Franz Ferdinand have unveiled their latest single, “Hooked”—listen to it below.
“Hooked” is the third single from the band’s forthcoming sixth album, The Human Fear, which releases this Friday, January 10. The track follows previously released singles “Audacious” and “Night Or Day.”
The song delivers the angular, synth-heavy indie style Franz Ferdinand is known for, staying true to their danceable post-punk roots.
Frontman Alex Kapranos described the track as:
“Sliding into midnight, it’s a nighttime prowl of a song. If we all have the human fear, then that’s alright when you’re hooked.”
In the pre-chorus, Kapranos sings, “I thought I knew what love was/But then I met you,” before launching into a spirited chorus where “You got me hooked” is repeated over jittery synths.
Late last year, the band debuted “Hooked” during their tour, performing it for the first time at the Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion in the Scottish Highlands in September.
Another song from the album, “Bar Lonely,” which remains unreleased, got its television debut this past weekend when the band performed it on CBS Saturday Sessions. Like “Hooked,” “Bar Lonely” was also introduced during live performances in recent months.
In a September interview, Kapranos shared his enthusiasm about making music with Franz Ferdinand:
“If you are going to make music, then there’s no point in shying away from your identity or being embarrassed by who you are. You need to embrace it with all the audacity you can possibly have.”
He continued:
“I’d say that’s probably my attitude. That’s how I feel about my favourite bands when they’re at their absolute best, their most extremely ‘them.’
That’s how I feel at the moment. I feel really good about being in Franz Ferdinand and really good about putting music into the world. I love being in this band.”
Discussing the album’s title, The Human Fear, Kapranos elaborated on its significance:
“We all have fears in our lives, and those fears are kind of a clue to understanding who we are—how we respond to them, how we overcome them (if we overcome them, because sometimes we don’t).
The greatest moments in your life usually involve overcoming some kind of fear. Sometimes it’s a paralysing fear, but when it’s overcome, my god, it’s the greatest buzz in the world!
“Say you’re asking your partner out for the first time; that’s terrifying. Or moving to a new town and not knowing anybody.
On the album, I’m talking about different fears that I’ve seen in other people: fear of social isolation, fear of leaving an institution, fear of leaving or staying in a relationship. It wasn’t like a clinical analysis when writing the songs, I only realised that after.”
Kapranos also hinted that the album might surprise fans while remaining distinctly Franz Ferdinand:
“I don’t think there’s a single song that you’ll hear on the album and won’t think, ‘Oh, is that Franz Ferdinand?’ At the same time, there will be thinking, ‘Oh, did they really do that?’ That’s not to say I start rapping or anything like that.”
Before launching into their UK and European tour in February, the band will perform a series of out-store shows starting this Thursday, January 9. Tickets are available now.
Franz Ferdinand’s 2025 UK and European tour dates:
JANUARY
- 9 – Kingston, UK – Pryzm
- 10 – Bexhill, UK – De La Warr
- 11 – Liverpool, UK – Dome Grand Central
- 12 – Edinburgh, UK – Liquid Room (early and late evening shows)
- 18 – Manchester, UK – Aviva Studios
FEBRUARY
- 14 – Lisbon, Portugal – Aula Magna
- 15 – A Coruña, Spain – Sala Pelicano
- 17 – Madrid, Spain – La Riviera
- 18 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz
- 20 – Milan, Italy – Fabrique
- 21 – Zurich, Switzerland – X-Tra
- 22 – Munich, Germany – Muffathalle
- 24 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys Neue Welt
- 25 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
- 27 – Paris, France – La Cigale
- 28 – Cologne, Germany – Die Kantine
MARCH
- 1 – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma
- 3 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
- 5 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
- 6 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
- 7 – Glasgow, UK – Barrowland