When Did Instant Crush Come Out? Release Date & Info

Behind the Glitch: The Timeless Story of Daft Punk and Julian Casablancas’ “Instant Crush”

When legendary French electronic duo Daft Punk teamed up with Julian Casablancas, the enigmatic frontman of The Strokes, the indie-rock and electronic worlds collided. The result was “Instant Crush,” one of the most beloved and emotionally resonant tracks of the 2010s.

If you have ever found yourself swaying to its melancholic synthesizer melodies and wondering about its origins, you are not alone. Here is the complete story of when the track arrived, how it came to life, and why it remains a modern masterpiece.

The Timeline: When Did “Instant Crush” Come Out?

“Instant Crush” was released in 2013 as part of Daft Punk’s monumental fourth and final studio album, Random Access Memories.

• The Album Release: Random Access Memories dropped worldwide on May 17, 2013 (via Columbia Records), immediately captivating fans with its pivot from heavy electronic sampling to lush, organic instrumentation and 1970s/80s pop-funk aesthetics.
• As a Single: While “Get Lucky” served as the explosive lead single that defined the summer of 2013, “Instant Crush” was later pushed to radio as the album’s fourth official single in November 2013.

How the Collaboration Happened

The track’s genesis goes back a bit further than its release date. Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) had been mutual fans of The Strokes since the early 2000s. After crossing paths at a festival, they expressed a mutual desire to work together.

In 2010, the robots invited Casablancas to their New York studio. Bangalter played him a rough, demo instrumental track on a synthesizer. Casablancas immediately gravitated toward it, humming a vocal melody on the spot. He later recorded the lyrics in Paris.