The band Cigarettes After Sex has a cult following. Which is strange, as they’re a band that has over 30 million monthly listeners, and streams of single songs that number in the billions. It’s a slow, aching, reverb-soaked late night sound that has undoubtedly played the soundtrack to countless private moments between lovers, former lovers and almost lovers.

Frontman Greg Gonzalez has spent most of his career circling the same subject. “Nothing compares to writing about love for me,” he says. Now, fresh off a surprise Coachella performance with Playboy cover star Karol G—and a newly released collaboration—he reflects on romance, heartbreak, and the songs he finds sexiest.

You were a songwriter before you’d ever been in love. How did your music change once you’d experienced the feeling of being in love?

The lyrics I wrote before were more cryptic for sure, but once I fell in love it was the only thing I ever wanted to write about. I still feel the same way now, it never changed. Nothing compares to writing about love for me.

Are you more inspired by the beginning of love, or the ending?

It might sound a bit negative to say, but I think I’ve written more songs once a romance has ended. Maybe because at that point there’s distance from the way I felt about someone, or it feels like I can usually see things more clearly. Songs like ‘Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby,’ ‘Sunsetz,’ and ‘Anna Karenina’ were written about relationships that were already over.

Technically speaking, what elements do you think make a song sexy?

I think of slow and gentle feelings always, of singers whose voices sound as if they’re whispering in your ear. Or soft piano music, music with strings… Usually songs with a darkness to them too.

What do you think is the sexiest song you’ve released and what is the song you think your fans say is the sexiest song you’ve released? Are they the same?

I posted an Instagram story where I asked our fans what they thought the sexiest Cigarettes After Sex song is and they all said completely different things. I love that because I want every song we release to be the sexiest song anyone’s ever heard. So I guess I’m saying it’s all of them…

Have you ever written a song hoping it would save a relationship?

Many times. I’ve recorded songs and given them to girls I’ve dated in an attempt to get them back when things fell apart. It wasn’t like magic where I got them back immediately when I showed them the songs, but I did get them back eventually after that.

Is it true that you and a girlfriend once broke into a house to have sex because the idea of that turned her on? Any other wild erotic stories you feel comfortable sharing?

We were only friends with privileges and not serious, but I can confirm the story is true. I won’t get into other details this time, but I think love should always feel wild…

If you had to stand behind one full album as the sexiest album you know, what would it be?

‘Sea of Dreams’ by Nelson Riddle…

Our cover star, Karol G, made history at Coachella as the first Latina ever to headline the festival—and she chose to debut your collaboration, “Después de Ti,” there. How did that song come together, and what was it like bringing it to life on that stage?

It was one of the most beautiful experiences to be able to share the stage with her and be a part of such a monumental show. Karol and I had been huge admirers of each other and been in touch about a year before. She reached out one day and said she had written a song that was incredibly dear to her and that she wanted me to produce it. We recorded the song live with a backing band of my friends at my house in LA a few months ago. What she brought to the stage with us performing the song together was her complete vision, it was the deepest dream…