waltzerr, the Seattle and Los Angeles-based indie rock band, released “ciggy b” on July 31st, the lead single off their debut album Tomorrow Will Be Better, out August 28th on Share It Music, a Seattle nonprofit record label with a portion of proceeds going to Northwest Harvest, a Washington State organization working to provide healthy food access and remove systemic inequities in the state. The single was produced and mixed by Jesse Field, mastered by Adam Cichoki, and engineered by Nate Van Fleet and Adam Roberts, with Emily Waltzer being the vocalist and lyricist.
“ciggy b” is a song about longing for someone after a relationship ends, and what makes it so well is how specific she is with her lyricism. Waltzer gave specific details: the cigarette burn on the passenger side, the girl who gets to see his bedroom sheets, the diner, the backseat driver, and the top 40 playlist playing all night long. The specificity is what makes the song feel lived in rather than just relatable in a broader sense. Lines like “you’ve absorbed all my traits, all my interests too” and “did you go this weekend to see the show, see the city, see the neon glow” are clever and precise in a way that pulls you directly into the story she is telling. She’s an amazing writer, and I truly admire the lyricism she pours into this confessional songwriting.
Waltzer’s voice is also just as stellar; it’s expressive and emotional in a way that suits her lyrics and the production. The production by Jesse Field gives the track a nostalgic edge while keeping the hook infectious. It sent me to their 2024 EP Small Talk, and I love that too, two years apart to the day as I write this, and you can hear how much they have grown.
With a show at the Sunset Tavern on August 29th, coinciding with their album release the night after, waltzerr is stepping into a great start after their release. “ciggy b” is a strong, clever single, and Tomorrow Will Be Better is shaping up to be something worth listening to.
Written by Anthony Perez
