Rising alt-pop artist Ezra returns with a striking new single, “Sober Cigarettes” featuring Scarlet House, out via Gabe Saporta’s label TAG Music. Pulling heavily from the guitar-driven textures and hook-filled melancholy of ’90s alt-rock acts like Third Eye Blind, the track pairs Ezra’s confessional storytelling with Scarlet House’s haunting harmonies, bridging nostalgia with a modern edge.
“’Sober Cigarettes’ is about a time in my life where I was wrapped up in some bad drug habits,” Ezra shares. “Going through every day abusing pills that were supposed to be ‘helping’ me didn’t allow me to be there for a girl I wanted to make happy. Instead, I mistreated her and did the opposite. After things ended, I sobered up and was able to view what happened clearly and regret sunk in. I wrote this song about wishing I was more present and there for her.”
The release also continues Ezra’s ambitious mockumentary project, directed by actor and filmmaker David Mazouz (Gotham). The satirical-yet-intimate series rolls out in episodic segments alongside each single leading up to Ezra’s debut album. Following last month’s first clip, “Intermission,” the series takes aim at the mythology of rising artists while offering fans a behind-the-curtain look into Ezra’s creative process.
The project is rich with tongue-in-cheek humor and heartfelt self-exploration, featuring cameos from Gabe Saporta, content creator Morgan Cohen, and Mazouz himself. Each new episode reveals a letter from the album and film’s shared title, creating an interactive puzzle for fans to piece together ahead of its full reveal in 2026.
With “Sober Cigarettes” and its companion mockumentary installment, Ezra cements himself as one of the most compelling new voices in alt-pop – blending raw honesty, bold storytelling, and a distinctly ’90s alt-infused sound.
