Alabama Shakes Mark Their Return with First New Song in Ten Years

Alabama Shakes have ended a decade-long silence with Another Life, their first new song since 2015, marking the start of a new chapter for the Grammy-winning band. Listen to it here.

After close to ten years away from the studio, Alabama Shakes are back with new music. On August 29, the group—fronted by vocalist and guitarist Brittany Howard with bandmates Heath Fogg and Zac Cockrell—released their latest single, Another Life.

The track reflects on questions of identity and alternate paths, contemplating the ways in which choices shape lives. In a statement accompanying the release, Howard described it as being about “all the lives we carry—the ones that slipped away because of different choices,” while noting that “goodbye isn’t really goodbye. It’s more like I’ll see you later” (Pitchfork, August 29, 2025).

The band first came to prominence with their debut album Boys & Girls in 2012. Powered by the single Hold On, which reached number one on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart and was later named Song of the Year by Rolling Stone, the album earned the group widespread recognition.

Their 2015 album, Sound & Color, achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and earning four Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song for Don’t Wanna Fight.

Nearly a decade after stepping away from the studio, Alabama Shakes have returned with new music. On August 29, the band—led by Brittany Howard alongside Heath Fogg and Zac Cockrell—unveiled their single Another Life.

The song looks at identity, missed opportunities, and how the choices we make shape the paths we follow. Howard explained it as reflecting on “all the lives we carry—the ones that slipped away because of different choices,” adding that partings aren’t always permanent, but more like “see you later.”

Alabama Shakes first broke through with their 2012 debut Boys & Girls, which featured Hold On, a chart-topping track later named Rolling Stone’s Song of the Year. Their follow-up, Sound & Color (2015), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and won four Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album.

The band went on hiatus in 2018, with Howard pursuing a solo career that brought her acclaim and Grammy recognition for Jaime (2019) and What Now (2024). Their comeback started with a reunion show in late 2024 and a 2025 summer tour announcement—their first in eight years. Reflecting on the return, Howard said the band wanted the moment to be about “the future as much as the past.”

With Another Life, Alabama Shakes are opening that next chapter. The song nods to their history while carving out fresh creative ground, giving fans both a sense of familiarity and a glimpse of what’s ahead.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• People
• Pitchfork

Image: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Author: Liza Agsalud from Los Angeles, Ca