Interview with Julian Casablancas on KUSF San Francisco 19th November 2009
Interviewer DJ Cookie Costello
The interviewer prefaced this by complaining about the opening band sound checking during her interview and Julian’s mumbling, meaning that the radio interview that was broadcast was edited, sometimes a little strangely. Some of it was pretty difficult to hear but hopefully you’ll get a better idea of the interview with my transcription – he always has some pretty cool things to say. Enjoy.
INT: So when and why did you decide to make a solo album?
Julian Casablancas: When and why… When, about two and a half years ago, I would say. Why…I had some songs that I had written that… I was kind of short on band members. I think they needed to get some stuff out of their system and so they weren’t ready to focus on The Strokes so I guess I just felt like I didn’t have a choice.
INT: What have been the biggest differences in recording your own album versus a Strokes album? I noticed in sound check you had a lot of horns and keyboards.
JC: Yeah, right. Well the horns are only for two songs and the keyboards…yeah, well, basically I’ve always written the songs 50/50 keyboards and guitars, and I used to just filter it all though to two guitars, bass, drums. Now if I write it on keyboard it stays on keyboard.
INT: And I read in earlier interviews that you said, “Keyboards – it’s hard to make them non-cheesy.”
JC: Well it’s a finer line than guitar sounds. I mean, keyboard sounds…it’s very easy to sound terrible, yeah.
INT: So your solo album is called Phrazes For The Young which is an Oscar Wilde reference. How did that come about, and do you have a favourite phrase for the young?
JC: Well, yeah “Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young”. Yeah, I stumbled upon that, and I just, I don’t know if it was just a book of poems, but it was just like 20 or 40 quotes. It seemed like I’d stumbled upon some great hidden wisdom and I was, you know, excited to learn. And as I read it more and more, the more kind of witty…I want to say pithy but I don’t really know what that word means, like, you know, kind of criticisms or just kind of mocking humanity and how superficial we are. So it wasn’t really what I was hoping for but it was cool. But it stuck with me, and things I like it just…think about him a lot. So now it’s shortened and I thought I’d have the almost cooler title.
INT: And add a “z”.
JC: You know I thought that’s how he spelled it. Honestly that’s what I thought. And just recently, like seven/eight months ago I realised that’s not how he spelled it. Whoops.
INT: Too late.
JC: I couldn’t…with an “s” it just looked all wrong. My favourite phrase of his…probably, what was it…? Something like, “The old believe everything, the middle age suspect everything and the young know everything.”
INT: So aside from Oscar Wilde what are the other influences on this album and what are you listening to these days?
JC: What am I listening to? Oh, I don’t know I like listening to everything. There’s too many songs…I don’t know how to narrow it down. Somewhere between Radiohead and Frank Sinatra or, I don’t know. There’s just all kinds of stuff. Old hip-hop stuff from, like, ‘80s…or underground-sounding weirdo rock, like classical stuff. I don’t really know actual bands that much I just know songs. I just hear, like, parts.
INT: And they kinda stick?
JC: Yeah I hear, like, musical parts, and sometimes not even in a song.
INT: Well you’ve had a knack putting together catchy melodies. Is that how it comes about? Just hearing bits and pieces around?
JC: I think that’s how it works, I think in my mind. I mean for me, I think I just…I latch on to things that I like and I just carry them around and I just add a lot and learn how to play them, figure out a list that I’ll stick with. Then I move along and just somehow, subconsciously either it could be a week later or four years later, when I’m writing it influences what literally pops out.
INT: Also I’ve heard some interesting contributions that you’ve done with The Lonely Island or Santogold. How did those come about and what was it like working with such diverse people?
JC: Lonely Island, I know them…yeah they’re just super funny. Just working with them…actually that was probably the near funnest I’ve ever had recording music to be honest..
INT: I can see how it would be.
JC: They’re not even like…aside from the comedy which is, you know, spectac...(laughs). Just they way they work. They were just very smart and like, the best idea in the room worked; the best idea in the room wins. It was just the way of working, I was like, “This is, like, so cool.” I usually just struggle debating.
INT: So on an SNL note, you’re covering or you already did cover an SNL Christmas song. What made you do that?
JC: I don’t know. Uh, well, no. I always thought that was cool…I thought it could be a good song. I thought if I ever had to do a Christmas song for some reason…
INT: That would be it.
JC: …that would be the song.
INT: So how do you keep busy on tour, and where’s your favourite spot you’ve toured so far?
JC: Well as you know when I ran into you I’d just started…
INT: Playing soccer?
JC: …playing soccer for the first time. Someone just found a ball and that was the first time, believe it or not...or maybe in the past we’ve just done random throwing of balls around during sound check let’s not ignore.
INT: And you’ve got one show left on your residency in LA, is that correct? How’s that been?
JC: Two.
INT: Two?
JC: Yeah.
INT: Two.
JC: It’s been really, well, terrible I should say because I’m in San Francisco.
INT: Exactly. Exactly. I was in LA last weekend. It’s okay.
JC: It’s a friggin shithole (laughs). No, it’s been going great.
INT: Would you do it again?
JC: Would I do it again…would I have to spend as much money? Or is it just a fantasy that I could play the shows…(unintelligible)
INT: Either.
JC: Well “A” no, “B” yes.
INT: One last, what’s next?
JC: I’m just going to work on music and we’ll see what happens. I’ll probably want to do this show…(unintelligible)…because it’s pretty funny.
INT: Alright, well thanks so much for your time.
JC: Thank you.
INT: Have a great show.
JC: I hope you enjoy it.
Transcribed by G Harbl.
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