Ten years ago, Greg Gonzalez found himself enduring a particularly bleak Valentine’s Day. Heartbroken and without hope of reconciliation, he drove two hours from his hometown of El Paso to a gig, listening to Sade’s “By Your Side” on repeat the entire journey. This experience left a serious mark on him. “The experience that day stuck in my bones - it was an idea that I couldn’t forget,” recalls Gonzalez, the frontman of Cigarettes After Sex. “I thought, how do I make a record that feels like that?”

Gonzalez has a knack for capturing every emotion a romantic arc inspires through his raw, imagistic, sometimes smutty vignettes set to entrancing, slowburn pop songs. Unlike previous albums that drew from a mix of relationships, X’s is deeply personal, focusing on one intense relationship that spanned four years. “The record feels brutal,” Gonzalez confesses. “I could sit and talk about this loss to someone, but that wouldn’t scratch the surface. I have to really write about it, sing about it, have the music, and then I can start to analyze and learn from it. Or just relive it - in a good way. I don’t have that eternal sunshine-thing of wanting to forget.”

With the new album X’s, Cigarettes After Sex finally take center stage as one of today’s major indie bands, both at home and globally. Their unconventional path to success has reshaped the definition of the term for modern artists. While continuing to observe classic pop song structures, Gonzalez has moved away from the ‘50s and ‘60s sonic influences, now gravitating towards a ‘70s/’80s slow dance vibe. These changes may be subtle, but the overall resulting energy is akin to disco ball-refracted tears on the dance floor.

The last decade has been one of immense personal growth for Gonzalez, paralleled by Cigarettes After Sex’s rise. Completed by drummer Jacob Tomsky and bassist Randall Miller, the band has reached staggering new heights, transitioning from a beloved indie act to one of the bigger names in music. Despite their success, Cigarettes After Sex maintain their mystique. Fans share their music like a cherished secret, and this personal ten-song album is set to deepen that bond. Gonzalez’s introspective songwriting and the band’s evocative soundscapes create an immersive experience that’s felt deeply by fans.