Cigarettes After Sex

History

Greg Gonzalez formed Cigarettes After Sex in El Paso, Texas, in 2008. The band's name came from a casual relationship with a woman who smoked after they were together. In 2012, the debut EP, I., was recorded in a four-story stairway at the University of Texas at El Paso, which Gonzalez described as an accidental experiment. The EP's cover art featured a Man Ray photograph titled "Anatomies" showing Lee Miller with her head thrown back.

The band relocated to Brooklyn, New York, in 2015, where they recorded and released the single "Affection" alongside a cover of REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You." Around early 2016, the song "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby" gained popularity after a fan upload on YouTube. That year, Cigarettes After Sex signed with Partisan Records and released their first single under the label, "K.," on November 15. On March 21, 2017, the band announced their self-titled debut studio album and released the single "Apocalypse."

A third single, "Each Time You Fall in Love," followed on May 15, and the album was released in full on June 9, 2017. In August 2019, the band announced their second album, Cry, along with the single "Heavenly"; the album came out on October 25, 2019. The single "You're All I Want" appeared in 2020, and "Pistol" followed in November 2022. In July 2023, the band released two singles, "Bubblegum" and "Stop Waiting," and in December 2023, a cover of Radiohead's "Motion Picture Soundtrack."

On February 28, 2024, the band announced their third album, X's, along with the X's World Tour for 2024 and 2025, and released the lead single "Tejano Blue," which Gonzalez said was inspired by his upbringing in El Paso. The second single "Dark Vacay" came out on April 16, 2024, and "Baby Blue Movie" on June 4, 2024. X's was released on July 12, 2024, to favorable reception.

Musical style and influences

Cigarettes After Sex's sound has been described as elemental, hazy, and romantic with a noir edge beneath Gonzalez's androgynous voice, as well as sweet and sentimental. The music is reminiscent of lying in bed, yet its ambient qualities allow it to be danceable. Gonzalez cites Françoise Hardy as his favorite singer and Miles Davis as a major influence. He also noted that films such as L'Avventura and The Double Life of Veronique influenced the feel and sound of "Affection" and the band's LP. Additional influences include the Cowboy Junkies' album The Trinity Session, Julee Cruise, and Cocteau Twins. The band has been compared to Mazzy Star and described as producing melancholy, slow pop that rocks listeners into a listless stupor. Reviewers have noted the intimacy of the band's sound, calling it impossible not to let into the pit of one's belly.