Julian Casablancas wants to make "edgy" music mainstream.
The Strokes frontman has revealed his latest solo album 'Tyranny' - which was released last month - is an attempt to normalise underground music and "make it popular" in its own time.
He told The Guardian newspaper: "If anything I want to make edgier, interesting stuff mainstream. I'm not trying to be weird, I'm trying to make cool things, that are usually underground, popular.
"A lot of what I do is to try and make cool things popular in their own time. But I'm not trying to be new or different. It's just the same as ever - creative ideas come in my mind and I just execute them."
The 'Someday' singer also described the record - which features the tracks 'M.utually A.ssured D.estruction', 'Off to War' and 'Take Me in Your Army' as a "protest" and is a social comment on what he believes to be the failings on modern society.
He explained: "I guess it's kind of a protest record. It feels like one to me. It's more to do with morality than politics. We have the sense that we've moved on from the system where the centres of wealth arbitrarily decide what is law and what wars we fight, etc. But I really don't think that we are removed from that.
"I was actually tapping into the notion of profits at the expense of humanity that I see everywhere. The general human struggle. The point of the record is to try and illustrate the total illusion that we're somehow beyond that sort of thing, in this so-called era of freedom and justice."
The father-of-one confessed he was even close to tears while working on a track 'Human Sadness' and "felt swallowed up" by the emotional message behind the music.
He said: " It was very intense to work on. I've never worked on a song where the people were close to tears.
I wasn't quite crying, but it was really intense. It's like being on the operating table - you're working on making it emotional. But this was a rare time when I felt swallowed up by it."

Bobby Norris wants to take Charlie King for a drink following his admission that he's gay.
'The Only Way Is Essex' star - who put his heart on the line for his former co-star only to be rejected live on television because Charlie insisted he wasn't interested in men - is happy his old pal has finally come out and would love to show him the gay party scene.
He said: "Most men know the offside rule - I've got a good gaydar. I can spot a gay man in a dark room. Charlie just didn't come out at the time.
"I've always known. I've known probably before he's known. Before he's taken the time to realise what he is. I've obviously known as long as I've known him - I've known him for about three years now."
Offering his advice to Charlie - who was dating TOWIE star Gemma Collins when Bobby revealed his feelings for him - he warned him to take things slow.
Bobby told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Take your time. Test the water and get in the scene.
"I'll happily take him clubbing and to the bars. I would love to show him the gay hotspots - and maybe a trip to Brighton."
Meanwhile, Charlie himself has said he'd love to show Bobby the "real him" after making his admission live on television.
He confessed: "I would like to think that now with clarity I have got, with the journey that we went on together, I'd love to hang out and have some fun, I'd love for him to see the real me."

Stephen Fry has slammed 'Downton Abbey' for it's "ghastly snobbery".
The 'QI' host has spoken out about the much-loved ITV period drama in his new autobiography 'More Fool Me', insisting the series created by Julian Fellowes is "horrible" compared to the channel's previous drama 'Upstairs Downstairs'.
According to Radio Times magazine, he wrote: "The excellent balance of 'Upstairs Downstairs' stands up very well against the ghastly snobbery and tacked-on noblesse oblige of that horrible Abbey programme."
The 57-year-old star - who has also opened up about his previous drug dependency in the book - went on to apologise to a number of his friends who actually star in the show.
He added: "I say this guilty, having actor friends I like very much who play in it, and play excellently, but the truth must come out."
Stephen's book is not the first time he's commented on the Emmy award-winning series, however, as he took to his Twitter account in 2012 to discuss his hatred for it.
He wrote: "I do so wish that every 'Downton Abbey' reference didn't make me want to puke. Nice talented people involved but ... is it just me? (sic)"

Sam Faiers has been visiting the Playboy mansion.
The former 'The Only Way Is Essex' star has been posting images of herself and Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner's wife Crystal relaxing at the famous mansion during her trip to Los Angeles.
The blonde beauty uploaded an image of her and Crystal pouting to her Instagram account, alongside the caption: "Me & @crystalhefner today.. At the playboy mansion .. Chilling and talking all things disney xx (sic)."
Sam then added a snap of her posing in a red playsuit in front of the house near Beverly Hills - which became famous when Hugh started hosting lavish parties in the 70s.
She wrote: "Check me out ♯playboymansion x (sic)."
Sam is said to be in California after catching the attention of industry bosses in Los Angeles who want to discuss the possibility of her starring in billboard modelling campaigns and even films.
A source explained: "Sam's sexy modelling career caught the eye of some VIP Hollywood moguls and she's keen to expand her horizons.
"A really big casting agent flew her out to LA first class and set up a string of meetings. There are plans for a modelling career Stateside and the potential for movies."
Meanwhile, Sam has been rubbing shoulders with 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' royalty Kim Kardashian, posting a photo of her, her make-up artist pal Benny Hancock and Kim at the Charlotte Tilbury make up party.

Shakira plans to take the year off to concentrate on her pregnancy.
The 'Can't Remember To Forget You' songstress has revealed she intends to take a year off before releasing a new Spanish album so she can focus all her energy on her pregnancy and her 20-month-old son, Milan.
Shakira - who is currently five-months pregnant - admitted her boyfriend and father of her child, Gerard Pique, is a hands-on dad, despite him having a busy work schedule as a soccer star for FC Barcelona.
Speaking at the launch of her fifth perfume, 'Rock!', Shakira told HELLO! magazine: "He is very involved with his son, he is always there for him and that's a big advantage for me as I cannot imagine it any other way."
The singer's parents, Nidia and William recently confirmed their famous daughter and son-in-law were expecting a son.
Speaking HELLO!'s sister magazine Hola! in September, they said: "We're very happy. She's having another baby boy - a playmate for Milan."
But the pair admitted they don't have a clue what the couple are planning to call their second child.
They added: "We don't know anything about names yet."

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin have splashed out £10 million on their first marital home.
The newlyweds have reportedly forked out the huge sum on a plush Georgian riverside mansion in the small village of Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, central England.
According to The Times newspaper, the couple will be enjoying visits to the local 500-year-old pub in the area and a pretty church which are within easy reach of their fancy new property.
Their new home in the Home Counties reportedly boasts a steam room, gym, study, library, cellar and even a boat house.
The area is said to be home to many rich dwellers, including financiers and Arab sheiks and is often frequented by the Home Secretary, Theresa May.
One local resident believes George's arrival will go down well with half the population of the quiet village.
David Costard told the newspaper: "I'm sure the ladies and girls of Sonning will welcome him with open arms."
He also admitted the 'Gravity' actor might like to take Amal to a play at The Mill At Sonning, which is currently playing, 'A Party To Murder'.
David said: "They get entertaining shows."
George already owns several properties, including a mansion in Lake Como, Italy and a home in Los Cabos, Mexico where he counts Cindy Crawford as his next door neighbour.

Ricky Whittle has reportedly dumped Rumer Willis.
The 32-year-old actor - who is best known for his role in British TV soap 'Hollyoaks' - started dating the 26-year-old socialite over the summer, but has reportedly grown tired of her "constant attention seeking."
A source said that heartthrob was horrified when the aspiring singer, who is Demi Moore and ex-husband Bruce Willis' eldest daughter, started behaving childishly and wearing more risqué clothing.
The insider told US OK! magazine: "It all got to be too much for Ricky. He asked her to tone it down, but she refused.
"Her 'look at me' act wore Ricky down. It's a shame, because he really liked her."
Ricky hinted their romance had hit a rough patch on Twitter late last month, writing: "It's better to have your heart broken by walking away than to have it break daily waiting for things to get better."
The actor recently won Demi's seal of approval, but a source previously claimed he was avoiding Rumer's father.
The insider said: "Ricky's nervous. He's met Demi on multiple occasions now, but he keeps putting off spending time with Bruce.
"Part of the reason is he's heard that Bruce has a reputation for giving Rumer's boyfriends a tough time.
"Apparently he loves to wind them up for his own amusement."

Taylor Swift likes to bake cookies for her fans.
The 24-year-old singer has spent most of the week in London where she has put on several showcases, at which she has been cooking up a storm for her supporters because she finds it "very exciting" trying out different recipes on her fans and finds baking relaxing.
Speaking to Andrea Zara on KISS FM UK, she said: "I made cookies for the first group, and then they kind of talked about it online, and so all the other people were like ... 'I wonder if I get invited to one, I hope she bakes for that one too.'
"So I'm like, 'OK, I've got to bake for all of them' ... But for me, it's actually really fun, because you get to try out all kinds of new recipes and stuff, and for me that's actually very exciting.
"It's one of the things I really like to do. It kind of calms me down, because if I'm thinking about measuring out all these ingredients and just kind of following sort of a recipe, then it just is - I'm not thinking about things that stress me out. Yeah, it's kind of like - it's just kind of like a comfort thing."
The blonde beauty has been in London to promote her upcoming fifth studio album '1989' - named after the year she was born - and admits she was inspired by several 1980s artists when making the record.
She added: "I think I have a few artists from the late '80s who I think, in my mind, were making the most incredible, bold, risky decisions as far as pop music goes.
"They were really kind of ahead of their time, and those are the artists that really inspire me - like Annie Lennox, and what Madonna was doing in the late '80s, and Peter Gabriel, and Fine Young Cannibals. I just feel like that music still holds up."

Olly Murs put on his spookiest attire to scare revellers at Thorpe Park Resort's 13th annual Fright Nights last night (09.10.14) - and he did a pretty good job! The singer was joined by other stars including Cara Delevingne at the event.

Nicole Scherzinger looked stylish in oversize black sunglasses and leather leggings as she greeted fans in London. The raven-haired beauty arrived at the BBC breakfast studio.

Hilary Duff looked cheerful in a vibrant blue skirt and denim jacket as she made her way through New York City. The blonde beauty flashed a smile and greeted fans with a wave.

Sarah Jessica Parker joined her husband Matthew Broderick at the after party for the premiere of 'It's Only A Play' on Broadway. The couple partied at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, New York City.