Empire Of The Sun have been making headlines for two different reasons of late: firstly, for wowing Aussie audiences with their dramatic, first-ever lives shows and secondly, for the mystery disappearance of founder member Nick Littlemore.
Now we can also reveal that EOTS have been confirmed as the first headliner for next year’s ’Future Music Festival’. With all this going on, we thought it only right we catch up with singer Luke Steele for a chat...
MTV: Parklife, now the Future Music Festival – why was it important to play your first-ever live shows in Oz?
Luke Steele: It’s important ‘cos we’ve been doing what we do the longest out here. Doing shows in Oz is a good road test for the UK and US audience, too.
MTV: Did you rehearse and prepare the show for a long time in advance?
LK: Yeah, we’ve just finished dress rehearsals at a little nightclub in Perth and everything we’ve been working on in the past four months has come together. We have a bunch of dancers from a local experimental dance company – they’re very inventive. I think we’ve landed at a good medium between the music and the show. I can’t wait to get the ball rolling – a journalist from the Ukraine asked me the other day: 'When does this become a real band?' And he was right you can’t go for five years in a studio and be a real band.
MTV: What’s your typical Aussie crowd like?
LS: Pretty mellow and great to play in front of. Australia’s got a real love of music, it reminds me a bit of Mexico: they’re chilled; they’re less aggressive in their critique of you. Plus, Australian summers are really special: the surfing, the beaches, the BBQs. It’s a great place to be.
MTV: Your popularity has soared this year. Now you have 11 ARIA nominations. How does it feel?
LS: Yeah, it feels great. I just like hearing the news you know, that the Empire just gets bigger and better. I’ll be happy with that until it stops selling, then we’ll see.
MTV: Now, we have to ask about Nick going AWOL…
LS: Well, I haven’t seen or heard of him for five months. I don’t know whether he’ll come back and whether he'll perform at any of the forthcoming live shows. I’ve kept the band going on my own this year, really.
MTV: Any collaborations with other artists in the pipeline?
LS: I’m working on different films and things and there are a load of remixes and stuff in the pipeline but until you get to meet people face to face it’s hard to collaborate. It’s a bit like having a long distance relationship and kissing on Skype.
Empire of the Sun are the first headline artist for Future Music Festival 2010. Tour dates are as follows:
Saturday, February 27 -Brisbane
Sunday, February 28 - Perth
Saturday, March 6 - Sydney
Sunday, March 7 - Melbourne
Monday, March 8 - Adelaide
The full Future Music Festival line up will be announced on Monday October 12. Tickets go on sale on at Ticketmaster on Wednesday, October 21.
Now we can also reveal that EOTS have been confirmed as the first headliner for next year’s ’Future Music Festival’. With all this going on, we thought it only right we catch up with singer Luke Steele for a chat...
MTV: Parklife, now the Future Music Festival – why was it important to play your first-ever live shows in Oz?
Luke Steele: It’s important ‘cos we’ve been doing what we do the longest out here. Doing shows in Oz is a good road test for the UK and US audience, too.
MTV: Did you rehearse and prepare the show for a long time in advance?
LK: Yeah, we’ve just finished dress rehearsals at a little nightclub in Perth and everything we’ve been working on in the past four months has come together. We have a bunch of dancers from a local experimental dance company – they’re very inventive. I think we’ve landed at a good medium between the music and the show. I can’t wait to get the ball rolling – a journalist from the Ukraine asked me the other day: 'When does this become a real band?' And he was right you can’t go for five years in a studio and be a real band.
MTV: What’s your typical Aussie crowd like?
LS: Pretty mellow and great to play in front of. Australia’s got a real love of music, it reminds me a bit of Mexico: they’re chilled; they’re less aggressive in their critique of you. Plus, Australian summers are really special: the surfing, the beaches, the BBQs. It’s a great place to be.
MTV: Your popularity has soared this year. Now you have 11 ARIA nominations. How does it feel?
LS: Yeah, it feels great. I just like hearing the news you know, that the Empire just gets bigger and better. I’ll be happy with that until it stops selling, then we’ll see.
MTV: Now, we have to ask about Nick going AWOL…
LS: Well, I haven’t seen or heard of him for five months. I don’t know whether he’ll come back and whether he'll perform at any of the forthcoming live shows. I’ve kept the band going on my own this year, really.
MTV: Any collaborations with other artists in the pipeline?
LS: I’m working on different films and things and there are a load of remixes and stuff in the pipeline but until you get to meet people face to face it’s hard to collaborate. It’s a bit like having a long distance relationship and kissing on Skype.
Empire of the Sun are the first headline artist for Future Music Festival 2010. Tour dates are as follows:
Saturday, February 27 -Brisbane
Sunday, February 28 - Perth
Saturday, March 6 - Sydney
Sunday, March 7 - Melbourne
Monday, March 8 - Adelaide
The full Future Music Festival line up will be announced on Monday October 12. Tickets go on sale on at Ticketmaster on Wednesday, October 21.
Copyright : MTV Australia
