Julian Casablancas by the same thing twice!" After the release of the two other albums and several major tours, the band took a 5-year break before returning with their fourth album "Angles" in 2011. The five year hiatus was said to be the result of conflicting solo projects, sobriety issues, and unspoken emotions.The Strokes' drummer Fab Moretti claimed the band struggled to process such "subconscious volcanic emotions", partly because they were still "children" at the time. Though their creative processes has been critiqued by outside observers as “a democracy under a dictator”, Casablancas has encouraged each band member to contribute their own
Julian Casablancas and Sparklehorse on the song "Little Girl" on the 2010 album, "Dark Night of the Soul", contributing the lyrics, lead and backing vocals, and guitar solo. Aside from vocal collaborations, he also contributed to a song, "Forrest Gump", on Digitalism's sophomore album "I Love You, Dude" in 2011. The electronica duo initiated a collaboration with Casablancas through his manager, and Casablancas contributed 'a 30-second recording with him on guitar' via email. Casablancas also lent his vocals to the title track, "Rave On", on a 2011 tribute album to Buddy Holly, "Rave On Buddy Holly". In 2016, Casablancas contributed three specially