Alabama Shakes have officially revealed the complete details of their long awaited new album, ‘I Must Be Dreaming’. Find everything you need to know below.
The band's first album in 11 years will be released on August 28 through Island Records. Fans can pre order the record here, and check out the official trailer and album artwork below.
Alabama Shakes will also release another preview of the album when the new single ‘I Feel Hope Coming’ arrives this Friday, July 10.
Made up of Brittany Howard, Heath Fogg, and Zac Cockrell, the group went on hiatus in 2018 before returning last August with ‘Another Life’, their first new song in a decade. The track showcased a stronger influence from 1960s British soul and rock.
Earlier this year they followed it up with the political single ‘American Dream‘.
Speaking about the title of the new album, Howard explained: “There’s a double meaning to it. It could be saying, ‘I must be dreaming, because the world is so fucking crazy right now.’ But it could also mean, ‘I must be dreaming, because the world is so incredibly beautiful.’ Both those things can be true at once.”
Regarding the upcoming single, Howard added: “This younger generation makes me feel hopeful because they can see through all the political lies. That song’s about holding onto that hope, and refusing to give up.”
Fogg also reflected on the song, saying: “I’m really happy that song exists. It came from such a joyful moment of collaboration, and exemplifies everything I love about this band being reborn.”
The album was recorded in Nashville at Sound Emporium Studios and Blackbird Studio. According to a press release, it embraces a richly textured psychedelic soul sound while exploring themes including love, mortality, human connection, and the increasingly surreal contradictions of modern life.
Production duties were shared between the band and producer Shawn Everett, who has previously worked with The Killers and is currently collaborating on Brandon Flowers’ upcoming album ‘Thrasher’.
The new record is described as building on the adventurous musical direction that first defined Alabama Shakes’ acclaimed second album, ‘Sound & Color’.
During the band's hiatus, Howard released two solo albums, ‘Jaime’ in 2019 and ‘What Now’ in 2024.
In December 2024, Alabama Shakes reunited for the first time in more than seven years during a surprise hometown performance in Alabama. Howard had originally been booked as a solo artist before unexpectedly bringing Heath Fogg and Zac Cockrell on stage.
The following month, in January 2025, the band shared studio photos with fans, teasing that they were “working on some exciting stuff!”
The group continue as a three piece following the departure of former drummer Steve Johnson. He was arrested on child abuse charges in March 2021 before the case was dismissed later that December.
The full tracklist for ‘I Must Be Dreaming’ is:
- ‘Tea Time’
- ‘Another Life’
- ‘Garden’
- ‘I Feel Hope Coming’
- ‘Time’
- ‘Friends’
- ‘Easy’
- ‘How Love’s Supposed To Go’
- ‘Waist Deep’
- ‘American Dream’
- ‘Tied To You’
