Julian Casablancas+The Voidz

Julian Casablancas+The Voidz
Aurelien Guichard · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Julian Casablancas+The Voidz
Origin	New York City, United States
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Cult, RCA, Columbia
Associated acts	The Strokes, Daft Punk, Arctic Monkeys

Julian Casablancas+The Voidz Julian Casablancas+The Voidz is an American rock band formed by singer Julian Casablancas after work with The Strokes, combining experimental rock, electronic, and avant-garde influences. The group released albums drawing on scenes in New York City, Los Angeles, and international electronic hubs, collaborating with producers and artists from Paris, London, and Tokyo. Their output intersects with movements linked to post-punk revival, garage rock, and art-rock communities associated with venues like Bowery Ballroom and festivals including Coachella and Primavera Sound.

History

Formed in 2013 amid Julian Casablancas' post-Angles period, the band assembled musicians from diverse backgrounds including members active in scenes around Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Early activities included performances at SXSW, sessions in studios used by artists such as David Bowie and Prince, and collaborations with producers who worked with Pharrell Williams, Rick Rubin, and Mark Ronson. Their debut album reflected influences from acts like The Velvet Underground, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, Neu!, and Brian Eno while engaging with contemporary peers including Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar, and Arctic Monkeys. Subsequent tours brought them into bills with bands like Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blur, Arcade Fire, and DJs associated with Ninja Tune and Warp Records.

Members

The lineup centers on Julian Casablancas as vocalist, joined by musicians whose careers intersect with groups and artists across genres: instrumentalists who have collaborated with projects linked to The Strokes, Dead Leaf Echoes, and session work for artists such as The Killers, Phoenix, and Queens of the Stone Age. Touring and studio personnel have included musicians versed in scenes represented by labels like Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, Sub Pop, and 4AD. Members have had past or concurrent associations with acts including Julian Plenti, Albert Hammond Jr., Nick Valensi, Flea, Thom Yorke, Josh Homme, Jack White, Eddie Vedder, and Beck.

Musical Style and Influences

The band's music synthesizes elements from post-punk, punk rock, psychedelic rock, art rock, and electronic music traditions, echoing artists such as The Clash, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine, and Sonic Youth. Production techniques reference work by engineers linked to Nigel Godrich, Flood, and Steve Albini, while songwriting nods to lyricists like Lou Reed, Patti Smith, David Byrne, Thom Yorke, and Leonard Cohen. They incorporate modular synthesis practices associated with Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, and Daft Punk alongside rhythmic approaches reminiscent of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Public Image Ltd., and The Fall. Visual presentation and album art draw inspiration from designers and photographers connected to Andy Warhol, Peter Saville, and Anton Corbijn.

Discography

Studio albums include a debut that channels influences ranging from The Velvet Underground to Aphex Twin, and later releases reflecting experimentation akin to Radiohead and collaborations with artists from Downtown Los Angeles and Berlin electronic scenes. Singles and EPs have seen remixes by producers with credits alongside Madonna, Björk, and Kanye West, while vinyl and limited editions have been distributed through independent outlets like Rough Trade and Third Man Records. Releases have charted in markets tied to UK Singles Chart, Billboard 200, and festival compilations from Reading and Leeds Festivals and Glastonbury Festival.

Live Performances and Tours

Their touring history spans headline runs and festival appearances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Primavera Sound, Lollapalooza, and All Points East, sharing bills with acts from Brighton to Tokyo Dome circuits. Live configurations have emphasized improvisation and extended arrangements in venues like Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl, and Sydney Opera House-adjacent festivals, often joined onstage by guest performers associated with The Strokes, Daft Punk, and Arctic Monkeys. They have worked with lighting and stage designers who have collaborated with U2, Pink Floyd, and Coldplay.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Critics have compared their work to landmark releases from The Velvet Underground, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Radiohead, and commentators from publications tied to Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, and The New York Times have debated their place within guitar-oriented and electronic continuums. Retrospectives link their influence to younger bands on labels like XL Recordings, Domino Recording Company, and Matador Records, while scholarly discussions in texts referencing Simon Frith and Greil Marcus consider their melding of underground aesthetics with mainstream festival culture. Their legacy is discussed alongside artists who redefined rock in the 21st century, such as Arcade Fire, The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, and TV on the Radio.

Category:American rock bands