The Strokes had to relearn how to make music the way they used to.

We revisit our previous conversation with Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes after their recent mind blowing performance at Coachella. Nikolai goes deep into the creative process behind their new album Reality Awaits and what it actually took to reconnect as a band in the studio.

Nikolai reflects on how the band drifted away from their early jamming-heavy process after Is This It, and how producer Rick Rubin helped bring them back into that space during The New Abnormal sessions—building songs through daily improvisation, letting ideas emerge naturally, and trusting “feel” over perfection.

We also get into the creative dynamics inside the band—how decisions get made in a group built on democracy, when to push ideas forward, and when to let instinct decide what stays.

At its core, this conversation is about rediscovering chemistry, letting go of control, and what it means to make music without overthinking it.

watch the full conversation here - https://youtu.be/3RTvcTb6Q4E

Topics covered:
The Strokes’ creative process on Reality Awaits
Returning to jamming and live chemistry in the studio
Working with Rick Rubin and his recording philosophy
How trust and disagreement shape the band’s sound
Revisiting the energy of Is This It vs modern recording sessions
Coachella reflections and live performance energy

#TheStrokes #NikolaiFraiture #RealityAwaits #RickRubin
#TheNewAbnormal #IsThisIt #Coachella #MusicInterview

About The Plug
---
The Plug w/ Justin Jay is an arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form interviews with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Each episode explores career challenges, inspirations, and the stories behind music, sports, design, and politics.

---
Follow the audio podcast of The Plug w/ Justin Jay → https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com

---
Subscribe & Stay Connected
• YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1
• Website → https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com
• Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-plug-w-justin-jay/id1517322794
• Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3M3BwnadvgbuwtErUHN1pl
• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinjayphoto/

---
• Have comments, feedback, or guest suggestions?
We’d love to hear from you!
Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay → theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com