On Monday, April 6, the group fronted by Julian Casablancas unveiled a teaser for a new track, performed live in San Francisco. This new single heralds a forthcoming album by the New Yorkers, slated for “this summer.”
Some thought all of this was a prank. Indeed, it all began between March 31 and April 1, 2026. The Strokes’ Instagram account then displayed an 8-bit style graphic overhaul. A new logo, cryptic visuals and a mysterious link shared in a story that redirects to their website. There, fans can sign up for a mailing list that shows the message “we’ll be in touch.” After signing up, an SMS is received. The contact? “The Strokes”. A postal address is requested to “try to share something soon.” The number provided to share their address seems to work only in the United States. Since then, nothing. Well, until this Monday, April 6, when everything explodes.
Retro Teaser and Audio Cassette
In the evening of Monday, April 6, The Strokes posted a teaser with retro aesthetics on their Instagram account. The 1980s art direction seems confirmed with the animation of a Nissan 300ZX. The next album’s title Reality Awaits is revealed with a release date that remains somewhat fuzzy for now, planned for this summer. And in the background, an unreleased instrumental section…
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Strokes (@thestrokes)
Following this, images of a mysterious audio cassette numbered to 100 copies, titled Going Shopping, are shared by fans on Reddit. It is the first single from Reality Awaits, which the Strokes played live in San Francisco that same evening. With a sound that is very recognizable and addictive: call-and-response guitars from Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr, slightly neglected autotune and lyrics probably half-improvised by Julian Casablancas.
With no precise release date yet, Reality Awaits will be the Strokes’ first record since The New Abnormal, their little masterpiece from 2020 produced by Rick Rubin. And for the first time in 15 years, The Strokes will perform at Coachella this weekend of April 11.
