Nick Thorburn and Mike Stroud Form New Band The Creem

Nick Thorburn, frontman of the critically acclaimed indie rock band Islands (and formerly of The Unicorns), and Mike Stroud, guitarist and co-founder of the electronic rock duo Ratatat, have officially announced their new collaborative project, The Creem. The duo’s debut album, A Taste of Cherry, is set for release on June 5, 2026, marking a long-awaited reunion of two musicians whose careers have spanned decades of indie and alternative rock.

The band’s debut single, Goodbye, a vintage-tinged pop track, was released earlier this month alongside a music video. The album’s second single, Taste of Cherry, was quietly released earlier in April. Both tracks showcase the duo’s signature blend of melodic songwriting and Stroud’s signature guitar work, with influences ranging from T. Rex and the Kinks to ELO and Brian Eno.

The collaboration between Thorburn and Stroud is no accident. The two first met in 2004, but lost touch until 2019, when Thorburn invited Stroud to play guitar on an Islands tour. Though Stroud did not respond at the time, he eventually reached out five years later, and the two reconnected musically. Thorburn shared in a statement,

I went to Mike’s studio in the Catskills where he produced an Islands song. We got along so well, musically and otherwise, that when Mike shared some incomplete songs, asking if I’d be interested in collaborating, I jumped at the chance.

The album’s production credits reflect the duo’s deep collaboration: Stroud produced and engineered the record, with mixing by Jules De Gasperis and mastering by Will Borza. The album’s tracklist, which includes 10 songs, spans a range of styles, from laid-back pop to more intricate rock arrangements.

A Taste of Cherry arrives at a pivotal moment for both artists. Thorburn, who has fronted Islands since 2009, continues to build on a career that includes solo work and collaborations spanning more than two decades. Stroud, meanwhile, has been a key figure in Ratatat since the duo’s formation in 2001, though the band has been on hiatus for much of the past decade. The Creem’s debut marks a bold new chapter for both musicians, blending their distinct creative voices into a cohesive new project.

While no official announcement has been made regarding live performances, the release of A Taste of Cherry signals the beginning of what promises to be an exciting new era for The Creem. Fans of both Islands and Ratatat will undoubtedly be eager to hear how this unlikely but promising collaboration unfolds.

For now, listeners can stream Goodbye and Taste of Cherry on all major platforms, with the full album available June 5.