Soma

The song Soma by The Strokes, with its duration of 2 minutes and 38 seconds, delves into an atmosphere that evokes the idea of an ideal pleasure substance, much as imagined by Aldous Huxley in his 1932 novel Brave New World. This literary reference, which describes a hangover-free drug or an opiate, gives the piece a particular nuance, suggesting a search for escape or an elevated sensation.

Recorded in March and April 2001 at Transporterraum studio in New York, under the production of Gordon Raphael, Soma was part of The Strokes' debut album, Is This It. The band intentionally sought a direct sound, without excessive studio manipulations. To achieve this, they relied on live takes during recording sessions, building the compositions collectively. The lyrics, written by vocalist and composer Julian Casablancas, continued to explore the experiences and relationships of urban youth, a recurring theme in his work. The album, initially released in Australia on July 30, 2001, was distributed internationally by RCA Records and by Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom.