Partisan Records MD Zena White has told Music Week that the continuing success of Cigarettes After Sex is based on “communication and empowering the band”.
The Brooklyn-based four-piece, formed in El Paso, Texas in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez, played their biggest UK show so far last night (November 20), selling out London’s Roundhouse.
“Something’s really bubbling here,” said White, speaking in the new issue of Music Week, out now. “It’s without a doubt the independent breakthrough of the year, a real sense of the cream rising to the top."
Cigarettes After Sex exploded on YouTube when their 2012 track Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby suddenly went viral, spreading across the world.
“The band had been growing their fanbase organically, so we wanted to put in more traditional distribution, sales and marketing to elevate that,” White added. “The numbers are real, Spotify overtook YouTube as soon as we got involved. The secret is constant communication, empowering the band and not taking them down a different road.”
The band released their self-titled debut (11,109 sales, OCC) in June. Along with manager Ed Harris, they signed to Blue Raincoat Music’s management division in August. A show at O2 Academy Brixton is on sale for 2018.
“They’ve gone from 200 to 3,000 capacity shows in 18 months,” added Primary Talent International’s Martin Mackay. “Who knows where this band can go...”
Read the full article in the new issue of Music Week, out now.
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