february-2010

STAR STRUCK
EMPIRE OF THE SUN
Rumours of a tiff between Steele and
Littlemore began circulating after the latter
inexplicably disappeared just before their
debut tour. Steele readily admitted that he
was missing for months, and that he was
somewhere overseas. The whispers reached
fever pitch at the ARIAs, with Littlemore still
nowhere to be seen, and Steele noticeably
lost for words when asked about it at his press
conference. “We never had a fi ght,” he shrugs
as I ask again, “but we had different plans on
touring. Nick didn’t want to tour for three or
four years. I’m more rapid — the show needs
to stay on the road. You want to play these
songs that everyone was singing all summer,
you know?”
So what of the future of the band? Who are
Empire of the Sun? “It’s still me and Nick,” he
assures. “It’s part of the journey. But, I guess,
only the future knows.”
So, for the time being, Steele is steering
the ship himself, performing and promoting.
Littlemore is accredited with producing.
They’ve just released the deluxe edition
vinyl box set of Walking on a Dream and
the single“Half Mast”, yet another pop song
destined to become an anthem. Indeed, terms
26 FEBRUARY 2010
like “anthemic” and “iconic” have all too often
been cited when it comes to this group.
So what was different about Empire of
the Sun for Steele who boasts an impressive
musical CV — he grew up in a musical family
(sister Katy fronts indie rockers Little Birdy);
he’s been signed to a major record label
for the better part of a decade; and
he’s contributed to numerous bands
and collectives?
He pauses, pensive: “Chemistry. I think
Nick and I have always had this pretty rare
chemistry. Empire of the Sun didn’t have
any timeframe. It just happened when it was
meant to happen. I’ve never really done that.
With an album, you usually strangle the life
out of it, and tie it up in the corner and go,
‘You’re fi nished, alright?!’” he grins waving a
stern fi nger.
When he’s not keeping impossibly busy
— current projects: a “highly mechanical”
heavy blues solo album, a closing song for
an upcoming Australian fi lm and Sleepy
Jackson’s new album — Steele’s focus lies
fi rmly on his family.
He met his wife Jodi, a former glossy
magazine editor, after commenting on
Luke Steele plays live
with dancers and backing band
on the water stage at the
Parklife Festival, Melbourne
her “rather eccentric” cocktail at a Perth
nightspot. His pet name for her is “Snappy
Dolphin”. “She’s so effi cient and professional
— snappy — she gets things done pretty
quick. And being such a beautiful woman
— she’s kind of like a dolphin.” The couple had
their fi rst child in 2008, a daughter named
Sunny Tiger.
FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL
TOUR DATES:
SAT 27 FEB: CITY PACIFIC DOOMBEN
RACECOURSE, BRISBANE
SAT 28 FEB: WELLINGTON SQUARE,
PERTH
SAT 6 MAR: RANDWICK RACECOURSE,
SYDNEY
SUN 7 MAR: FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE,
MELBOURNE
MON 8 MAR: RUNDLE & RYMILL PARKS,
ADELAIDE
Photo: Corbis