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The Strokes' Julian Casablancas: 'I'm releasing a Christmas song'

Singer exclusively tells NME.COM about his festive plans

The Strokes' Julian Casablancas has told NME.COM he is to release a solo Christmas single.

The singer, whose first solo album 'Phrazes Of The Young' came out this week (November 2), said he plans to release a cover of festive tune 'I Wish It Was Christmas Today' which first appeared on US comedy show 'Saturday Night Live'.

"It was a fun thing to do. Everyone seems to do a Christmas song at some point, so I always said to myself I'd do that song," Casablancas explained. "I now checked that off the list of things to do!"

The track will be released as a download and a limited edition seven-inch single on December 21.

Get this week's issue of NME – on UK newsstands nationwide from tomorrow (November 4) – for an exclusive interview with Julian Casablancas.

Meanwhile Casablancas will play the following UK and Ireland tour dates later this year:

Manchester Ritz (December 11)
Glasgow ABC (12)
Dublin Academy (14)
London Forum (16)


To check the availability of Julian Casablancas tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

 

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Comments (7)

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gazhat 

Nov 3, 2009

...please, for the love of god make him stop....everything

rhyst 

Nov 4, 2009

I love julian. But seriously what is he doing. I agree with gazhat but he should go back to the strokes. Bascially stop fucking around doing shit.

dudidosch 

Nov 4, 2009

...and that picture! I hope his fellow strokes colleagues will talk some sense into him when finishing the new album...

thatsjustgreat 

Nov 4, 2009

agreed, gazhat. at least albert and fabrizio TRY to make good music

CrashingBlimp 

Nov 5, 2009

I thought the solo album was okay...but reading his interview in SPIN (sorry, NME) kind of changed my opinion of him. He's very self-centered and said he wants to be as big as Creed was in 2000. Wtf is going through his head?Now throw in this Christmas single...is he trying to be the next George Michael?

b1wolpert 

Nov 6, 2009

Julian is hugely talented - just like all Strokes albums, we need a little time for it to grow on us, but I like it so far. He's taking a chance, so give him a break. Also - every since I heard that Christmas song on SNL, I LOVED IT and couldn't get enough. Julian is the coolest to have recorded it!

musicleech 

Nov 6, 2009

You guys are being way too critical. Yeah, most people like The Strokes more than their solo projects, but that's the same with lots of bands. But if you've read his interviews, he has a vision that's beyond just making good music. He wants to make good music AND change the music industry at the same time. That's not easy to do. I think Phrazes For The Young is a subtle but great attempt at doing that. It's got a very mainstream sound, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. He's just taking a different angle, making something new that possibly a wider audience will enjoy. Give the album a chance, it might grow on you.

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'Boombox', the song by US comedy writers Lonely Island, featuring The Strokes' Julian Casablancas on guest vocals, has appeared online. The song, set to feature on the 'Saturday Night Live' comedy team's forthcoming album, 'Incredibad' (out February 23), is available to hear in full at Stereogum.com now.

'Boombox', the song by US comedy writers Lonely Island, featuring The Strokes' Julian...

Listen to full tracks now. Users outside the UK can hear 30-second clips of each song.

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