New Arctic Monkeys material is in the works.

That’s according to the band’s manager Ian McAndrew, who tells Music Week that the U.K. rockers have been “working on music” amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

“In this rather disjointed time, the guys are beavering away,” McAndrew says. “I hope that next year they’ll start working on some new songs, new ideas, with a view on a future release.”

If, however, you find Alex Turner and company working over Zoom together on new tunes to be a delightful image, we have some bad news.

“In the same way that the Arctic Monkeys don’t interact on social media, they don’t interact via audiovisual communication,” McAndrew laughs. “I have never had a Zoom with a member of the Arctic Monkeys and I don’t think I ever will!”

The manger adds, “This year has been very much heads-down, working on song ideas from home.”

Arctic Monkeys’ most recent studio album is 2018’s lounge-y, piano-based Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. Just last week, the group released a new live record, Live at The Royal Albert Hall, to raise money for War Child UK.

By Josh Johnson
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