UPDATE 27/05/16: The Strokes have dropped a new EP titled Future Present Past, featuring three new songs and a remix. Stream the whole EP right here.
ORIGINAL STORY: The prospect of The Stroke‘s releasing new music has been getting more and more likely but this may be the strongest piece of evidence yet.
Someone noticed and filmed that The Strokes were projecting a video onto a wall in London’s Brick Lane. Although there was no sound with the video, it very clearly displayed a The Strokes logo and also finished with the logo for frontman Julian Casablancas’ label Cult Records.
https://twitter.com/alistairtant/status/735591552576290817
It looks like they’re trying to build hype for an upcoming single or album release which would be their first new music since 2013’s Comedown Machine.
Previously, there was speculation that they would be debuting new music on their upcoming live dates. Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr hinted that they may play new music during their headlining set at NYC’s Governors Ball in June which was supported by comments made by the organisers of the festival during a Reddit AMA. They said they were excited to have The Strokes playing because, “This would be their first batch of new tunes in, well, just about a half decade. Kind of a big deal.”
Just yesterday, bassist Nikolai Fraiture on Instagram said he was taking requests for a warm-up show in New York at the end of the month and also said it will include, “maybe some surprises”.
Apart from those clues, nobody really has any idea when the new music will arrive, whether it be before or during those live shows. Casablancas is starting a new radio show this week on SiriusXM, which would be perfect timing for a premiere of a new single, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The Strokes will touch down in Australia at the end of July for Splendour In The Grass. Let’s hope they’re armed with new music.
UPDATE 26/05/16 4.30pm: More evidence suggests The Strokes may be unveiling a brand new tune at around midnight tonight.