strokes_news (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} themodernage) wrote,@ 2006-03-29 16:09:00 |
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THE STROKES OF FORTUNEAway from the hype - and removed from the composed confidence of The Strokes' cocksure gigs - you wouldn't think on meeting Julian Casablancas that he's part of the biggest band around.Courteous, if initially guarded, he has the slightly befuddled and disbelieving air understandable of someone whose group has exploded so rapidly.With The Strokes about to tour the UK, Julian explains why this may be the last chance to see them for some time.Having played the same 12 songs - with 2 new ones added since Christmas - Julian Casablancas is understandably wary of The Strokes' touring schedule."We're cutting right back," he says. "From now on, we'll only play shows that look cool - a festival here and there, or countries we've not been to."I stand by our songs, same as I ever did. But there's a danger of them being over-familiar, to the band and the fans. We need to stir things up again."After a year of constantly touring the world, Julian Casablancas says The Strokes need a rest from each other."Touring makes a band fragile," smiles Julian. "It's not a healthy life, mentally or physically, if you stay on tour for too long."The five of us are tight, as tight with each other as I'd hoped we could have been in the storm that's gone on around us. Taking a break would be a precaution to make it stay that way."Cutting down on touring will let Julian Casablancas continue writing a follow-up to the all-conquering Is This It."It's going to be some time before our next record is written," he admits."I'd estimate it would take a full year of being at home in New York to write. But I'm not in New York, so it's going to be longer. How much longer depends on how much free time I get. I'm not going to be hurried into it for the sake of getting a record out there."Despite fretting over the time taken to record The Strokes' second album, Julian Casablancas insists the band's success hasn't added any pressure on him."The pressure I'd put on myself would be the same if Is This It had been a failure," the singer emphasises."That's why I need to be in New York to write the songs. I can relax there, cut myself off from all the attention the band's had. The only pressure is to make our songs as good as they can be."With The Strokes' British tour, starting March 22, long since sold out, Julian Casablancas feels he's finally got used to the publicity over here."The shows are feeling more real," he grins. "When we first came over, there was a sense that a lot of people able to get in were there because it was cool to see us, not 'cos they liked us."As we're playing to larger crowds, the real fans are able to get in easier - in particular, Birmingham was wild."With every move they make pored over in tiny detail, Julian Casablancas remains amused at the attention he receives."Take our new song," he laughs. "We first played it in Germany, so I said to the crowd 'Zis is ze newie' in a real bad German accent."I haven't had time to think of a proper name for the song, so it's on our setlists as Ze Newie. And now folks try to find significance in that title! It's funny. Weird, but funny."BY JOHN EARLSPLANET SOUND - 4TEL - MARCH 2002
Strokes Of Fortune - Planet Sound (4-Te) -l March 2002
Strokes Of Fortune - Planet Sound (4-Te) -l March 2002
