long been a fan base with some of our most passionate fans. The level of passion for music in India is unbelievable. It is amazing to see the energy of the audience when they listen to music in the right setting.
We have been trying to go to more cities for a long time. We went to Pune, spent three nights in Mumbai and played at Lollapalooza Mumbai. This is our fourth time and now we can finally go to New Delhi and Bangalore. It’s exciting to finally play in these places. I’m looking forward to seeing new cities in India, experiencing their atmosphere and feeling the enthusiasm of the fans. The level of excitement online has been incredible, so I’m really looking forward to it.
Cigarettes After Sex will perform in Delhi-NCR on January 24, 2025, followed by Mumbai on January 25, 2025, and Bengaluru on January 28, 2025. Tickets are already sold out on BookMyShow.
