The Hugs

THE HUGS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM 

“Waking Up In The Future”
 

~releases June 5th, 2026 ~ 

“The Hugs push their alternative pop foundation into forward-thinking territory—blending classic song craft with subtle experimentation and modern production choices that feel distinctly 2026 without chasing indie trends.” 

Portland, OR–based alternative pop band The Hugs return with Waking Up In The Future, their ninth full-length album, arriving June 5, 2026. 

The record finds the band expanding their brit pop-influenced alternative sound into something more reflective, cinematic, and forward-looking—balancing melodic immediacy with late-night introspection. 

Across nine tracks, Waking Up In The Future explores time, futuristic themes, romance, and quiet optimism (in an increasingly fast paced digital world), pairing warm guitar textures and hook-driven songwriting with subtle electronic elements, big drums, and lo-fi atmospheres. Songs shift effortlessly between intimate, late-night moments to expansive and cinematic passages. The album moves fluidly between hook driven pop moments and widescreen arrangements, capturing a band truly confident in both craft and restraint. 

The album occupies a space where brit pop-informed melodies, futuristic textures, electronic rhythms, and guitar-driven pop intersect. Rather than abandoning accessibility, Waking Up In The Future treats experimentation as a tool, not a statement—every sonic risk is grounded in strong hooks, emotional clarity, and concise songwriting. The result is a record that feels futuristic and genre-fluid while remaining immediate, human, and instantly familiar. 

credits: 
Recorded in Portland, Oregon, the album was produced by Oregon natives Danny Delegato and music production college graduate Isaak Boornstein, with Boornstein also handling mixing and drum programming. Mastering was completed by Gus Elg at Sky Onion Mastering in Portland, OR. U.S.A. 

The album artwork was created by Phoebe Mandles w/ layout by Sean Allen, visually echoing the record’s themes of nostalgia, futurism, and cinematic themes. 

'Waking Up In The Future' will be supported by multiple music videos and a West Coast (full-band) live run and select shows in major cities through 2026 (& 2027) leading up to the release, highlighting the new material ahead of the album’s arrival on 6/5/2026.