Frizzell D’Souza on Turning a ‘Red Flag Parade’ Into Her New Song ‘My Last Cigarette’

One YouTube talk about Frizzell D’Souza’s brand-new tune and video “My Last Cigarette” especially sticks out for the singer-songwriter. She prices quote, “If this is what it seems like to stop, I’m never ever going to stop.” The Bengaluru-based artist chuckles about how somebody believed it had to do with cigarette smoking, and not about breaking it off with a narcissist. “Like ummm, not how I believed it would be translated,” she states.

The misconception is possibly easy to understand offered how the tune has actually handled a life of its own because D’Souza initially performed it in Goa back in November 2022. After 2 years of audiences asking for the track at every program, “My Last Cigarette” has actually lastly gotten here– with a cheerful noise assisted by a complete band and manufacturer Aadarsh Subramaniam, total with a video directed by filmmaker Anurag Baruah that leans into the absurdity of poisonous relationships.

“I composed [it] As I was coming out of a truly shitty circumstance,” D’Souza remembers. “I keep in mind getting away to Goa to clear my head, I completed the tune there and wound up performing it at a gig. The reaction was amusing, since everybody discovered it so painfully relatable.”

The track rapidly ended up being a staple of her live sets, with D’Souza organizing it with her band and viewing as audiences started requesting it long before she ‘d even taken it to the studio. “So in such a way, this release seems like closing the loop,” she describes. “The tune originated from such a raw, eventful time, and because individuals have actually been waiting on it for so long, I chose to go for it with a video and trip.”

Unlike her normal procedure of taking tunes directly from bed room demonstration to production, D’Souza understood “My Last Cigarette” required something grander. The lyrics reference a marching band–“since the guy was generally a warning parade,” she chuckles– making it difficult not to pursue that big-band noise.

“I’m fortunate to have some outstanding artists around me, and organizing it with them was truthfully among the most enjoyable parts of the procedure, “she states. The difficulty, nevertheless, included the monetary truths of taping a live band.”Recording a live band at high quality is still a quite huge financial investment, specifically in the streaming age, where the returns aren’t precisely instant. It felt worth it for the track and we were pleased with what we accomplished lastly.” The tune includes manufacturer Subramaniam on secrets, guitar player Blesswin, drummer Jason Sharat, bassist Surya Kalyan, saxophonist Gautam David, Jason Zac on trumpet.

If you pass release chronology, “My Last Cigarette” stumbles upon as a swerve to a huge noise after the lavish soft-rock noise of her 2024 EP In My AsymmetryD’Souza, nevertheless, composed this brand-new tune before In My Asymmetry“o in such a way the EP was me exploring more lyrically and sonically than I generally do,” she states. “‘My Last Cigarette’ still feels really instinctive to my design, however what’s various this time is the production– it’s more refined and deliberate than what I may have made 2 years back.”

The video, directed by filmmaker and professional photographer Anurag Baruah, follows a brilliant story about going out of hazardous relationships and includes aspects like drama, interpretive dance, and D’Souza and her band carrying out the tune. Eagle-eyed fans may likewise capture a visual callback to “Diana,” her previous partnership with Bengaluru band Derek & & The Cats.

“The visuals for this tune went through about 4 follows up’ worth of concepts in my head,” D’Souza states. “Most of my music up until now has actually been quite reflective and melancholic, however with this one I actually wished to let loose and lean into something a bit ridiculous.”

Dealing with stars for the very first time– Eisha Shetty playing a more youthful variation of herself and Nishanth G. as the conceited ex– brought unforeseen strength to the shoot.”I keep in mind one especially ominous take where Nishanth was so persuading that the entire team simply froze; it felt a little too genuine, “she remembers.”I kept ducking out of the space to prevent getting triggered, which is amusing now, however in the minute, it was extreme.”

The last video strikes the balance D’Souza sought, which she summarizes as “lively on the outdoors, however still rooted in really genuine experiences.”

2025 has actually currently seen D’Souza broaden her horizons with her very first playback experience with the tune “Oru Kana (Reprise)” on the Tamil movie 3BHKworking together with singer-composer Amrit Ramnath and star Siddharth. “I remained in the middle of a stressful week and actually doodled the verse in an automobile en route to my manufacturer’s studio to record,” she states of the whirlwind procedure. “Being relied on with a short like that felt truly encouraging, and I ‘d absolutely be delighted to do more movie tunes in the future.”

Looking ahead, D’Souza sees her music following a comparable course to “My Last Cigarette,” one that’s “old-school at heart, composed and tape-recorded with the band.” When inquired about the obstacles of being an independent singer-songwriter in India since 2025, her action is tellingly short. “Writing music has constantly, constantly been the most convenient part about being an independent artist,” she states.

D’Souza starts a country-wide trip on Sept. 16, 2025, in Pune, with drop in Mumbai on Sept. 18, New Delhi on Sept. 19, before concluding in Bengaluru on Oct. 25. The trip will likewise see her heading to Music Matters Singapore on Sept. 26 for a display efficiency with her band, representing India along with Nagaland rock act Trance Effect.

“Typing this out from the very same bed room in my Mangalore home where I composed my very first couple of tunes and it simply feels odd to procedure due to the fact that, what the heck,” she shared about the Singapore display in an Instagram post. “But beyond all this, I’m so grateful for individuals I get to do this with and since of– you understand who you are. I’ll be taking a trip with my band kids, definitely can’t wait.”

When it comes to the capacity of reaching a worldwide audience with her English-focused songwriting, D’Souza stays grounded. “I’m conscious of the worldwide audience capacity however I question it truly ever affects the music-making procedure,” she states. “I matured on a great deal of Western timeless pop and rock so it leaks into my composing quite naturally. If and when my music reaches that audience, it’ll be an amazing minute for sure!”