The Strokes will reportedly begin working on Strokes VI in June (w/ update)

Small update: I’ve heard from people who have met three different Strokes in recent weeks, including the following encounter with Niko, and they’ve said that The Strokes said they’re currently working on new stuff. It doesn’t sound like they’re in the recording phase, just collaborating and working on new material. UPDATE OVER

Reader Tannk — or Josh, as I like to call him — ran into Nikolai at the Har Mar show last night.

I’ll let him explain the rest…

I am at the Har Mar show in NYC and met Har mar and talked to him
For a while.. He’s super chill..
THEN…
I was walking to the Bathroom and ran into Nikolai!!!
I talked to him for a while and he’s sooo nice.
I said I was disapointed they didn’t tour after CM and he said he said was too.
I also asked about new music and he said they will be recording in June.
Har Mar and Nikolai both said Jules may be coming later so I hope I can meet him too!
This is the best night of my life! I’m so happy to finally meet a stroke after being a fan since day 1 and NYC resident my whole life.
I got a picture with Nikolai that I will show you guys later..
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And here’s the picture: 

This fits with what Devendra Banhart said way back in March — thanks for keeping up with all the latest on Devendra, Wolfsie — that Fab wouldn’t be able to tour with him during the summer because of commitments with The Strokes. Here’s Banhart’s quote…

What are your tour plans for this album?

May 3^rd, the tour begins in the US. Then there’s a little break and we’re going to do Europe. It’s Noah Georgeson and Josiah Steinbeck, and Todd “Cadillac Slim” Dahlhoff, and [The Strokes’] Fab Moretti, actually, playing drums. And Rodrigo Morente is going to be playing with us and also playing in his band. And when we do Europe, it’ll be the same setup, but I think a different drummer, because the Strokes record will be out by then. Old and new stuff, and maybe, like, a cover. I don’t know yet! I’m thinking about … I don’t know.

I think Banhart assumed — I hesitate to assume anything, but that’s what I’m going to do in this situation — that the band was going to start touring Comedown Machine. Instead, it appears the band has chosen to replace the typical months-long touring process with working on new songs. Exciting!

So it appears — and granted, things often change with the Strokes — as if the fifth record was done quickly to fulfill the RCA  contract. It also appears as if a regular tour has been replaced by working on new songs in order to keep the band’s momentum going. Also, it appears as if the band is in a healthy place and feeling positive moving into the future.

Strokes fans are the best.

UPDATE: Amanda de Cadenet, Nick’s wife, weighed in last night. She initially responded to the question of “What d’you know about that rumor of another album from the strokes? Is it real?” by saying “Not real.” Then, she clarified what she meant regarding a new album being released…

@ @ Not today but I’m sure soon. I’d love more Strokes music too. They are the best .

— Amanda de Cadenet ()