The War on Drugs Keyboardist Robbie Bennett Announces Two New Solo Albums, Shares Lead Singles

Robbie Bennett, the esteemed keyboardist for indie rock stalwarts The War on Drugs, is preparing a massive expansion of his solo catalog before the year draws to a close. The musician has officially announced the upcoming release of two brand-new full-length solo albums, titled Steloken and Circulation. Both records are scheduled to arrive on December 11 via the independent record label American Dreams. Together, the two releases will introduce an impressive 29 new tracks to Bennett’s evolving solo body of work, offering fans a deep and immersive dive into his distinct sonic universe.

In anticipation of the double-album release, Bennett recently offered listeners an early glimpse into what to expect by sharing two tracks, releasing one song from each forthcoming record. Fans can now stream "Sister," drawn from the tracklist of Steloken, alongside "The Light on Your Face," which represents the sonic direction of Circulation. These releases mark a significant milestone for the keyboardist as he steps back into the spotlight as a solo artist.

Both upcoming records serve as the long-awaited follow-ups to Bennett’s 2020 solo debut, Permanent World, which established his penchant for atmospheric, synth-driven soundscapes outside of his day job with The War on Drugs. For this new double-album project, Bennett undertook a fascinating and intricate approach to composition, relying on a unique setup centered around the very same keyboard he plays on stage with his main band. However, rather than simply recording standard keyboard parts, he engineered a complex technological chain to generate the core of each track.

To develop the material, Bennett sent MIDI data from an acoustic player piano directly into an Oberheim OB-X8 synthesizer. This method allowed both instruments to play simultaneously in real-time, blending the organic warmth of a physical piano with the rich, analog texture of a classic synthesizer. From there, Bennett continued to build and expand upon these foundational layers during the production process. He incorporated additional textures using the Fender Rhodes electric piano, a vocoder for vocal-like tonal modulations, and the Soma Terra—a sophisticated, polyphonic microtonal synthesizer equipped with a built-in gyroscope and pressure-sensitive sensors that allow for highly expressive and unconventional sound manipulation.

Discussing his artistic intentions for the expansive project in accompanying press materials, Bennett offered insight into the experiential nature of the music he set out to create. "I want the music to be like you’re walking through an unfamiliar place you want to keep exploring and never have to circle back to where you started," Bennett mused, highlighting his desire to lead listeners through meandering, exploratory sonic landscapes that prioritize movement and discovery over traditional song structures.

This solo announcement arrives on the heels of other recent activity from both Bennett and his primary bandmates in The War on Drugs. Last month, Bennett lent his talents to "Who’s That," which marked the first new piece of original music from The War on Drugs since 2022. While the Grammy Award-winning band has not released a brand-new studio album since their critically acclaimed 2021 full-length, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, they have remained active in the public eye. In 2024, the group treated fans to their second career live album, which was aptly titled Live Drugs Again, capturing the powerhouse energy and immersive musicianship that has defined their live performances for years.

As December 11 approaches, the tracklists for both Steloken and Circulation have been fully revealed, showcasing the sheer volume of music Bennett has prepared for his audience. Steloken features a sprawling 17-track sequence, opening with "Radii" and progressing through titles such as "Serendipity," "Air Signals," "Sea-Level Horizon," "System of Warmth, Collection of Jackets," "Snowfell," "Darkness in Bloom," the previously shared single "Sister," "Moonframe," "Footprints in the Ash," "Horse to Lead," "Lattun," "Dragging out the Cans," "Ascent," "Cathedral," "Purgatory," and concluding with the expansive "A Love Song / Universal Interface."

Meanwhile, the companion album Circulation offers a more concise yet equally immersive 12-track journey. It begins with "Breathing Glass" and flows through "Panthalassa," "Norrland Night Train," "Vermiculite," "Change the Clocks (DST)," "Phantom Signal," "CACC (Hope)," "ISO Dream," "MN3009," the newly released lead single "The Light on Your Face," "Vivere!," and final track "December." Together, the 29 tracks across Steloken and Circulation promise to cement Robbie Bennett’s standing as a visionary electronic and ambient composer in his own right, providing an intricate companion piece to his work with one of modern rock’s most celebrated bands.