Viagra Boys reveal details of their ‘emotional’ new material at Reading 2026
Viagra Boys have discussed the success of their 2025 album 'Viagr Aboys' and shared early details of new material, speaking to NME backstage at Reading Festival where they played the Gallery Stage. Frontman Sebastian Murphy and bandmates reflected on the surprise reception of their breakthrough record, which marked the first time the Swedish six-piece self-produced an album, working alongside Pelle Gunnerfeldt of Fireside, and the first time they recorded in their own studio space.
The album was made at Shrimptech Enterprises, the band's Stockholm headquarters housed in a former cement factory that is due to be demolished, which the band said gave them more freedom to experiment with songs and structures. They revealed they have been writing new music there for the past year and, after two remaining tour dates, plan to begin recording live in the studio, describing the sound so far as "eclectic rock'n'roll" with an emotional undercurrent, partly inspired by comments from bassist Henrik "Benke" Höckert. Reading 2026 continues with sets from Florence + the Machine, Loyle Carner, Kneecap and a secret performance from Lola Young.
- Viagra Boys discussed new music with NME at Reading Festival 2026
- Band will start recording new material after two more tour dates
- 'Viagr Aboys' was self-produced at their soon-to-be-demolished Stockholm studio
New here? Start with this
Viagra Boys are a six-piece rock band from Stockholm, fronted by Sebastian Murphy, known for their chaotic live shows and abrasive, punk-inflected sound. In 2025 they released the album "Viagr Aboys," which the band has described as a surprise success and marked a turning point for them: it was the first record they produced themselves, working with producer Pelle Gunnerfeldt, and the first made at their own studio in Stockholm.
That studio, which the band calls Shrimptech Enterprises, is based in a former cement factory that is set to be demolished. The band say the space gave them freedom to experiment, and they have spent the past year there writing material for a follow-up record.
The comments were made backstage at Reading Festival, one of the UK's major annual music festivals, where Viagra Boys performed as part of a lineup that also features acts including Florence + the Machine, Loyle Carner and Kneecap.