Cigarettes After Sex

American dream pop band

This article is about the band. For their self-titled album, see Cigarettes After Sex (album).

Cigarettes After Sex

Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex performing at Positivus Festival in July 2017

Background information
Origin| El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Genres|

* Dream pop[1][2][3]
* shoegaze[3][4]
* ambient pop[5]
* slowcore[6]
* indie rock[7]

Years active| 2008–present
Labels|

* Partisan
* Spanish Prayers

Members|

* Greg Gonzalez
* Jacob Tomsky
* Randall Miller

Past members|

* Greg Leah
* Steven Herrada
* Emily Davis
* Phillip Tubbs

Website| www.cigarettesaftersex.com

Cigarettes After Sex is an American dream pop band, formed in El Paso, Texas, in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez. The band is known for their ethereal, limerent and often dream-like musical style, lyrics often based on the themes of romance and love, as well as Gonzalez's voice, which has been described as androgynous. While marketed as an ambient pop band, Cigarettes After Sex are also considered to be shoegaze, slowcore and indie rock.

The band's debut extended play, I., was released in 2012, with the song "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby" eventually becoming a sleeper hit through commercial licensing. After the release of the standalone single "Affection" in 2015, the band released their self-titled debut studio album in 2017 to positive reviews. The second Cigarettes After Sex studio album, Cry, followed in 2019. A third album, X's, was released in July 2024.

## History

[edit]

Cigarettes After Sex was formed in El Paso, Texas, by Greg Gonzalez in 2008.[8][9][10] Gonzalez recorded the first EP, I., in a four-story stairway at his alma mater, University of Texas at El Paso, calling the experience "basically an accident; kind of an experiment".[10]

According to Gonzalez, he had a "friendship with certain benefits" with a woman who smoked after they were together, and one night the name popped into his head.[11] Mitali Shah of Harper's Bazaar India considers the name "extremely catchy",[12] while Sarah Kidd writing for Ambient Light Blog calls it "the name that you just can't forget".

Gonzalez relocated to Brooklyn, New York, where the band's single "Affection" was recorded and released in 2015 along with a cover of REO Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You".[13][14]

Through music recommendations, Cigarettes After Sex became popular on YouTube, leading to live performances across Europe, Asia, and the United States. The band then released their self-titled debut studio album on June 9, 2017.[15][10][16]

"Apocalypse" was released as the second single from their debut album Cigarettes After Sex on March 21, 2017. It was written and produced by vocalist Greg Gonzalez. It did not chart internationally until 2022, following its use in TikTok trends. The song, as of October 25, 2024, has amassed over 1.5 billion streams on Spotify.

In August 2019 the band announced their second studio album, titled Cry, along with the single "Heavenly". The album was released on October 25, 2019.

The band released the single "You're All I Want" in 2020 and, two years later, released a single titled "Pistol", in November 2022.[17]

In July 2023, the band released a pair of singles, "Bubblegum" and "Stop Waiting".[18] In December 2023, the band released a cover of Radiohead's song "Motion Picture Soundtrack".[19]

On February 28, 2024, the band announced their third studio album X's.[20] On the same day, they also announced that they would embark on the X's World Tour in support of the album, taking place throughout 2024 and 2025, and released its lead single "Tejano Blue", in which Gonzalez stated was inspired by his years growing up in his hometown.[21] To further the album's promotion, "Dark Vacay" was released on April 16, 2024, as the album's second single,[22] with "Baby Blue Movie" following it on June 4, 2024.[23] X's was released on July 12, 2024, to favorable reception.[24]

## Musical style and influences

[edit]

In a feature for Noisey by Vice, Christina Cacouris describes Cigarettes After Sex as "elemental, hazy and romantic, but with a noir edge underneath Gonzalez's androgynous voice" as well as "sweet and sentimental".[10] "As the band's name suggests, it's reminiscent of lying in bed, but its ambient qualities don't prevent it from being music you can dance to."[10] Gonzalez cites Françoise Hardy as his favorite singer and Miles Davis as having great impact.[10] In an interview with Sound of Boston, he also noted films such as L'Avventura and The Double Life of Veronique were influential to the feel and sound of the music in "Affection" and their LP.[25] The band also includes the Cowboy Junkies' album The Trinity Session, Julee Cruise, and Cocteau Twins as influences.[9][26] The music blog Eardrums Music describes the band as "slow, dreamy and beautiful with gorgeous, tender vocals and very good lyrics" and compares it to Mazzy Star.[26] Music bloggers behind Swell Tone describe Cigarettes After Sex as a band producing "melancholy, slow pop that will sweetly rock any listener into a listless stupor."[27]

Reviewing "Affection" for Independentmusicnews.com, Jae Pyl concludes that "there's just such an intimacy to Cigarettes After Sex's sound that it's impossible to not let it into the pit of your belly."[14]

## Members

[edit]

Since inception in 2008, the group has included a number of different members and collaborators led by Greg Gonzalez:[13]

### Current members

[edit]

* Greg Gonzalez – founder, lead vocalist, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
* Randall Miller – bass
* Jacob Tomsky – drums

### Former members

[edit]

* Phillip Tubbs – keyboards, electric guitar
* Greg Leah – drums
* Steve Herrada – keyboards
* Emily Davis – acoustic guitar

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions  Title  | Details  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications

|
|
|

[28] | AUS
[29] | AUT
[30] | BEL
[31] | FRA
[32] | GER
[33] | NLD
[34] | POR
[35] | SWI
[36] | UK
[37]
Cigarettes After Sex |

* Released: June 9, 2017[38]
* Label: Partisan
* Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download

| 112 | 81 | 18 | 5 | 42 | 38 | 53 | 21 | 21 | 27  |

* RIAA: Platinum[39]
* BPI: Gold[40]
* SNEP: Platinum[41]

Cry |

* Released: October 25, 2019[42]
* Label: Partisan
* Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming

| 152 | 61 | 26 | 8 | 27 | 29 | 37 | 1 | 19 | 36  |

* RIAA: Gold[39]
* BPI: Silver[40]
* SNEP: Gold[41]

X's |

* Released: July 12, 2024[21]
* Label: Partisan
* Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming

| 32 | 32 | 9 | 8 | 24
[43] | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 12  |

### Extended plays

[edit]

List of EPs, with selected chart positions  Title  | Details  | Peak chart positions

|
|

Sales
[44]
I. |

* Released: July 21, 2012[45]
* Label: Self-released
* Formats: LP, CD, cassette, digital download

| 2

### Singles

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications | Album

|
|
|
|

Bub.
[46] | BEL
[31] | CAN
[47] | FRA
[48] | GRE
[49] | LTU
[50] | POR
[35] | SWE
Heat.
[51] | UK
Indie
[52] | WW
[53]
"Affection"[54] | 2015  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Non-album single
"K."[55] | 2016  | — | —[A] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |

* RIAA: Platinum[39]
* BPI: Gold[40]
* SNEP: Gold[41]

| Cigarettes After Sex
"Apocalypse"[56] | 2017  | 16 | 85 | 83 | 87 | 31 | 27 | 185 | 10 | 25 | 129  |

* RIAA: 2× Platinum[39]
* AFP: Platinum[57]
* BPI: Gold[40]
* IFPI GRE: 2× Platinum[58]
* SNEP: Platinum[41]

"Each Time You Fall in Love"[59] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Sweet"[60] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |

* BPI: Silver[40]

"Crush"[61] | 2018  | — | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Non-album singles
"Neon Moon"[62] | — | —[B] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —
"Heavenly"[63] | 2019  | — | 64 | — | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Cry
"Falling in Love"[64] | — | —[C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"You're All I Want"[65] | 2020  | — | —[D] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | Non-album singles
"Pistol"[66] | 2022  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Bubblegum"[67] | 2023  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Motion Picture Soundtrack"[68] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Tejano Blue"[69] | 2024  | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |  | X's
"Dark Vacay"[70] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"Baby Blue Movie"[71] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | —  |
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not issued in that region.

### Other charted and certified songs

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications | Album

|
|
|
|

Hot
[72]
"Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby"  | 2012  | —  |

* BPI: Silver[40]

| I.
"Sunsetz"  | 2017  | —  |

* BPI: Gold[40]

| Cigarettes After Sex
"Cry"  | 2019  | —  |

* BPI: Silver[40]

| Cry
"X's"  | 2024  | 32  |  | X's

### Demos

[edit]

* I Can See You (2009)
* Cigarettes After Sex (Romans 13:9) (2011)

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "K." did not register on the Ultratop 50 Singles chart, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[31]
2. ^ "Neon Moon" did not register on the Ultratop 50 Singles chart, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[31]
3. ^ "Falling in Love" did not register on the Ultratop 50 Singles chart, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[31]
4. ^ "You're All I Want" did not register on the Ultratop 50 Singles chart, but charted as an "extra tip" on the Ultratip chart.[31]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cook, Cameron (June 8, 2017). "Cigarettes After Sex: Cigarettes After Sex". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
2. ^ Gallagher, Ali (May 26, 2020). "Cigarettes After Sex share new single 'You're All I Want'". NME. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
3. ^ a b Sisario, Ben (July 11, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex and Gen Z's Passion for Dream-Pop". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
4. ^ BrushedRed (March 21, 2017). "New Cigarettes After Sex Album". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
5. ^ Lathan, Ryan (June 21, 2017). "Cigarettes After Sex: Cigarettes After Sex". PopMatters. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
6. ^ Hadi, Eddino Abdul (June 14, 2017). "The slow burn of Cigarettes After Sex's debut album". The Straits Times. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
7. ^ Hall, Michael James (January 8, 2020). "Cigarettes After Sex: Cry". Under the Radar. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
8. ^ Simpson, Dave (April 19, 2017). "Cigarettes After Sex review – breathtaking ambient-pop enigmas". The Guardian. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
9. ^ a b "Cigarettes After Sex - Tickets - The Echo - Los Angeles, California - April 27th, 2016". The Echo and Echoplex. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
10. ^ a b c d e f "The Diehard Romanticism of Cigarettes After Sex". NOISEY. February 17, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
11. ^ ""Our songs talk about sex and love", Vogue.fr interviews Cigarettes After Sex". November 7, 2017.
12. ^ "Greg Gonzalez, lead singer, speaks to Bazaar India about the origin of the band and much more".
13. ^ a b "Records". Cigarettes After Sex. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
14. ^ a b "Review / Cigarettes After Sex / Affection". Independent Music News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
15. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex". Cigarettes After Sex.
16. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex - 10 New Artists You Need to Know: January 2016". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
17. ^ DeVille, Chris (November 15, 2022). "Cigarettes After Sex Share New Song 'Pistol': Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
18. ^ Breihan, Tom (July 18, 2023). "Cigarettes After Sex – "Bubblegum" & "Stop Waiting"". Stereogum. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
19. ^ Rettig, James (December 12, 2023). "Cigarettes After Sex Cover Radiohead's "Motion Picture Soundtrack": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
20. ^ Grimes, Navier (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Announce World Arena Tour + New LP, Share "Tejano Blue" Single". Live Nation Entertainment. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
21. ^ a b DeVille, Chris (February 28, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Announce New Album 'X's': Hear "Tejano Blue"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
22. ^ Rettig, James (April 16, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex – "Dark Vacay"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
23. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (June 4, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex unveils new single, "Baby Blue Movie"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
24. ^ Saulog, Gabriel (July 12, 2024). "Cigarettes After Sex Aren't Over X's On New Album – Listen". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
25. ^ Bedian, Knar (January 25, 2017). "Interview: Cigarettes After Sex". Sound of Boston. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
26. ^ a b "New Music: Cigarettes After Sex – "Affection"". Eardrumsmusic.com. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
27. ^ "Tune: Cigarettes After Sex – "Affection"". Swell Tone. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
28. ^ Peak chart positions in the United States:
* Cigarettes After Sex: "Billboard 200: Week of October 26, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
* Cry: "Cigarettes After Sex – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
* X's: "Billboard 200: Week of July 27, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
29. ^ Peak chart positions in Australia:
* Cigarettes After Sex: "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 18 March 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1776\. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 18, 2024. p. 6.
* Cry: "ARIA Chart Watch #549". auspOp. November 2, 2019. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
* X's: "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
30. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex chart history". AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
31. ^ a b c d e f "Discografie Cigarettes After Sex". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
32. ^ "Discographie Cigarettes After Sex". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
33. ^ "Discographie von Cigarettes After Sex" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
34. ^ "Discografie Cigarettes After Sex". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
35. ^ a b "Discography Cigarettes After Sex". portuguesecharts.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
36. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex Hitparade". Hit Parade. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
37. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
38. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
39. ^ a b c d "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
40. ^ a b c d e f g h "British certifications – Cigarettes After Sex". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 17, 2025. Type Cigarettes After Sex in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
41. ^ a b c d "French certifications – Cigarettes After Sex" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
42. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
43. ^ "Top Albums (Week 29, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
44. ^ "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 10 February 2017 - 16 February 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
45. ^ "I - EP by Cigarettes After Sex on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
46. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of October 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
47. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Week of October 22, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
48. ^
* "Apocalypse": "Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex - Music Charts". ACharts. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
* "Heavenly": "Heavenly by Cigarettes After Sex - Music Charts". ACharts. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
49. ^ Peaks on the Greek singles chart:
* For "Apocalypse": "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 23 2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
50. ^ "2022 41-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
51. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 42, 2024". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
52. ^ Peak chart positions on UK Independent Singles chart:
* "Apocalypse": "Top 50 Independent Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
53. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of November 23, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
54. ^ "Affection – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
55. ^ "K. – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
56. ^ "Apocalypse – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
57. ^ "Portuguese certifications – Apocalypse" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
58. ^ "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 44 2024". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
59. ^ "Each Time You Fall In Love – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
60. ^ "Sweet – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
61. ^ "Crush – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
62. ^ "Neon Moon – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
63. ^ "Heavenly (2019) | Cigarettes After Sex". 7digital. United States. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
64. ^ "Falling In Love (2019) | Cigarettes After Sex". 7digital. United States. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
65. ^ "You're All I Want – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
66. ^ "Pistol – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
67. ^ "Bubblegum – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
68. ^ "Motion Picture Soundtrack – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
69. ^ "Tejano Blue – Single by Cigarettes After Sex". Apple Music. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
70. ^ Dark Vacay by Cigarettes After Sex on Apple Music, retrieved April 16, 2024
71. ^ Baby Blue Movie, June 4, 2024, retrieved June 4, 2024
72. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

Artists|

* MusicBrainz