Watch The Strokes record 'Reality Awaits' in 'In Transit: Part II' – over 20 years on from original mini-doc

The Strokes have released a new mini-documentary titled In Transit: Part II. This film offers a candid look at the band during the production of their seventh studio album, Reality Awaits. Directed by Johann Rashid, the video captures the group over six weeks of recording in Costa Rica alongside producer Rick Rubin. It serves as a direct sequel to their original 2001 documentary, which provided an intimate view of the band during their early years around the debut of Is This It.

The footage shows the band members in their recording environment, featuring drummer Fabrizio Moretti and vocalist Julian Casablancas as they work on tracks such as Falling Out Of Love and Going Shopping. Viewers also see Albert Hammond Jr. and the rest of the group interacting with Rubin during the sessions. The documentary highlights the contrast between the chaos of their early career and the professional atmosphere of their current creative process in Costa Rica.

Reality Awaits arrives today following a brief delay from its initial June release date. The album marks the first full-length record from the group since 2020. Early reviews note that the band appears focused and intent on moving in new musical directions. Fans have already started comparing the atmosphere of this second installment to the original documentary released on DVD two decades ago.

The release of this documentary coincides with the launch of the new album. As the band moves through their twenty-fifth year since forming, this look inside the studio provides context for their current sound. The footage concludes with a brief acoustic moment as the sun sets, capturing a quiet conclusion to the recording project in a scenic garden setting.