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Cigarettes After Sex
American dream pop band
Cigarettes After Sex is an American dream pop band formed in El Paso, Texas, in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez. The band is known for its ethereal, limerent, and often dream-like musical style, lyrics often based on the themes of love and romance, 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.
Cigarettes After Sex was formed in El Paso, Texas, by Greg Gonzalez in 2008. According to Gonzalez, the name came to thought after he had a "friendship with certain benefits" with a woman who smoked after they were together.
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". "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." Gonzalez cites Françoise Hardy as his favorite singer and Miles Davis as having great impact. 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. The band also includes the Cowboy Junkies' album The Trinity Session, Julee Cruise, and Cocteau Twins as...
Slowcore band from El Paso, Texas. USA.
Formed in 2008.
Current members:
Greg Gonzalez – Vocals / Guitar (2008-)
Randall Miller – Bass
Jacob Tomsky – Drums
Former members:
Josh Marcus – Keys
Phillip Tubbs – Keys / Electric Guitar
Greg Leah / Greg Leeah – Drums
Steve Herrada – Keys
Emily Davis – Acoustic Guitar
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
Cigarettes After Sex, the records, oldest first
I Can See You
2009 ep
I.
2012 ep
Cigarettes After Sex
2017 album
wanted
Cry
2019 album
X’s
2024 album
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"Apocalypse" is a song by American band Cigarettes After Sex, 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 March 6, 2026, has amassed over 2.3 billion streams on Spotify.
Background and composition
"Apocalypse" is a slowcore song. Gonzalez was inspired to write the song after he and two women he had dated had "big ambitions" but were "stuck" in their hometown, which felt "impossible" to get out of. Gonzalez then moved to New York City, but the two women remained in their hometown. He said the song is ultimately "about being there for people, when you're all alone. It was like a little affectionate statement to them."
Release
"Apocalypse" was released on March 21, 2017, as part of the band's 2017 self-titled debut album. The song went viral in 2022, following its use on a TikTok trend where a childhood photograph is used to remind one to be kinder to themselves.
