Noel Gallagher has shared that he is currently “in the studio”, although it is still unclear whether he is recording new material with Oasis or working on solo music with the High Flying Birds.
The update came during a recent conversation with talkSPORT, where Gallagher was discussing being named Songwriter Of The Year at this month’s BRITs 2026.
“I’m in the studio now, but I better put something out,” Gallagher said. “I’ve been shamed.”
Asked how he first learned about the award, the songwriter replied: “If I’m being honest, I just think they were desperate to get somebody from Oasis up there because it’s from Manchester. That’s what I think.”
The BRITs 2026 ceremony will take place at the Co op Live in Gallagher’s hometown on Saturday February 28, moving away from its usual London O2 setting.
“Our kid was like, ‘I’m not going’,” he continued, referring to his brother Liam. “And I was like, ‘Well I’ll have to go then, I suppose’.
“But then the call came through and I was like, ‘What? How can that be?’ But it’s all based on record sales and we did sell the most records. So if anyone’s got a problem with it, I’ll be there. I’ll be on the red carpet.”
The announcement has prompted some criticism, as Gallagher has not released any new music over the past year.
“I haven’t written a song for two years,” he admitted. “I don’t know how I’ve got away with that one, but I’ll take it.”
He added: “We sold a million records last year. Didn’t even get off the couch, and I’m not sure there’s a songwriter who can top that.”
Despite that, his latest comments suggest fresh material could be on the way. It remains uncertain whether he is working on a new Oasis project, which would be their first since 2008, or a follow up to his most recent High Flying Birds album, 2023’s ‘Council Skies’.
Speculation around new Oasis music has been building ever since the band reunited for their massive Live ’25 tour last year. Gallagher recently added to the rumours by saying he was “back at work” after the Christmas break, and also addressed talk that he might be writing the next James Bond theme.
Last spring, Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones claimed Gallagher had “been doing some writing in the studio”. “I’m assuming it’s either for his own stuff or maybe if they’re going to put out a couple of Oasis songs, I don’t know,” he said at the time.
Towards the end of last year, Liam Gallagher suggested that Oasis would not tour again until at least 2027. He had previously hinted there were “loads more classics we need to play” and floated the idea of a European tour.
Oasis co manager Alec McKinlay appeared to shut down talk of new music last year, prompting Liam to respond on social media: “The only people that will be making any kind of decisions on the future of OASIS will be ME n RKID so let’s just take it one day at a time.”
In 2024, Liam told fans that a new Oasis album was “already finished”, before later saying he had been “blown away” by new songs written by Noel.
He later walked those comments back on X, insisting there was “no Oasis album in the making” and saying his earlier remarks were made “for a laugh”. Not long after, he softened that stance again, suggesting that “there could be an album” depending on how the Live ’25 shows unfolded.
“Let’s just take one step at a time I think you’d agree that was the wisest move,” he wrote at the time.
At the final Live ’25 show in São Paulo last November, Liam told the crowd: “We love you, thanks for all your energy. Take care of yourselves, and we’ll see you again sometime.”
A documentary charting Oasis’ reunion and comeback tour is currently in production, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight attached as producer. Reports suggest the film will feature “phenomenal” footage capturing Liam and Noel’s first meeting ahead of the shows.
NME awarded Oasis’ opening night at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium a full five stars, writing: “After a ’90s heyday and an often maligned post millennium era, this is Oasis redesigned for the 21st Century.
“Playing against a pop art meets psychedelia visual backdrop that never distracts but looks incredible on a phone, they feel like the definitive stadium band delivering the greatest hits of greatest hits.”
The band have since released official live recordings from the Live ’25 tour, including ‘Slide Away’ from Cardiff, ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ from Manchester, ‘Little By Little’ from London, ‘Bring It On Down’ from Edinburgh and ‘Wonderwall’ from Dublin.
Gallagher being the recipient of the award has sparked some backlash,
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Fontaines D.C. members Carlos O’Connell and Tom Coll have been behind the production of the forthcoming second album from French indie outfit Film Noir. To introduce the project, the band has unveiled the paired singles ‘VIENS TIENS TOI’ and ‘VEGITA’, which you can listen to below.
The Fontaines D.C. guitarist and drummer worked alongside Film Noir at La Frette Studios just outside Paris. The renowned recording space is also where Arctic Monkeys created their two most recent albums, ‘Tranquillity Base…’ and ‘The Car’.
O’Connell is partnered with Film Noir vocalist Joséphine de La Baume, who is also known for her work as an actor, filmmaker and model. Together, they share two children, with their first child serving as the inspiration for Fontaines’ 2025 track ‘It’s Amazing To Be Young’.
Reflecting on the project while announcing his role in the album, O’Connell shared on social media: “In early 2020 I walked into a gig in a club in Paris and was introduced to a band called Film Noir. I fell in love with the singer, I went on to make babies with her to to fall in love twice again with them.
“A little while back myself, [Coll] and @filmnoirmusic went to La Frette and recorded their upcoming record.”
The guitarist continued: “Producing this record was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had. Blessed to have so many. This album means the world to me & I hope it’ll mean something to many more.”
Film Noir have offered an early look at the still untitled album through the release of ‘VIENS TIENS TOI’ and ‘VEGITA’. O’Connell handled production duties on both tracks, while Coll contributed drums. O’Connell also took care of mixing on ‘VEGITA’.
Opening with a light acoustic arrangement, ‘VIENS TIENS TOI’ gradually unfolds into a dreamy sound shaped by shoegaze influences. In contrast, ‘VEGITA’ leans into a brighter, surf inspired feel that complements de La Baume’s floating vocal performance.
The group has also released a behind the scenes video capturing moments from the recording sessions for their sophomore album, which can be viewed below. At this stage, no official release date has been announced.
Back in spring 2020, O’Connell collaborated with Film Noir on a rendition of Lee Hazlewood’s ‘For A Day Like Today’ (via LiveForever). When the track arrived, the band described the guitarist as “a great supporter of the European rock scene and a common friend”.
Film Noir first emerged with their debut EP, ‘Vertiges (Men Of Glory)’, in 2019, followed by ‘Tendrement’ a year later. Their first full length album, ‘Palpitant’, arrived in 2022.
Outside of music, Joséphine de La Baume portrayed Marie in the 2011 film adaptation of One Day alongside Anne Hathaway. She has also appeared in Apple TV’s The New Look and the Polish period feature Chopin, a Sonata in Paris.
O’Connell also produced the self titled debut album from Dead Dads Club, the new project led by former Palma Violets singer Chilli Jesson. Released in 2026, that record was also created at La Frette Studios.
Speaking with NME earlier this year, O’Connell explained that the French studio “feels like a home”. He continued: “There’s nothing about it that feels corporate or constrained by time. My mind goes into this creative mode in which I can hear things in a certain way, and it doesn’t stop until I leave the building.”
Jesson also spoke about the experience, saying: “It was really organic. Carlos, on one of the tours we were on together, was working on a Film Noir album, and he was always mixing it and playing around with sounds. He’d just come out of the studio at La Frette and to see that process, with the production, I was like, ‘Holy shit.’ I’d been in a world where it was all on the computer, and then suddenly he’s talking about a fucking bass drum that’s two metres long.’”
More recently, Fontaines D.C. contributed music to the soundtrack for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The band also appeared on the collaborative charity release ‘Help(2)’, which supports War Child.
The group are preparing to return to the stage this summer for their first performances in nearly a year, beginning with three headline concerts in Spain before taking on their first ever top billing appearances at Reading & Leeds 2026.
Their schedule also includes a headline performance at Electric Picnic in Ireland, alongside appearances at European and American festivals including Frequency, La Route du Rock and Shaky Knees.
Discussing new material with NME at the beginning of the year, O’Connell revealed: “We’ve been writing, it’s been fun. We’re at [Reading & Leeds] and there are a couple of shows before that. I think if the music is there, it could get busy.”
Asked whether any fresh songs could appear during the Reading & Leeds performances, he responded: “I’d say so. If there is stuff written, then I would say so, yeah. That’s what we used to do all the time, play the new stuff live, songs that weren’t even finished. It’s a good way to test the songs.”
O’Connell was also asked whether elements of the visual production from the ‘Romance’ era might carry over into the band’s 2026 shows. “I think ‘Romance’ was so intense in every [way]… the visual, the production, the setlist… It wasn’t just about the music,” he explained.
“It’s almost a bit of the identity of the band now, but I guess that’s the decision to make. Does that become the identity of the band, or actually, it’s just a phase and you reinvent it? I don’t know.”
He went on to add: “I personally like the idea of revisiting some old stuff at Reading & Leeds, making the setlist maybe a bit more ‘Dogrel’ heavy. I’m excited about that. I’ve been listening to music like that much more. This morning I was listening to Sonic Youth. I want to go [in] that direction, but we’ll see, because anything could happen now, literally anything.”
‘Romance’ ultimately secured the Number Two spot on NME‘s list of the 50 best albums of 2024, finishing just behind Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’.
