NYC innovators Laptop have released their new single “I Don’t Know,” a deadpan anthem previewing the upcoming album ‘On This Planet’ scheduled for Spring 2026. This project marks the return of Jesse Hartman, now collaborating with his nineteen-year-old son Charlie Hartman as a father-son duo. The track originated years ago following a standardized test where a young Charlie purposefully answered every question with the phrase “I don’t know.” This recording incorporates the original audio of four-year-old Charlie during the intro and outro, blending family history with a satirical protest against social expectations. The composition features a cinematic cast including vocalist Anna Hadeed and a soulful harmonica performance by Santo Fazio.
The track arrived following the viral momentum of previous singles “Weirder” and “Additional Animals,” which earned millions of views and support from Radio 6 and Radio X. Finalized in New York City after sessions in Spain and the Caribbean, the song benefits from the mixing expertise of Grammy winner Mario McNulty. Jesse Hartman, a former member of the Voidoids with Richard Hell, utilizes a dry, synth-pop aesthetic that mirrors the “insincere sincerity” noted in his earlier Island Records releases. The accompanying music video, filmed at Bravo Studios, utilizes a green screen and surreal choreography to reimagine a classroom as a stage for this absurdist rebellion. This record is a sharp and refreshing blast of intellectual indie-pop that demands a focused listen.
Laptop recently returned to live performance with a fourteen-piece ensemble at New York’s Sony Hall and a headlining appearance at London’s The Waiting Room. These large-scale spectacles signify the ambition behind the band’s first hometown shows in two decades. The new material evolves the project’s cult legacy, moving from the early 2000s sound of ‘Opening Credits’ into a cross-generational dialogue. By combining satire with catchy, rhythmic hooks, the music addresses modern life through a lens of skepticism and humor. The upcoming album represents the first full-length collection from this new iteration of the band.