Who’s Next New War On Drugs Song
There are songs, and then there are anthems. For the band War on Drugs, the latter is often the louder, more haunting reality. After launching the track Who’s That in live settings back in May 2024, the band has spent months cultivating the feeling behind the melody. Now, that emotional journey has finally materialized in its maiden studio version, arriving today, September 9th.
This new recording marks the first fresh creative output from Adam Granduciel since 2022, offering a deeply personal reflection that speaks to the universal struggle of self-acceptance. The track isn’t just notes and rhythm; it is a whispered manifesto about navigating the internal landscape—the anxiety, the self-doubt, and the lingering uncertainties that often stand in the way of truly living the life we desire.
The creative process behind the song was reportedly swift yet profound, born from a moment of reflection—said to be written in just ten minutes, somewhere between the ritual of first coffee and the drop-off at school. It captures that raw, essential feeling of trying to love oneself despite the often uncontrollable pressures of the world.
The visuals accompanying the release further amplify this theme. The accompanying video, directed by Max Flick, immerses viewers in the atmosphere of the song, following Granduciel as he walks through the streets of his adopted Burbank, California, home base after dark. It’s a visual meditation on solitude and introspection.
The soundscape is built by a formidable collective. The recording is backed by longtime bandmates, including Dave Hartley on bass, Robbie Bennett on keyboards, Anthony LaMarca on drums and guitar, Jon Natchez providing the organ and saxophone, and Eliza Hardy-Jones on vocals. The mix itself was handled by Jonathan Low, whose influential work with War on Drugs dates back to the 2010 album Future Weather.
While the status of Who’s That in relation to the band’s upcoming output remains to be seen, the song sits within a rich catalogue of their work. The band has already delivered compelling live albums, such as Live Drugs Again in 2024, and have made significant contributions to other artists, including Sam Fender’s Mercury Prize-winning album People Watching.
With the new studio offering out, the focus shifts to the live experience. Following six European festival gigs this summer, the band is gearing up for a focused run of performances, starting September 18th in Wilmington, Delaware, and culminating with appearances at the Austin City Limits festival in October.
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