Blab Music
War on Drugs Release First Studio Single in Four Years, Whos That, as Tour Dates Loom
On September 9 2026, The War on Drugs dropped the studio version of “Who’s That,” marking the band’s first new recording since 2022. The track, which the group has been playing live since May 2024, was paired with a music video directed by former professional footballer Max Flick that follows frontman Adam Granduciel as he walks through the dim streets of his Burbank, California, hometown after dark.
Granduciel explained the song’s birth as a quick, almost spontaneous burst of creativity: “written in 10 minutes somewhere between first coffee and school drop off,” he said. He added that the track is “a song about trying to love yourself despite things we can’t always control, like the anxiety, depression and self doubt that may stand in the way of living the life we truly desire.” The statement appears in the video’s caption and has been echoed in several press releases.
The recording features the core War on Drugs lineup: bassist Dave Hartley, keyboardist Robbie Bennett, drummer‑guitarist Anthony LaMarca, organist and saxophonist Jon Natchez, and vocalist Eliza Hardy‑Jones. Production and mixing were handled by Jonathan Low, who has worked with the band since the 2010 album Future Weather and has also mixed for artists such as Taylor Swift and The National.
Whether “Who’s That” will appear on a forthcoming studio album remains unknown. The band’s last full‑length release was the 2021 album I Don’t Live Here Anymore, which earned a Grammy nomination and was the final project under Atlantic Records after a long relationship with the indie label Secretly Canadian. A live album, Live Drugs Again, followed in 2024.
Outside the band, Granduciel has continued to produce for other artists. He contributed to Sam Fender’s 2025 Mercury‑Music‑Prize‑winning album People Watching, and his production work has appeared on projects by Craig Finn and Purling Hiss.
The new single arrives just before a series of tour dates that begin on September 18 in Wilmington, Delaware, and culminate with performances at both weekends of Austin City Limits on October 4 and 11. The band also completed six European festival appearances during the summer of 2026.
The release of “Who’s That” fits a pattern in the War on Drugs’ recent output: the group has prioritized live performance and occasional single releases over full studio albums. The 2024 live album captured the band’s expansive sound in a concert setting, while the new single demonstrates the same slow‑building, synth‑heavy style that has become a hallmark of the group’s work.
Industry observers note that the band’s decision to release a single rather than a full album may reflect broader shifts in how mid‑career acts engage audiences in the streaming era. The single’s modest promotional push—limited to the video and a handful of radio interviews—suggests a focus on maintaining relevance without the commercial pressure of a full album cycle.
The video for “Who’s That” was shot on a low‑budget, handheld style that emphasizes the nocturnal atmosphere of Burbank. Flick’s background as a former defender for North Carolina FC is reflected in the film’s kinetic pacing and the way the camera follows Granduciel through the city’s streets.
As the War on Drugs prepare to hit the road again, the release of “Who’s That” provides a fresh point of reference for fans and critics alike. While the track’s future role in a potential new album remains uncertain, it confirms the band’s continued commitment to crafting expansive, emotionally resonant music.
The single is available on all major streaming platforms, and the video can be viewed on the band’s official YouTube channel. The War on Drugs’ next public engagement will be the September 18 show in Wilmington, where the group is expected to perform a mix of new and classic material.
In summary, the War on Drugs have returned with a new studio single after a four‑year gap, paired with a video that showcases the band’s signature atmospheric sound. The release precedes a series of tour dates that will see the group perform in the United States and at major festivals, while the band’s future studio plans remain to be announced.
Granduciel explained the song’s birth as a quick, almost spontaneous burst of creativity: “written in 10 minutes somewhere between first coffee and school drop off,” he said. He added that the track is “a song about trying to love yourself despite things we can’t always control, like the anxiety, depression and self doubt that may stand in the way of living the life we truly desire.” The statement appears in the video’s caption and has been echoed in several press releases.
The recording features the core War on Drugs lineup: bassist Dave Hartley, keyboardist Robbie Bennett, drummer‑guitarist Anthony LaMarca, organist and saxophonist Jon Natchez, and vocalist Eliza Hardy‑Jones. Production and mixing were handled by Jonathan Low, who has worked with the band since the 2010 album Future Weather and has also mixed for artists such as Taylor Swift and The National.
Whether “Who’s That” will appear on a forthcoming studio album remains unknown. The band’s last full‑length release was the 2021 album I Don’t Live Here Anymore, which earned a Grammy nomination and was the final project under Atlantic Records after a long relationship with the indie label Secretly Canadian. A live album, Live Drugs Again, followed in 2024.
Outside the band, Granduciel has continued to produce for other artists. He contributed to Sam Fender’s 2025 Mercury‑Music‑Prize‑winning album People Watching, and his production work has appeared on projects by Craig Finn and Purling Hiss.
The new single arrives just before a series of tour dates that begin on September 18 in Wilmington, Delaware, and culminate with performances at both weekends of Austin City Limits on October 4 and 11. The band also completed six European festival appearances during the summer of 2026.
The release of “Who’s That” fits a pattern in the War on Drugs’ recent output: the group has prioritized live performance and occasional single releases over full studio albums. The 2024 live album captured the band’s expansive sound in a concert setting, while the new single demonstrates the same slow‑building, synth‑heavy style that has become a hallmark of the group’s work.
Industry observers note that the band’s decision to release a single rather than a full album may reflect broader shifts in how mid‑career acts engage audiences in the streaming era. The single’s modest promotional push—limited to the video and a handful of radio interviews—suggests a focus on maintaining relevance without the commercial pressure of a full album cycle.
The video for “Who’s That” was shot on a low‑budget, handheld style that emphasizes the nocturnal atmosphere of Burbank. Flick’s background as a former defender for North Carolina FC is reflected in the film’s kinetic pacing and the way the camera follows Granduciel through the city’s streets.
As the War on Drugs prepare to hit the road again, the release of “Who’s That” provides a fresh point of reference for fans and critics alike. While the track’s future role in a potential new album remains uncertain, it confirms the band’s continued commitment to crafting expansive, emotionally resonant music.
The single is available on all major streaming platforms, and the video can be viewed on the band’s official YouTube channel. The War on Drugs’ next public engagement will be the September 18 show in Wilmington, where the group is expected to perform a mix of new and classic material.
In summary, the War on Drugs have returned with a new studio single after a four‑year gap, paired with a video that showcases the band’s signature atmospheric sound. The release precedes a series of tour dates that will see the group perform in the United States and at major festivals, while the band’s future studio plans remain to be announced.
