The Strokes Release New Single “Going Shopping” Ahead of First Album in Six Years

On April 7, The Strokes officially released the first single from their upcoming album Reality Awaits. The new single, “Going Shopping,” features auto-tuned vocals and is described as new wave and dance-punk. Reality Awaits is produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin. Previously, Rubin produced the band’s 2020 release, The New Abnormal. The album hit No. 1 on the Billboard US Top Rock Albums chart, the Top Alternative chart, and the US Top Album Sales chart. The Strokes won their first Grammy Award in 2021 for The New Abnormal in the category of Best Rock Album. The new album will be their first release in six years. It was teased using cassette tapes, ahead of the first single release.

The Strokes are an indie rock band formed in New York City in 1998. Part of the garage rock revival of the early 2000s, The Strokes released their first EP titled The Modern Age in 2001. This triggered a bidding war among record labels, and the band eventually signed with RCA Records. Their debut release,Is This It, was also released in 2001 and generated the hit singles “Hard To Explain,” “Last Nite,” and “Someday.” The band is largely successful in the UK, where they have generated a cult following. They have since released six studio albums, with their seventh on the way this summer.

On April 6, 2026, The Strokes performed their newest single, “Going Shopping,” at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco ahead of its official release.

‘Reality Awaits’ Set To Be Released This Summer

Their seventh studio album is set to be released on June 26, 2026. Ahead of the new album, The Strokes are to appear as a headliner at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. They will perform on April 11 and again on April 18 and are expected to perform 75-minute sets at the festival. Additionally, they will headline Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN, in June. They are scheduled to perform on Friday, June 12. Bonnaroo was cancelled in 2025 due to weather conditions and is expected to make a huge comeback this year to make up for the cancellation. Others performing at the festival include Skrillex, Noah Kahan, Turnstile, and Weird Al Yankovic.