Interview: New Empire
5 min read
Sydney-bound pop-rock band New Empire have successfully released two albums and are yet to release their new album, In A Breath. The band have been pretty busy all year making ends meet with the production of their new album as well as doing a national tour all around Australia and are determined to do some international tours as well. New Empire are not only a band but brothers who all share a passion for music.
In this interview, we join Nate Cairns, the bass player of New Empire, giving us an insight on the new record, tour life and the exciting, future plans ahead for the band. Here is what he had to say to us…
Jana Angeles: Hey guys! How is everything going and where does this interview find you?
Nate Cairns: Hello! Everything is going great, we have our new album finished and now we are just waiting on some behind-the-scenes stuff and planning a release date so we can get it out to everyone!
JA: It’s pretty cool that you were added to the Vans Warped Tour lineup in Sydney on such short notice. How did you find the crowd and the festival overall?
NC: Yeah we were totally blessed to be added at such a short notice. The crowd was great. Being such a late addition we didn’t know if we’d have many people watch us, but we were wrong. The festival was unreal as well. We got to watch and meet a lot of childhood heroes (be it bands or even skateboarders) so it was a blast from the past.
JA: The release of In A Breath is approaching very quickly. What can fans expect from the album?
NC: Fans can expect a complete journey throughout the album. Going from your big, anthemic songs to your intimate, reflective songs. The whole album is going to have a little something for everyone.
JA: While making In A Breath, was there anything in particular that inspired you to make the songs?
NC: We definitely drew from a lot of music that influenced us growing up. Bands like Toto and Fleetwood Mac played a big part, but also different genre bands like M83 influenced certain tracks on the album.
JA: Making a new album isn’t easy and it definitely takes a lot of effort and commitment to make one. It’s pretty amazing how you have such a loyal fan base. Would you say that they are one of the reasons why they keep you inspired when it comes to making music?
NC: Absolutely. We recognise that we are nothing without our fans, so we want to do everything we can to give back to them. So we love being able to make new music, and really enjoy seeing the fans reactions to this new stuff.
JA: What do you guys like to do in your spare time when you’re not touring or making music?
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NC: We all live pretty close to the beach, so a lot of the time, we will either be hanging out at the beach or getting a coffee somewhere.
JA: Touring as a band must be fun and exciting. What have been the highlights so far in your touring experience?
NC: Yeah we love touring. I think just being able to meet the fans that buy your music is a highlight in itself. It’s quite humbling really, knowing that something you created, someone else loved enough to pay money for it haha. We also love making friends with other bands we tour with. Just recently we toured with Ash Gale and his band, and safe to say, we got along like a house on fire.
JA: Speaking of touring, the Say It Like You Mean It tour in Australia must have been surreal. Are there any upcoming shows that are lined up in 2014?
NC: Yeah it was. Playing shows in your own country is always a good feeling. Always feels like home. We have a big 2014 planned (and in planning) but so far we’ve announced two shows, one being Australia Day in Melbourne, at Bang! We have also been added as a headline act for Easterfest next year too, which we can’t wait to play!
JA: If you were to describe your band in three words what would they be?
NC: Brothers. Creative. Hilarious.
JA: What advice would you give to people that want to start a band?
NC: I would say, just do it. Even if the band starts with just two people, but if you want a 4 piece band, just do it. Start now. Start writing, start performing. You don’t have to have all the logistics worked out. Just put it into action.
JA: When you were making In A Breath, was there any music that you were consistently listening to while making the album and did it have a special influence on the writing process and the sound of it?
NC: I think bands like Coldplay, Kings of Leon, The Killers, OneRepublic etc. any of those big anthem bands, definitely played a part in our album production and the way it sounds.
JA: Does the band have any exciting plans ahead in the next year?
NC: We certainly do. We want to tour more internationally, so we are working our butts off to get overseas, then also we have the new album coming out. So exciting things ahead!
::: Renowned For Sound Music Reviews ::: Jana is a 21-year old student currently based in Sydney, Australia. Writing for Renowned For Sound has given her the opportunity to take a break from her university degree and job by being able to write what she is most passionate about – music.
Since the day she got her first iPod and a broadband Internet connection, these two things have shaped her music taste till this present day.
With her love for pop punk, indie and alternative rock music, it’s no wonder she’s known to be that ‘go-to’ person when it came to finding incredible bands with amazing talent.
She believes that one of the best feelings in the world is to find a song that just clicks with you and from this day, she has never stopped believing in that.
