The War On Drugs Are Back: Inside Adam Granduciel’s Mid-Tempo Masterpiece “Who’s That”

If you have spent any time over the last decade waiting for that specific, widescreen brand of indie-rock catharsis that only The War On Drugs can deliver, the wait is officially over.

Arriving as their first brand-new studio recording since 2022, frontman Adam Granduciel and his tight-knit collective have returned with a sweeping, mid-tempo heartland anthem titled “Who’s That”. For a band that has quietly mastered the art of making sprawling, emotional rock music feel intensely personal, this new single hits all the right notes. It pairs their signature ’80s-tinted aesthetic with some of the most candid, unguarded lyricism Granduciel has ever put to tape.

Let’s take a deep dive into the track, how it came together, and why it is already taking over indie-music circles everywhere.

A 10-Minute Spark: The Origin Story of “Who’s That”

You would expect a song with this level of grand, cinematic atmosphere to take months of meticulous tinkering in a high-end studio. But according to Granduciel, the reality was entirely different.

The core of “Who’s That” was actually written in just 10 minutes—snuck in somewhere between his first morning coffee and a school drop-off at his compound in Burbank, California. That kind of spontaneous creative spark often yields the best work, bypassing overthinking and landing straight from the subconscious onto the fretboard.

Even with its quick inception, the final recording boasts the intricate, layered arrangement we have come to expect from the Philadelphia-born outfit. Recorded and produced at Granduciel’s Burbank studio, the track brings back the core lineup that fans know and love:

• Anthony LaMarca driving the steady, pulsing percussion and direct electric guitars

• Dave Hartley anchoring the low-end groove on bass and OP-1

• Key contributions from Robbie Bennett (Wurlitzer/Mellotron), Jon Natchez (Hammond organ/baritone sax), Eliza Hardy Jones (backing vocals), Alex Fischel of Spoon (piano), and Lily Honigberg (violin).

The result is a lush, electro-organic landscape that unfolds slowly over five minutes, rewarding you more with every single listen.

Lyrical Breakdown: Navigating the Noise and “Depression, Baby”

While previous eras of The War On Drugs often leaned heavily on outward-looking metaphors of open highways, searching, and communal endurance, “Who’s That” feels starkly internalized.

Granduciel opens the track with evocative, slightly bruised wordplay—singing lines like, “There’s a lion hanging from my teeth / I can taste it but I can’t get close”. It captures that frustrating, dizzying feeling of standing right on the edge of a breakthrough, only for your own mind to block the path.

Yet, it’s the chorus that truly anchors the emotional weight of the song. Stripping away any lingering indie-rock pretense, Granduciel delivers a line that is as devastating as it is disarmingly casual:

“It’s only my depression, baby…”

When asked about the meaning behind the song, Granduciel didn’t hide behind cryptic poetic riddles. He explained that “Who’s That” is ultimately 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.”

In an era where music can sometimes feel overly curated or sanitized, hearing an artist of Granduciel’s stature tackle mental health with such plainspoken vulnerability is refreshing. It’s heavy subject matter, but wrapped in such gorgeous, driving melodies, it feels less like a tragedy and more like an act of survival.

The Visuals: A Late-Night Burbank Stroll

To match the nocturnal, driving feel of the single, director Max Flick teamed up with the band to deliver an accompanying music video.

The visual captures Granduciel on a surreal, solitary late-night stroll through the quiet, amber-lit streets of Burbank. It mirrors the mood of the music perfectly—quietly contemplative, slightly detached from the bustling world, and moving steadily forward even when the destination isn’t entirely clear.

What “Who’s That” Means for the Future of The War On Drugs

The release of “Who’s That” isn’t just a random drop to tide fans over; it signals an exciting new chapter. Following the massive success of their 2021 full-length I Don’t Live Here Anymore and their 2024 live album Live Drugs Again, this single proves that the band’s creative engine is running hotter than ever.

Whether you are blasting it through car speakers on a late-night drive down an empty interstate or unpacking the lyrics with your headphones on, “Who’s That” is a masterclass in modern heartland rock. It takes classic textures—shimmering synths, weeping guitars, and organic piano chords—and infuses them with a raw, human heart.

The band is also taking these new songs on the road, kicking off an extensive stretch of fall tour dates and major festival appearances across North America, proving that these studio creations are tailor-made for the live stage.