In a revealing interview featured in The Guardian, Julian Casablancas, the iconic frontman of The Strokes, candidly expressed his disconnection from one of the band’s beloved tracks, declaring it a song he “can no longer listen to.” He described the track as “pretty dead to me,” and went on to mention a few other Strokes songs that he feels similarly indifferent towards, shedding light on his artistic journey and evolving musical tastes.

Julian Casablancas Identifies Strokes Track That No Longer Resonates

During his conversation with The Guardian, Casablancas reflected on his musical journey and the significant songs that have influenced his life. When asked about “the song I can no longer listen to,” he surprisingly turned the spotlight on his own band’s music, revealing his complex relationship with their catalog.

He stated, “‘Last Nite’ by The Strokes is pretty dead to me. I’m not sure why,” the frontman admitted. This iconic track served as the second single and became the band’s biggest radio hit from their critically acclaimed debut album Is This It?. Notably, it stands as the third most performed song in their extensive catalog according to Setlist.fm, highlighting its popularity and significance in their career.

READ MORE: The Best New Rock + Metal Band for Each Year of the 2000s

However, Casablancas didn’t just stop at “Last Nite.” He further shared with The Guardian, “There are some others like ‘Reptilia,’ ‘Hard to Explain,’ ‘Someday,’ ‘Take It Or Leave It,’ and ‘New York City Cops’ that garner similar crowd reactions, but I’m not quite as fatigued by them. If I happen to hear any of those on the radio, I’d likely change the station,” indicating a nuanced view of his own discography.

Julian Casablancas Discusses His Discontent with “Last Nite”

In a previous 2020 interview, Casablancas had expressed his growing discontent with performing older tracks live, revealing that this burnout had become a significant aspect of his career. He conveyed to The Times the unanticipated sadness that comes with playing the same songs repeatedly.

“When you’re growing up and dreaming about performing music, the excitement is palpable, but one unexpected downside of pursuing it as a profession is how repetitive it can become,” he explained during that conversation.

“After a prolonged hiatus from performing,” Casablancas recounted, “the excitement was still there initially, but once you start playing 30 or 40 shows in a row, the music loses its emotional impact. You start to feel inauthentic. That’s partly why I collaborate with Voidz. The thought of performing ‘Last Nite’ doesn’t excite me anymore,” he admitted, showcasing his desire for artistic revitalization.

Julian Casablancas Reflects on His Journey with The Strokes

Earlier this year, in a conversation with the L.A. Times, Casablancas elaborated on taking a break from The Strokes. The band’s last studio album, The New Abnormal, was released in 2020, and he touched on the complexities of artistic burnout while considering his role within the band.

While burnout plays a significant role in his feelings, it is not the sole factor. When questioned by the L.A. Times about whether he felt he was contributing to an “opiate-of-the-masses” sentiment with The Strokes, he confidently replied, “No, because I believe I infuse political thoughts into Strokes songs as well.”

He elaborated, “I’ve always done that to some extent. I feel many Strokes fans might not fully grasp that aspect, which is perhaps why I’ve distanced myself a bit,” indicating a deep contemplation of his artistic integrity.

Despite these complexities, Casablancas expressed gratitude for his journey. “It’s a rewarding job that I’m honored to have, so I harbor no negativity towards it. If it were consuming so much of my time that I couldn’t engage in any positive endeavors, I would reconsider. However, I manage to maintain a balance. At least, I believe I do; I could be deceiving myself,” he remarked during the interview, revealing his thoughtful perspective on his career.