RODRIGO Y GABRIELA have officially announced OurHome, their new studio album, set for release on September 18 via ATO Records. The announcement arrives alongside the release of “Monster”, the album's first single, and a music video created by legendary manga artist Naoki Urasawa.
Recorded in Japan and independently produced by Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero at NK Sound Tokyo, the album marks a new chapter for the Mexico City-born duo, whose unique blend of instrumental guitar music and fearless experimentation has earned them a global audience.
The single “Monster” draws direct inspiration from Urasawa's acclaimed manga of the same name. The celebrated creator behind Monster, 20th Century Boys, Pluto, and Master Keaton contributed original artwork for the music video, bringing the collaboration full circle.
Speaking about the song, Gabriela Quintero said: “Monster is such a deep, philosophical story — it's about a psychopathic killer, but it's so uplifting and leaves you with a real sense of hope. We'd written that track without knowing that Urasawa was a fan of ours, and now he's making the video for us.”
Urasawa revealed that he had admired the duo's work for years before learning about the song. “I still find it incredible that encounters like this can really happen. Originally, I watched videos of their live performances and thought they were amazing, so I started collecting their vinyl records and CDs.”
The album was heavily influenced by the duo's long-standing relationship with Japan and emerged from a period of creative uncertainty that eventually led to a renewed artistic direction. The passing of their beloved studio cat, Pelusa, became an unexpected catalyst for the songwriting process.
The story behind OurHome began after the death of Pelusa, the cat who kept the duo company in their recording studio in Ixtapa. "Before she died, we were searching for ideas in a very forced way. The day after she died, Rodrigo wrote a song for Pelusa and suddenly everything started to flow. It was as if she were telling us: 'stop wasting time and do what you do best,' which was to play from the heart and without any agenda."
The album title was later inspired during a walk in Melbourne, Australia. While reflecting on the concept of home, the musicians came across a building with a huge sign that read “OUR HOME,” an image captured by Rodrigo that ended up becoming the official album cover.
Returning to the acoustic textures that helped define their career, OurHome features guest appearances from former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi, cellist Hiyori Okuda, and composer Yukihiro Atsumi. The album was mixed by five-time Grammy winner Dave Sardy and mastered by Stephen Marcussen.
To support the release, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA will embark on an extensive North American tour, including two performances in Mexico City on October 6 and 7, before heading to Europe in spring 2027.
