Lollapalooza India: Apocalypse Singer Greg Talks About Love, Heartbreak & His Sex Playlist
How many ‘heartbreaks old’ were you when you discovered the soul soothing, almost like an erotic-lullaby, music from the iconic band Cigarettes After Sex? Let’s admit, most of us have experienced those late nights when we are nursing a broken heart and cried ourselves to sleep while listening to ‘Each Time You Fall In Love.’
The band that is revered by millions across the globe, is all set to regale its Indian fans at BookMyShow’s multi-genre music festival, Lollapalooza, India tonight in Mumbai. We caught up with the band's founder, lyricist and lead singer Greg Gonzalez right before his performance for a sweet chat where we picked his brains (and heart) about what goes behind the creation of Cigarette After Sex’s heartmelting music.
Cigarettes After Sex is a simple yet rather unconventional band name, how did it come about?
The name of the band is actually autobiographical. It was the summer of 2008, I was seeing a girl… kind of a ‘friends with benefits’ situation. One night while we were together, laying in bed, she started smoking and that was the moment the name just flashed in my mind for some reason. It described my life at that moment.
How was your childhood and how much influence does it have on your music?
I had a really sweet and a rather normal childhood. I grew up in a very peaceful city, Lampasas Texas, and the place definitely made me the person I am today, which is shy and quiet. I have been playing, learning and making music since I was ten years old and since then I have been using music as my creative expression. I was deeply inspired by cinema and was in like a million bands starting from jazz, salsa and you name it. My childhood impacted me to make music which is really soft and gentle.
You mentioned you were deeply inspired by Cinema when growing up so then why has CAS not made a single music video to this date?
Yeap, it’s funny and contradictory, right! But an honest answer to that would be that the songs are almost cinematic in itself, so I don’t think they need a video. Our songs create videos in people’s minds. We have talked about it a couple of times that we should film our songs as well but our songs are best left open to imagination to its listeners. The video aspect would kill the imagination part.
All your songs are deeply romantic and sensual. Plus they are all autobiographical. I am curious about understanding what love means to you?
Love is really the greatest feeling and as well the worst feeling at once. Love brings out the best in us. It means you are with somebody, that one person who can give you this one special feeling, a feeling that you want to grow and wish to grow with them. If you are lucky enough that feeling can keep growing for a lifetime or it could just be meant to grow for a short time.
Having said that, it’s very hard to not lose control while loving someone else. So, it also teaches you a lot about yourself. I have been in love very many times and it has taught me consideration and how to balance my other feelings. Love also teaches you to be a better person and love yourself better.
I see, so do you feel more inspired to create music when you are in love or in the post breakup phase? Is a breakup really an ‘apocalypse’ for you?
Oh that’s a tough one because both these phases are deeply intense and inspiring but I definitely am not the kind of artist who needs a heartbreak to feel inspired to write and create music. The best music that I have written has been in the phase when I have started to catch feelings or falling hard for someone or looking back at the good times I have spent with someone say a year after the breakup.
© Instagram/Cigarettes After Sex
Do you feel your songs heal a wounded heart or make the pain even worse?
I would say… pain has to be worsened to finally heal. If it is hurting it means you are healing and getting better. My songs are like medicines that will make you cry and eventually put you off to a sound sleep. Crying and sleeping well makes one feel lighter, so my music helps people deal better with a heartbreak rather than making the pain worse.
How much of your sex playlist is your own songs?
Haha none of them actually. It feels really weird to hear your own voice in that situation. However, I have been in situations where people while having sex have asked me to put on my own songs. It’s odd.
Do you draw creative inspiration from other artists?
When I started Cigarettes After Sex, I borrowed creative inspiration from four artists and thought that’s how our music should sound and feel like. First is the French singer Françoise Hardy. Her voice is incredible and I wanted to sound like her. Second is American trumpeter Miles Davis, his music is very spontaneous and melancholic. Then there is Paul Duncan, his lyrics are really deep and romantic and the last is Eric Salt, his music is so gentle and still beautiful.
Any song by any other artist that you find highly erotic?
Umm a song that I feel is really sensual is 34 Plus 35 by Ariana Grande. The song is really dirty and talks about a certain sex position but the way she sings it is sensual and least to say bold.
If given a chance to add a new artist to your band who would that be and why?
I really admire American singer and songwriter Frank Oceans’ work and writing.
