Ahead of her forthcoming album Love You Forever, out February 13, 2026, Boise-based indie artist McKenna Esteb releases her latest single, “Wish I Smoked.”
Arriving today (February 13), “Wish I Smoked” is a slow-burning meditation on heartbreak that refuses to loosen its grip. Feisty yet aching, the track finds Esteb leaning into her strengths: candid emotional storytelling, richly layered instrumentation, and vocals that feel both restrained and devastatingly close. Crunchy electric guitar lines snake through the arrangement as explosive drums surface just enough to underline the song’s quiet intensity, creating a soundscape that lingers long after the final note.
At its core, “Wish I Smoked” frames a fractured relationship as a vice—something harmful, addictive, and nearly impossible to quit. Esteb explores the uneasy tension between desire and self-awareness, capturing the feeling of wanting to replace one form of pain with another simply because it might be easier to explain.
“‘Wish I Smoked’ compares a tumultuous relationship to a physical vice—like smoking,” Esteb explains. “It captures the push and pull of wanting something you know is bad for you, and the desire to trade that vice for another. In this case, wishing the pain were visible and external, rather than something internal—unseen by others, yet slowly eating away at you from the inside.”
Balancing delicately between soul and indie rock, the single is as addictive sonically as it is lyrically. Esteb’s moving belt cuts through the mix with precision, amplifying the quiet devastation of carrying an internal pain no one else can see. It’s a moment of emotional alchemy—heartbreak transformed into something striking, reflective, and quietly assured.
“Wish I Smoked” marks the third glimpse into Esteb’s forthcoming album Love You Forever, a project that continues to position her as one of the most compelling emerging voices in the indie landscape. With each release, she sharpens her ability to pair vulnerability with confidence, never overplaying emotion but never shying away from it either.
A rising force within Boise’s music scene, Esteb has been steadily building momentum since launching her solo project in 2019. Known for creating spaces where honesty and emotional depth are welcomed, she has toured extensively across the Northwest and internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sixpence None the Richer, Krooked Kings, Baby Jake, and The Suffers. Her work has earned recognition from outlets including GLAAD, Ones To Watch, The Luna Collective, and GRRRL Music, and she’s set to take the stage at Treefort Music Fest in early 2026.
With “Wish I Smoked,” McKenna Esteb doesn’t just revisit heartbreak—she sits with it, examines it, and lets it speak. It’s an intimate, resonant release that underscores why Love You Forever is shaping up to be a defining chapter in her evolving artistry.
