Gordon Raphael: The Man Behind The Strokes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm-xuwBUwmE

Jade Read

President / Editor-In-Chief

April 23, 2026

Few producers are as closely tied to a band’s identity as Gordon Raphael is to The Strokes. As the architect behind their earliest recordings, Raphael helped shape the sound that defined the band’s rise in the early 2000s. In our recent conversation, he talks about that time, how the band has changed, and whether he’d work with them again.

Looking at their recent set at Coachella, Raphael says the crowd reaction still feels the same. Fans are just as into it, and the band still connects with them. Even on a big stage, it reminds him of their early shows in New York.

Credits:

Host: Jade Read

Producer: Jade Read

Cameras & Recording: Alyssa Feige