Debbie Harry: When I read your press kit, I came away thinking, I wonder what it feels like to be looked at as “the next big thing”?
Julian Casablancas: It’s exciting. It’s like what you always hoped for but never really thought you could come close to. I remember when we started out, if we had a paragraph written about us, we’d throw a party and show all our friends!
Debbie: (laughs) Get tattoos, everything!
Julian: Yeah, and now it’s almost overwhelming. I don’t listen to it anymore; it’s a little surreal.
Debbie: Well, I guess once you’ve said what you have to say you really don’t have to read it again. I always found it sort of disturbing to read stuff while I was doing shows — all of a sudden the things I’d read would flash in front of my face in the middle of a song and I’d forget where I was, and go (Harry gasps). Like shock therapy.
Julian: I really like your live stuff, I gotta say.
Debbie: Thank you. I think your music is really good, too, but I haven’t heard the EP, the first thing that you put out.
Julian: Oh, the demo. We did it for real cheap, just three songs. It was just a demo to get bigger shows in, like, Philly or something.
Debbie: But it got released?
Julian: Yeah, it got released.
Debbie: Did you make money from it?
Debbie: (laughs) Get tattoos, everything!
Julian: Yeah, and now it’s almost overwhelming. I don’t listen to it anymore; it’s a little surreal.
Debbie: Well, I guess once you’ve said what you have to say you really don’t have to read it again. I always found it sort of disturbing to read stuff while I was doing shows — all of a sudden the things I’d read would flash in front of my face in the middle of a song and I’d forget where I was, and go (Harry gasps). Like shock therapy.
Julian: I really like your live stuff, I gotta say.
Debbie: Thank you. I think your music is really good, too, but I haven’t heard the EP, the first thing that you put out.
Julian: Oh, the demo. We did it for real cheap, just three songs. It was just a demo to get bigger shows in, like, Philly or something.
Debbie: But it got released?
Julian: Yeah, it got released.
Debbie: Did you make money from it?
Christina Essenelle: Ha!
Julian: I don’t think so, no.
Debbie: How many do you think they sold?
Julian: I don’t know — 50 000.
Debbie: You should get some money from that. You signed a contract for that, right?
Christina: Double Ha!
Debbie: How many do you think they sold?
Julian: I don’t know — 50 000.
Debbie: You should get some money from that. You signed a contract for that, right?
Christina: Double Ha!
Julian: Uh, yeah. Yeah.
Debbie: Who’s your manager?! Tell him to call me up. Just kidding. What’s the largest place you’ve ever played?
Julian: The Reading Festival in England. I think there were 40,000 or something.
Debbie: And how did that feel?
Julian: Uh, scary. I puked right before we went onstage. It was one of those shows. I mean, it was really weird, but actually fun in hindsight.
Debbie: Who’s your manager?! Tell him to call me up. Just kidding. What’s the largest place you’ve ever played?
Julian: The Reading Festival in England. I think there were 40,000 or something.
Debbie: And how did that feel?
Julian: Uh, scary. I puked right before we went onstage. It was one of those shows. I mean, it was really weird, but actually fun in hindsight.
Christina: That had to be one of the coolest stops on the tour, everyone was just so excited to hear the music.
Debbie: Were you in the crowd?
Christina: No I was backstage with their manager but I could still see the crowd, it was quite intimidating. Plus I was holding Julian's hair back for the vomit so-
Debbie: Oh well aren't you just the best?
Christina: (laughs) I try.
Julian: It’s funny, I was taking a guitar lesson today, we were going over some jazz stuff, and the teacher was telling me you did some jazz stuff over the last few years.
Christina: Wow Julian that was hilarious.
Christina: Wow Julian that was hilarious.
Julian: (laughs) shut up you.
Debbie: Oh yeah, I’ve been doing it for six or seven years.
Julian: I mean, I know there’s the Jazz Passengers and James Chance things, but I don’t know if you guys still do stuff.
Debbie: Every once in awhile, I sit in with them or do a show. Wait a minute, I have to ask you questions!
Julian: Right. (laughs)
Debbie: OK, OK, let’s see. You live in an apartment now?
Julian: Yeah.
Debbie: Do you live with somebody?
Julian: ...Yes and no. I have my own apartment but I usually don't sleep in it, I sleep with someone else.
Julian: I mean, I know there’s the Jazz Passengers and James Chance things, but I don’t know if you guys still do stuff.
Debbie: Every once in awhile, I sit in with them or do a show. Wait a minute, I have to ask you questions!
Julian: Right. (laughs)
Debbie: OK, OK, let’s see. You live in an apartment now?
Julian: Yeah.
Debbie: Do you live with somebody?
Julian: ...Yes and no. I have my own apartment but I usually don't sleep in it, I sleep with someone else.
Christina: Hi.
Debbie: Sounds good. Where is that, in Manhattan?
Julian: Yeah. Don’t print the address.
Debbie: What’s your favourite kind of car?
Julian: Well, I always joke around that if ever we made enough money to buy a new car, I’d probably buy an Acura. A black sports car.
Debbie: Have you ever met Lou Reed?
Julian: Well, I met Lou Reed but I met him as, like, a pesky person.
Debbie: Meaning what?
Julian: That’s how I felt. You know, he gives you that look of death.
Debbie: I don’t think he means it that way. I think the muscles in his face are just always very relaxed, and you know how it is when you’re really relaxed, your face looks kind of serious, right? I don’t know.
Julian: Are you friends with him?
Debbie: I’m not really friends, but we’re acquaintances in a nice way, and I’ve seen him over the years. I like him. I think he’s great. Now listen, stop asking me questions! Have you ever met David Byrne?
Julian: No.
Debbie: These are like stupid pop-question questions, but I thought I’d throw them in just to be annoying. So you're girlfriend's been in the news lately.
Julian: Yeah she does that a lot.
Debbie: Do you like the attention to be on her and not you?
Julian: Yeah. Don’t print the address.
Debbie: What’s your favourite kind of car?
Julian: Well, I always joke around that if ever we made enough money to buy a new car, I’d probably buy an Acura. A black sports car.
Debbie: Have you ever met Lou Reed?
Julian: Well, I met Lou Reed but I met him as, like, a pesky person.
Debbie: Meaning what?
Julian: That’s how I felt. You know, he gives you that look of death.
Debbie: I don’t think he means it that way. I think the muscles in his face are just always very relaxed, and you know how it is when you’re really relaxed, your face looks kind of serious, right? I don’t know.
Julian: Are you friends with him?
Debbie: I’m not really friends, but we’re acquaintances in a nice way, and I’ve seen him over the years. I like him. I think he’s great. Now listen, stop asking me questions! Have you ever met David Byrne?
Julian: No.
Debbie: These are like stupid pop-question questions, but I thought I’d throw them in just to be annoying. So you're girlfriend's been in the news lately.
Julian: Yeah she does that a lot.
Debbie: Do you like the attention to be on her and not you?
Julian: I don't think it matters either way as long as it's not negative attention.
Debbie: Speaking of negative attention, Christina you were recently attacked by a gang is that correct?
Christina: Quite, yeah that was an experience.
Debbie: So Julian, what'd you do?
Julian: I killed all of them.
Debbie: The perfect boyfriend.
Christina: I'd say so.
Debbie: How long have you two been going out?
Julian: Uh...what is it 5 months?
Christina: Something like that.
Debbie: So I take it you're not a couple that prides itself on anniversaries.
Christina: I think if the one-yearer comes around then we'll do something, otherwise...yeah.
Debbie: Well you guys seem to be very happy.
Julian: Yeah.
Debbie: OK. Who cuts your hair?
Julian: (laughs) This Japanese girl on Greene Street, named Mika.
Debbie: OK, do you have any pets?
Julian: Two dogs, and I've officially adopted Christina's fish.
Debbie: So you're a dog person then?
Julian: Depends on the animal. (laughs) Some cats are cooler than some dogs.
Debbie: At this stage of the game, are you really happy when someone recognizes you?
Julian: It doesn’t really happen so much, but if I do it's usually because I'm with Christina.
Debbie: Way to go Christina. (laughs) If you continue with this and your career builds, do you think you’ll feel comfortable being famous and losing a certain degree of anonymity?
Julian: I don’t know. The only thing I’m slightly worried about is if we get to a level where we’re constantly busy and we don’t have enough time to focus on just the music.
Debbie: How will you schedule your time? Do you have any kind of vision for that?
Julian: No. Pretty much the only goal I’ve had since the beginning, which I still have, is just to get better, work hard, focus, and everything else will just be a bonus. As long as I’m satisfied, and I think we’re getting better with every song compared to the last, then I’m satisfied and that’s all I want. If we don’t achieve that, then I’ll be disappointed. But if I think that we’re still doing stuff that’s good, and we’re not popular anymore, or people don’t write about us, I’d be just as happy. Did you get recognized on your way over here?
Debbie: Don’t ask me questions, Julian! Come on.
Julian: Sorry. (laughs)
Debbie: What was it like living in Switzerland? I’m really fascinated with that.
Julian: It wasn’t that cool.
Debbie: What city was it?
Julian: It wasn’t a city. It was a small town about an hour away from Geneva.
Debbie: I like your plastic sneakers.
Julian: Yeah.
Debbie: OK. Who cuts your hair?
Julian: (laughs) This Japanese girl on Greene Street, named Mika.
Debbie: OK, do you have any pets?
Julian: Two dogs, and I've officially adopted Christina's fish.
Debbie: So you're a dog person then?
Julian: Depends on the animal. (laughs) Some cats are cooler than some dogs.
Debbie: At this stage of the game, are you really happy when someone recognizes you?
Julian: It doesn’t really happen so much, but if I do it's usually because I'm with Christina.
Debbie: Way to go Christina. (laughs) If you continue with this and your career builds, do you think you’ll feel comfortable being famous and losing a certain degree of anonymity?
Julian: I don’t know. The only thing I’m slightly worried about is if we get to a level where we’re constantly busy and we don’t have enough time to focus on just the music.
Debbie: How will you schedule your time? Do you have any kind of vision for that?
Julian: No. Pretty much the only goal I’ve had since the beginning, which I still have, is just to get better, work hard, focus, and everything else will just be a bonus. As long as I’m satisfied, and I think we’re getting better with every song compared to the last, then I’m satisfied and that’s all I want. If we don’t achieve that, then I’ll be disappointed. But if I think that we’re still doing stuff that’s good, and we’re not popular anymore, or people don’t write about us, I’d be just as happy. Did you get recognized on your way over here?
Debbie: Don’t ask me questions, Julian! Come on.
Julian: Sorry. (laughs)
Debbie: What was it like living in Switzerland? I’m really fascinated with that.
Julian: It wasn’t that cool.
Debbie: What city was it?
Julian: It wasn’t a city. It was a small town about an hour away from Geneva.
Debbie: I like your plastic sneakers.
Christina: Those be fightin' words.
Julian: (laughs) It's pleather.
Debbie: Yeah, they look good. At first I thought they were canvas wrapped in cellophane. You wear socks, right?
Julian: That’s an odd question: “Do you wear socks?”
Debbie: Yeah. It’s an important question. Now, what is the thread between you and your fellow musicians.? Outside of music, is there a unifying force?
Julian: Like chess or something?
Debbie: Yeah.
Debbie: Yeah, they look good. At first I thought they were canvas wrapped in cellophane. You wear socks, right?
Julian: That’s an odd question: “Do you wear socks?”
Debbie: Yeah. It’s an important question. Now, what is the thread between you and your fellow musicians.? Outside of music, is there a unifying force?
Julian: Like chess or something?
Debbie: Yeah.
Christina: They're more of a checkers fan.
Julian: (laughs) Those be fightin' words. Uh, no. The drummer is into sculpture, but our main thing in common is music.
Debbie: How do you feel about politics?
Julian: (hisses) Politics.
Debbie: Are you more concerned with humanitarian issues, or environmental problems or stuff like that?
Julian: Well, I mean, I wouldn’t say that, either. The only goal right now that I can have, the only thing I can offer right now, is I need to get good at music, do something with quality.
Debbie: Do you think you will be satisfied?
Julian: I think you can get closer but you never fully arrive.
Debbie: At night when you’re sleeping, do you have dreams?
Julian: It’s funny you ask, because last night I had this dream that I was playing a show at my old high school, and then, at the end of my dream, I spit. (laughs) I just remember that spitting feeling, an intense spit, and I woke up and I had actually spit on my covers.
Julian: (laughs) Those be fightin' words. Uh, no. The drummer is into sculpture, but our main thing in common is music.
Debbie: How do you feel about politics?
Julian: (hisses) Politics.
Debbie: Are you more concerned with humanitarian issues, or environmental problems or stuff like that?
Julian: Well, I mean, I wouldn’t say that, either. The only goal right now that I can have, the only thing I can offer right now, is I need to get good at music, do something with quality.
Debbie: Do you think you will be satisfied?
Julian: I think you can get closer but you never fully arrive.
Debbie: At night when you’re sleeping, do you have dreams?
Julian: It’s funny you ask, because last night I had this dream that I was playing a show at my old high school, and then, at the end of my dream, I spit. (laughs) I just remember that spitting feeling, an intense spit, and I woke up and I had actually spit on my covers.
Christina: I can testify to this. It was gross.
Debbie: (laughs) Do you ever put any of your dreams into your writing?
Julian: Not directly but I’m sure subconsciously.
Debbie: If you were to wear a particular item of women’s clothing, what would that be?
Christina: (laughs) Oh God, do I love these questions.
Debbie: (laughs) Do you ever put any of your dreams into your writing?
Julian: Not directly but I’m sure subconsciously.
Debbie: If you were to wear a particular item of women’s clothing, what would that be?
Christina: (laughs) Oh God, do I love these questions.
Julian: (pause) Like out on the town?
Debbie: No, I mean, would it be a pair of shoes, secret underwear, an earring, or a shirt that was made of lace?
Julian: Hmm.
Debbie: Have you ever had any drive to do that?
Julian: Not on purpose. I think I sometimes I’ve run out of underwear and borrowed my girlfriend’s pair. (laughs) I’ve done that once or twice.
Debbie: You've borrowed Christina's underwear?! Any particular color?
Julian: Well, it wasn’t for, like, any kind of sensation other than having underwear on. (laughs)
Debbie: Is there anything that you’d like to say to people?
Julian: I don’t know. It’s weird: I remember when I used to be in the shower and I would interview myself, you know. I think everyone does that.
Debbie: No, I mean, would it be a pair of shoes, secret underwear, an earring, or a shirt that was made of lace?
Julian: Hmm.
Debbie: Have you ever had any drive to do that?
Julian: Not on purpose. I think I sometimes I’ve run out of underwear and borrowed my girlfriend’s pair. (laughs) I’ve done that once or twice.
Debbie: You've borrowed Christina's underwear?! Any particular color?
Julian: Well, it wasn’t for, like, any kind of sensation other than having underwear on. (laughs)
Debbie: Is there anything that you’d like to say to people?
Julian: I don’t know. It’s weird: I remember when I used to be in the shower and I would interview myself, you know. I think everyone does that.
Christina: Again, I can testify to this. (Julian hits her knee)
Debbie: So you two shower together? Hmm all the dirty things are coming out...
Christina: I think Jules can answer that one.
Julian: Best girlfriend in the world right there.
Christina: (laughs) Jules, the young elephant society meets on Wednesdays right?
Julian: (laughs) Uh, yeah I think that's today.
Debbie: OK…
Julian: Anyways, in the shower I would give great intellectual answers that solved all these problems, like, as soon as anyone asks me a question they’ll see what’s comin’ their way! I’ve got all the answers. (laughs) And ever since then, it’s all been downhill.
Debbie: OK…
Julian: Anyways, in the shower I would give great intellectual answers that solved all these problems, like, as soon as anyone asks me a question they’ll see what’s comin’ their way! I’ve got all the answers. (laughs) And ever since then, it’s all been downhill.
