With "Mesmerized," their new single and the first from their upcoming album, Slow Motion (February 21, 2025), Cigarettes for Breakfast provides a heartfelt masterwork. Written by band founder Matt Whiteford on a single-inspired day. Sharing the track with his bandmates inspired immediate chemistry, transforming an uncertain contender into an instrumental cornerstone of the album.
From its opening note, “Mesmerized” drapes you in a dream-state semi-consciousness, snapping up the signature ethereal quality that defines dream pop. With a tapestry of sound that is both intimate and expansive, I feel the eternal pull of a love story told through music in the shimmering melodies. Whiteford’s lyricism is haunting, his vocals coasting like a whisper atop the song’s meditative instrumentation. So it’s a song that feels like a private admission but also asks listeners to get lost in its enveloping way.
The layers of lush soundscape and a poignant delivery solidify “Mesmerized” as a standout and a high bar for what’s to come of Slow Motion. True to its name, the album is expected to be an inward look, and this single feels like a keyhole peering into its softest moments.
For those who love dream pop and emotive storytelling, Cigarettes for Breakfast’s “Mesmerized” is a cue to pause, take stock, and surrender to the music. This track knows how to make you want even more with February approaching, evidence that some of the best and most memorable music can come from the most unlikely places.
Connect with Cigarettes for Breakfast: Instagram
