After six years without an album, the New Yorkers reactivated their social networks with a series of cryptic visuals suggesting the imminent arrival of new tracks. Between 8-bit aesthetics, sign-ups to mailing lists, and promises of direct contact, here’s where things stand.
One of the most influential rock groups of the 2000s could be on the verge of a major comeback. Late on the evening of March 31, on The Strokes’ Instagram account, pixel-style visuals appeared in stories linking to a mysterious link labeled “????,” a link that is now accessible on the band’s website run by Julian Casablancas.
The tease seems carefully choreographed: first an “old school” notebook icon, followed by an animation depicting horses pulling an audio cassette. By clicking the link accompanying these images, fans are redirected to a page inviting them to leave their contact details with a laconic note: “We’ll be in touch”. For those who took the plunge and left a phone number, a message received a few seconds later even asks for a postal address to “share something soon”. Except the phone number provided to share the address doesn’t appear to work….
On Reddit, some remain skeptical: “Gullible fans are getting fooled,” writes user @BadBambino. @birlawco jokes about the situation “I swear if it’s still merch…” Another reply “I think they’re going to release a new song next month” contextualizes the imminence of San Francisco shows and their Coachella lineup at the start of April, which rather suggests a promotional push.
The Rick Rubin red herring
It isn’t the first time hope has rekindled. In 2022, the famous producer Rick Rubin had already caused a stir by telling Joe Rogan that he had recorded a full album with the band atop a mountain in Costa Rica, describing the experience as “magical” facing the ocean. The album never materialized. Julian Casablancas quickly tempered that enthusiasm, noting that the record was still “extremely far” from being finished. In 2023, guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. confirmed that the sessions existed but that the creative process would take another year or two. The group, which told Les Inrockuptibles that they still felt like “those 18-year-old kids who know each other by heart”, would seem to have finally taken the time needed to refine their vision. The question remains whether this is really music.
