Iconic alt-poppers Laptop return with fun indie gem ‘I Don’t Know’ + London show
25 September 2025
Newsdesk
Today we have the pleasure to introduce our readers to the latest release from a 2000s band that we are delighted to see has returned to the music scene. Formerly with Island Records, having released 3 successful albums with them, Laptop is now based in New York City and they have a new track. Woohoo! 'I Don't Know' is the third in a string of singles announcing their return to the scene. A blend of playful satire, here they continue their tradition of witty, synth-pop-infused indie and political protest.
Now a father-son duo with Laptop mastermind Jesse Hartman and his son Charlie, they’ve already found viral success on TikTok and YouTube with the first two singles, found support on Radio 6 and Radio X, performed at NYC’s Sony Hall with a 14-piece band, sharing a bill with UK legends Cast – their first hometown show in two decades. Now they announce a October 20 headliner show at London’s The Waiting Room with support by Room Service.
‘I Don’t Know’ was inspired by a real-life event where a much-younger Charlie failed a standardized test on purpose, the song featuring his young voice and channels a spirit of rebellion and questioning authority. The video reimagines a classroom as a surreal stage: Jesse and Charlie at school desks, Korina Deming as the stern teacher and Stephanie Koffroth as “Lulu”. Shot against a green screen and punctuated with animated detours, harmonicas, and absurdist deadpan, the origin story is transformed into a playful, cinematic echo of the song’s fever dream.
Laptop's latest single is a fun-loving, light-hearted gem of groovy quirky indie pop. It’s the kind of tune that burrows into your brain and stays there. This catchy track feels like a welcome back to the warm, witty sound of the early 2000s, but with a fresh twist. Their new, cross-generational effort is a testament to their enduring creativity. With its clever, deadpan humor and a message that's both personal and human, “I Don’t Know” is a perfect dispatch from a band that's always been ahead of its time.
“This song has always cracked me up — Charlie was four when we came up with it, after taking an IQ test. We knew he was a child genius (for real), but he failed this test, gleefully answering every question with purposeful wrong answers or a plain "I don’t know". The song stuck with us all these years because it felt bigger: a child’s joke that is really a protest anthem. And boy, do we need a protest anthem right now. It’s rebellion by accident, which turns out to be the perfect kind,” says Jesse Hartman.
Originally tracked in Valencia, it was later overdubbed in the Caribbean island of Nevis and then finalized in NYC. Its features Nevis vocalist Anna Hadeed, whose playful lines spar with Jesse and Charlie; Hartman’s daughter Lulu, standing in for young Charlie with echoes of the song’s origin; and a raw, soulful harmonica turn from Santo Fazio—an actor and long-time Hartman muse, now lending a theatrical edge to Laptop’s sound.
Laptop emerged in the early 2000s on Island Records with the cult classic albums "Opening Credits", "The Old Me vs The New You" and "Don’t Try This at Home" earning praise from NME, The Guardian, and others for its stylized blend of synth-pop, irony, and heartbreak. Much earlier, Jesse Hartman was a teenage Voidoid with Richard Hell before co-founding the indie rock band Sammy (with Luke Wood) and releasing albums on Fire Records and Geffen Records. Known for his dry humor and cinematic aesthetic, Hartman was once described by The Guardian as the master of “insincere sincerity.”
“I Don't Know” is out on September 26th – get it here. The full album "On This Planet" is forthcoming in Spring 2026. Tickets for their London show can be had here.
CREDITS Jesse Hartman - vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths, piano, bass, percussion Charlie Hartman - vocals Lulu Hartman – vocals Anna Heddad - vocals Geddys “Ch4se” Ferguson - vocals Mike Desmarais - drums Lluisen Capafons – drums, congas, additional percussion Santo Fazio – Harmonica Matthew Dakoutro – violin, viola, cello Oliver Freiberg - drum programming Recorded by Iñaki Ariste Aznar (Valencia), Edward Douglas (NYC), Jesse Hartman (NYC/Nevis) Mixed by Jesse Hartman, Ray Aldaco, Edward Douglas (Final mix by Hartman & Douglas) Produced by Jesse Hartman Mastered by Dave Trumfio Recorded in Valencia (2022), Nevis (2023), Final overdubs & edits in NYC (2023–2025) Written by Jesse Hartman (BMI). Published by Exurbia Music, Inc. Released by Hurricane Cove Records Video concept, direction, cinematography & editing by Jesse Hartman Featuring Charlie Hartman, Jesse Hartman, Korina Deming, Stephanie Koffroth Filmed at Bravo Studios, NYC Cover artwork by Jesse Hartman & Scott Ratner Artist photos by Thomas Krause Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
