We sat down with Riley Hirshey to discuss his new song 'Cigarettes in the Park'

Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind your latest single?

The idea for the song was inspired by a night out with my girlfriend at the time (now wife). We were visiting my smallish hometown, and went to a local park late at night and smoked Black and Milds and hung out. She got a pretty intense nicotine buzz, it was hilarious. Funny enough, I've never actually smoked a REAL cigarette. Mostly the occasional cigar or cigarillo.

Is there a specific message or story you're trying to convey with this song?

Cigarettes in the Park is a nod to the good old days and simultaneously is a promise to keep a zeal for life. To me, this song feels like being a teenager in high school again, when I was wide-eyed and full of optimism and hope for the future. I don't want to lose that perspective, and that's what Cigarettes in the Park is all about.

Where was it recorded?

My house! I recorded guitars in my spare room and the vocals in my basement. I'd mostly record at night after I put my baby down for bed. It's the first song I've released where I did everything from top to bottom. I wrote the song, recorded it, mixed it, and mastered it. It was quite the learning curve but I'm happy with how it turned out.

How do you feel this single represents your growth and evolution as an artist?

It's my first time exploring the emo/pop punk space, and it's been a blast. That is generally my "go-to" type of music to listen to, so it's really exciting to personally be in that realm for the first time musically. I'll continue to keep exploring, I'll have another song in a similar style coming next month. It's fun for me to hop around and not be tied to any particular genre or style, so I plan to keep branching out going forward.

Are there any specific lyrics in this song that hold significant meaning to you? If so, could you elaborate on them?

One of my favorites is "I could've gone most anywhere, but I'd always end up right back on your street, it felt like home to me." There's something special about seemingly having the world in the palm of your hand, but continuing to go to your usual places and hanging out with your usual people. Some things never get old.

Are there any plans for a music video or visual accompaniment to enhance the experience of this single?

Not as of now. A music video would be cool at some point down the line.

Listen to Cigarettes in the Park on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/73ulwo5rcY2S3etdNMJmaG?si=909262f0d01a48b4

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