Julian Casablancas Says the Strokes Will Record New Music
In a new interview with Noisey, the Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas discussed last year’s Tyranny -- his debut album with the Voidz -- and revealed that his primary band have plans to return to the studio to record a follow-up to 2013’s Comedown Machine.
“It’s the first time [the Strokes have] been exclusively writing since Comedown Machine” Casablancas said. “We’re planning on recording stuff. I still think we could do cool things and I’ll do that. I’d like to do both [bands] really if I could.” He also revealed that he worked on a duet with Savages’ Jehnny Beth, but didn't say when and where that song will surface.
While Casablancas says a Strokes comeback is in the works, the band’s reunion has not been an easy feat. The New York City five some reportedly didn’t tour in support of Comedown Machine largely due to their tumultuous relationships with one another. However, Casablancas says that things are looking up. “Here’s the thing, the Strokes, the relationship is good now,” he said. “The Strokes was my life. It was everything and I put everything into it – it was a journey that I wanted to keep moving forward, but I couldn’t do that anymore and it was very frustrating.”
He also said recording an album with the Voidz proved cathartic. “So it took all this time to getting round to almost starting a new band to get to the point where I can continue to do what I set out to do from the beginning,” Casablancas said. “It’s like if we had the best team ever and before the championship, people started celebrating and not practicing. And we still have to play the playoffs.”
He also attributes the Strokes’ issues to his drinking -- a habit he has since kicked. "I drank too much," he said. "I don’t have clear memories. I wish I could go back and do it all sober so I could really just savor everything.” Read the entire interview here.
Julian Casablancas + the Voidz – "Where No Eagles Fly" (Official Music Video)