The Voidz establish a musical presence like no other. Their extremely unorthodox sound challenges the socially approved/www/artists/TheVoidz_l75ux3T.jpg)
wave. Faithful Voidz fans argue that they pioneer a new genre of Alternate Rock. Their unique sound isn’t for everyone, but they still have captivated a wide audience. In my opinion, Julian Casablancas is responsible for all The Voidz success and weirdness.
For listeners familiar with the world of Alternate Rock, Julian Casablancas is Royalty. Most know Casablancas for fronting The Strokes, one of the most successful alternative bands of all time. The Voidz came together in 2013 when Casablancas collaborated with Jeramy Gritter, Amir Yaghmai, Jacob Bercovici, Alex Carapetis, and Jeff Kite on his solo album. Casablancas enjoyed working with the crew and started a separate band with the team after his project.
Casablancas and The Voidz gained popularity as the public anticipated the release of their first album. The music industry did not know what to expect out of the band. Would they be like The Strokes? What type of music would they create? The Voidz first album Tyranny answered their questions. Tyranny came out in 2014 and made a ripple in the world of alt-rock. Rolling Stone said it was above average while Drowned in Sound (DS) gave it a 9.75/10.
The album was composed of odd-sounding tracks that many listeners weren’t ready for. People who knew Casablancas well appreciated his new experimental sounds. Audiences looking for an ear-pleasing alt-sound were left disappointed. The Voidz next album Virtue was much more audience-friendly, utilizing fewer complex tracks with less grit. The average listener loved this album as it received four stars from most major critic sites such as Rolling Stone. Despite its praises, Virtue left long-time alt-rock fans disappointed in its lack of experimental additions.
So, what makes The Voidz so different? Their uniqueness is solely based on their diversity of sound. Casablancas creates very high-energy songs for The Voidz. He does this by adding on an un-godly number of tracks over his basic instruments. Most of his songs off Tyanny have no identifiable chorus, bridge, verse, etc. Every part of a song may repeat once at most, so it is difficult to realize you’re listening to the same tune. He also loves to mess with his listeners by adding off-timed instrumentals and odd pauses. GQ magazine assumed Julian Casablancas was on drugs when he wrote most of his Voidz tracks.
Overall, The Voidz isn’t for every listener. I personally really enjoy listening to their music. I never really liked their music until I started learning guitar and writing music. Playing and writing music gave me a newfound appreciation for The Voidz and their masterpieces. I highly suggest giving the band a listen. You’ll either find a new favorite band or question your sanity.
Learn More:
History and Link to New Song: https://cultrecords.com/pages/the-voidz
Rolling Stones Reviews: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/tyranny-112780/
Link to their music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4nUBBtLtzqZGpdiynTJbYJ?si=JCwckjUSQCW4lopGTzr3eQ
I am always looking for new music to listen to, and this will definitely be a band that I will check out. I have not heard of them before this, but I usually am into more of an alternative rock style. I am looking forward to some more good music recommendations from your blog throughout the semester. Great Job!
I am very excited to get some stellar band recommendations. You are clearly well-researched and dedicated to sharing what makes this band special, despite people’s initial hesitation. From your description and the images you used, I’m definitely getting some Pink Floyd and experimental rock vibes, which is always welcome. I’ll be checking them out.