After months of anticipation fueled by a string of high-profile 2026 festival appearances—including slots at Bonnaroo, Shaky Knees, and Sea.Hear.Now—The Strokes have finally confirmed that a new era is upon us. The band officially announced their upcoming album, Reality Awaits, on April 6, marking their first full-length studio effort since 2020’s critically acclaimed The New Abnormal.
In a move that leans into the band’s penchant for analog charm, the group bypassed traditional streaming platforms for the debut of their latest track. Last week, the band invited fans to sign up for text updates and provide their mailing addresses. A lucky group of 100 recipients received a physical cassette tape in the mail containing a brand-new song titled “Going Shopping.”
While the track has since surfaced online via fan-ripped audio, the exclusive nature of the release has generated significant buzz. Musically, the song offers a laid-back atmosphere, punctuated by a tempo shift toward the end and heavy use of Auto-Tune on Julian Casablancas’ vocals.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see what else the band has in store. With a performance scheduled at Coachella this coming weekend, the anticipation for further reveals from Reality Awaits is at an all-time high.
