Julian Casablancas their last album under the contract with long-time label RCA, for which they did no promotion. The band released an EP, "Future Present Past", on Casablancas' own label Cult Records in 2016. As a solo artist, Casablancas set out with an intention to say what was on his mind, both musically and lyrically. Speaking on his experience as a solo artist versus releasing music with The Strokes, the singer has put it simply, “it’s like touring with me or with five of me,” meaning that each member has their own opinionated state of mind. While such statements raised much concern
Julian Casablancas served as a co-producer on Rey Pila's album released on Cult, "The Future Sugar". In August 2016, Cult Records announced a new album with The Growlers, a Southern California-based band. It was also announced that Casablancas himself was producing the album, later known as "City Club". Casablancas claims that one of his earliest musical influences was The Doors- musically and instrumentally, in particular, rather than through the identity of Jim Morrison as a frontman. He has also cited Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground as a major influence on his lyrics and singing style. "The way Lou Reed wrote and