Today marks Arcade Fire co-leader Win Butler’s 40th birthday, and he’s sent out an update on what the band has been up to.

While it’s been almost three years since the release of Everything Now, Arcade Fire have been working on following up the renowned record with new music under quarantine. Butler reveals that the album feels “almost eerily related to what is happening now,” in a handwritten letter posted on Instagram. While they’re in the process of recording, don’t get your hopes up too high, as Butler says we shouldn’t expect new tunes too soon.

“Regine and I have been writing for the last couple of years, and the band was a few months into recording new material when COVID-19 hit,” Butler writes. “We had been exploring a lot of lyrical and musical themes that feel almost eerily related to what is happening now (we have a song called Age of Anxiety written a year ago for Christ’s sake – ha ha). Needless to say, the writing has intensified, and the work is flowing out.”

Check out the full letter below.
 

View this post on Instagram

Post 1/3 April 13,2020 To the wonderful fans of @arcadefire ,??First of all, I’m sorry if at any time, I have taken for granted the incredible privilege it has been to perform for you and have you engage and listen to our music.??On the eve of my 40th birthday, I find myself reflecting on my last big birthday; turning 30 (both excellent times to reflect). We were in Austin completing vocals and finishing touches on “The Suburbs”. Will, Spike and I had been intensely working on the script that would become “Scenes from the Suburbs.” Trying to finish a record that was so intensely personal was overwhelming. I didn’t even have the energy to celebrate, but we still went to a little Tex Mex place (definitely my death row cuisine of choice?) I remember sitting in the fake leather booth, barely able to speak because of mental exhaustion, my true friends scattered all over the world and no where in sight, and thinking “It feels pretty great to be here at 30.” I was doing challenging work, with amazing band mates, making music I felt inspired by and driven to complete.??I’m happy to report that at 40, I’m still pretty much in the same zone!!

A post shared by Arcade Fire (@arcadefire) on Apr 13, 2020 at 6:55pm PDT