Albert Hammond Jr. with Julian Casablancas
Albert Hammond Jr. enjoys competition after releasing his second solo album, 'AHJ', and though he is "proud" of his achievements within The Strokes, he enjoys having a different outlet for his creativity.
He said: "With a band like The Strokes, the way that we came into the scene it's strange. It will always be there and I can only see it a a positive. The longer I do this, I'll get more of my own thing. I'm proud of both and I've been very, very lucky.
"I love my role in the band and obviously it gives me something else, but I don't know if I need it. I've always loved to play a variety of music, as much as it scares me and it's great to have that ability. I'm not running away from my past, it's just a different outlet and the time is right."
Albert is driven by a desire to be competitive - both with other artists and his own bandmates.
He told Gigwise: "Hearing other people's songs becomes like a competition.
"It can just be a new random song that you hear, by The Sweet or whoever," he says. "You can feel the competition within your own band as well - especially with a great songwriter like Julian [Casablancas]. The other guys too, they're full of great idea."
He goes on: "Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs - these are all bands that keep coming out with things that make me go 's**t - that's exciting'. You feel it when you're doing it yourself - when you finish a song you say 's**t, I'm glad we did that'."
Tagged in The Strokes Julian Casablancas