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, and brother of Cecile and John II Casablancas. His paternal grandfather Ferran Casablancas was a textile businessman. His parents were divorced when Casablancas was nine, and he lived with his mother and Sam Adoquei.

The first original member of The Strokes with whom Casablancas met was Nikolai Fraiture. The two attended the same kindergarten and soon more schools to come. 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.

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.