Julian Casablancas

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Julian Fernando Casablancas (born August 23, 1978) is a solo artist and vocalist and chief songwriter of the American rock band The Strokes.

Early life and education

Julian Casablancas is the son of John Casablancas, son of immigrants from Sabadell in Spain and the founder of Elite Model Management, and Jeanette Christiansen, a Danish model who was Miss Denmark in 1965. He has four half-siblings. His paternal grandfather Ferran Casablancas was a textile businessman. His parents were divorced when Casablancas was nine, and he lived with his mother and artist Sam Adoquei.

The first original member of The Strokes with whom Casablancas met was Nikolai Fraiture. The two attended Lycée Français de New York together. When he was 14, Casablancas was caught drinking before school and consequently was forced twice a week to attend a rehabilitation program called Phoenix House. Soon afterwards, his father sent him to Institut Le Rosey,^[1] a boarding school in Switzerland. It was here that he encountered Albert Hammond, Jr.. Though the two were not friends at the time, they would later become roommates and finally bandmates.

When Casablancas returned to New York after six months at Le Rosey, he continued his education at Dwight School^[2] in Manhattan, where he befriended Fabrizio Moretti and Nick Valensi, who later also became fellow band members. He dropped out in 11th grade and attended Five Towns College on Long Island for one year, receiving a scholarship after writing a classical composition. He worked as a bartender before going into music professionally.

Musical career

The Strokes

Julian Casablancas' vocals feature a distinct delivery as well as a wide range in pitch. His signature vocal style combines elements of sing-speak and soul, drawing influences most notably from Robert Pollard, Lou Reed, and Ian Curtis.

As The Strokes principal songwriter, he has the greatest impact on their sound and has been known to be extremely meticulous with it. While Casablancas composes on a variety of instruments, he uses the keyboard to write complex arrangements that he later transposes to fit The Strokes' guitar-driven lineup.

Another recent change has come in the recording of his vocals, which is significantly clearer and louder than their first two albums. At first, Casablancas would always use a filter when singing on The Strokes' first two albums. He has since changed this on First Impressions of Earth. However, Casablancas says this was adjusted only because it fit the new songs' style more, and not because he was any less self-critical about his voice.^{[citation needed]}

Solo Album

As reported by his website, Casablancas will release his debut solo album, Phrazes for the Young on November 2 in the UK and November 3, 2009, in the US. To celebrate the release, Julian will play a special series of shows every Friday night in November in Los Angeles. Recorded in Los Angeles, Nebraska and Casablancas' home city New York, the album will be produced by Jason Lader, with additional production from Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis.^[3]

On 18th September, UK fans got their first taste of a full song from the album, as Zane Lowe played the track "11th Dimension" on an evening show. It was then later revealed that this would be the first single from Phrazes for the Young, which will be released on November 2, 2009.

Julian Casablancas is set to tour with The Sick Six in Europe starting November 30, 2009. They will be playing shows in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and London.

Other work

Known to not play much on Strokes' recordings, Julian has proved himself an able multi-instrumentalist through guest appearances. He's played casio guitar on "Sick, Sick, Sick" by Queens of the Stone Age, bass guitar and backing vocals on Albert Hammond, Jr.'s "Scared", and the second set of drums on the Strokes' "Evening Sun".

He has also served as inspiration for several other musicians. For instance, Courtney Love's song "But Julian, I'm a Little Bit Older Than You", from her debut solo album America's Sweetheart (2004), was written about Julian Casablancas. ^[4]

In 2008, Julian recorded a song with Santogold and Pharrell of N*E*R*D called "My Drive Thru" for Converse. He also appears in the ad campaign.

In 2009, Julian recorded a song with Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer of SNL and The Lonely Island called "Boombox" for their debut album. He also collaborated with Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse on the song "Little Girl".

Personal life

Julian (or 'Jules' as he is known by his friends and family) is an avid baseball fan, particularly of the New York Mets, and has said that "if I could go back in time I'd be a minor league pitcher".^[5] He also likes the New York Jets football team.

On February 5, 2005, Julian Casablancas married Juliet Joslin, an assistant to a band manager, in a private ceremony in New York. Their reception was at Tavern on the Green. He announced the engagement at several shows including Central Park, where prior to playing their song "Hard to Explain," he said, "Oh, and I'm getting married and this is 'Hard to Explain!'" In an interview published in October, 2009 in the English newspaper, The Guardian, it was revealed that they are about to become parents, as Juliet was five months pregnant.^[6]

Julian is also a co-owner of a Korean BBQ restaurant Shin along with Danny Masterson, Steve Aoki (Dim Mak Records), Mark Ronson, Laura Prepon, Gerard Butler and others.

Selected discography

As a member of The Strokes

• Is This It (2001)
• Room on Fire (2003)
• First Impressions of Earth (2006)

As a solo artist

• Phrazes for the Young (2009)

References

External links

• Official Website