EMPYRE
2020 put a hold to most bands’ plan to gig, tour, play festivals and release albums leaving a legacy of postponements and cancellations in its wake. However, some bands have used the lockdown period to write, record and deliver new music to their fans in more different ways than ever before. I spoke to Did and Henrik from the atmospheric hard rock four-piece Empyre. In the aftermath of the overwhelming success of their 2019 debut, Self Aware, Empyre decided to release a string of acoustic singles. They are planning for the launch of album number two which is set to have an even darker edge than the first. It will present a stark reflection of the turbulent times in which it was written.
ANNE: You’re currently in the process of recording your second electric album. How has the lockdown affected this process and when do you expect it to be released?
DID: Fortunately, Henrik and myself were in a musical “bubble” during the various lockdowns last year. In that respect, we’ve been able to operate relatively normally with our song writing and creative efforts. Rehearsals with all of us in a room together have been far to few though because of having to adhere to Covid regulations but with remote recording we adapted and created new Empyre music. When we did get back in the rehearsal room together, it was great to hear all the musical parts applied, take shape and get refined. Then traditionally we like to “gig test” new material with a live audience. We had the opportunity to do a real gig at The Waterloo in Blackpool. We road tested “Road to Nowhere”, a brand new track that we’re laying down in the studio now alongside other new Empyre tracks.
In terms of a release date, we still have acoustic single releases to bring to the forefront alongside new music videos. That will be the next string of Empyre musical output. It presents our alter-ego, our “other side”. For an introduction to this, we released new re-arranged, MTV unplugged-esque versions of Self Aware tracks throughout 2020 with accompanying music videos: “Drive”, “Cut to the Core”, “Just A Ride”, “Only Way Out” and there’s more coming!
ANNE: How would you say your second album compares to the first, in terms of musical style and subject matter of the songs?
HENRIK: The writing process for album two hasn’t finished. What we started in the studio, we are doing in stages recording 3-4 songs at a time. There will certainly be just as wide a range of tracks in terms of feel but whether we venture in new musical styles remains to be seen. What we do anticipate is more hard rock, more tracks that “rock with atmosphere” and one or two that show our softer side. Arguably subject matter so far is even darker than Self Aware.
ANNE: You’re due to release a brand new acoustic single alongside your new electric tracks this year. Can you give us some more details about that?
HENRIK: The next acoustic single will be “Stone”, one of Self Aware‘s dark and atmospheric tracks. The new version retains and builds upon aspects of the southern American style with some new guitar parts including another great and totally new lead guitar solo from Did.
DID: We recorded this single release at Parlour studios. The song lent itself acoustically to an alternative tuning on guitar to really accentuate the dark, southern gothic nature of the track. There will be an accompanying music video release alongside some brand new artwork. The song is influenced by one of the protagonists of “True Detective”, season 1. Specifically, Rust Cohle portrayed by Matthew McConaughey. “Stone” has some introspective lyrics and is a haunting track much like the series.
ANNE: What else does 2021 have in store for the band?
HENRIK: We really hope that we’re able to get gigging again in time for festival season. That’s really important to us but it’ll be Covid and the rules surrounding it that sadly dictates that. Assuming we can get out there for gigs and festivals, we’ll be introducing everyone to some new electric material which we can’t wait to play live. Regardless of the ability to play live, we have a couple more acoustic tracks in the bag waiting to be released. Also plans for new videos to go along with them.
ANNE: Your song “Only Way Out” was included by Classic Rock Magazine in their “Ultimate Playlist of 2020”, winning “Track of the Week” for the second time. As a new band, what does it mean to be recognized by such a prestigious national publication?
HENRIK: Those were certainly some of the highlights of 2020 for us. For our fans to vote two songs as “Track of the Week” and to gain further support and recognition from one of the UK’s biggest rock publications means an awful lot. Seeing ourselves in Classic Rock Magazine alongside the bands that we have followed and enjoyed for years is a really special feeling.
DID: For songs we have written to be recognized in national publications certainly means a lot. It is encouraging to know that we’re on the right track and building up exposure for our music. We aim to continue with this trend and produce more music so that other reputable publications might jump on board too.
ANNE: You’ve done a lot of work to raise awareness of mental health issues. What in your opinion is the connection between music and mental health?
DID: We had the opportunity in August to be part of a wellbeing lockdown series called “Great Music Stories” addressing mental health and music. Empyre was also part of an event in August that raised funds towards a mental health charity in our local community.
Music, in its essence, is part of life as a whole. Our music touches on many of life’s matters, both the ups and the downs, and the challenges we have to face from very personal experiences to an observational perspective on wider subjects. If you are a human being, you have mental health.
We are all vulnerable and susceptible to feelings and emotions both positive and negative. Music as a whole, regardless of genre, I think is one of the best ways of expressing this. To quote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who stated: “as a social connection, and common human connection, there is little else that expresses being human.
ANNE: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
HENRIK: For me it was the Planet Rock Winter’s End gig and the response afterwards. Not only was it our first Planet Rock event and the biggest crowd we’d played in front of, but probably 75% of that crowd didn’t know our music. So to get the response we got to the set from the crowd was just incredible. There was also a 45 minute queue for merchandise afterwards and loads of people asking to have pictures with us and sign their newly purchased CDs, lyric sheets and T-shirts. Just an epic day.
DID: I reiterate the above as a massive highlight. Because one isn’t enough, I would say our “Self Aware” album party was one of the epic highlights so far. We packed out a central London venue, The Water Rats, and had a coach load of fans travel down to London to celebrate our debut album release. The whole night was fantastic.
ANNE: Can you tell us about your recent partnership with Yahama and how you plan on collaborating with them in the future?
DID: We teamed up with Yamaha on our last single release, “Only Way Out (Piano Acoustic)”. The song was recorded on a Yahama baby grand piano and then when it came to filming the music video, we headed to Crescent studios in Swndon where they have a Yahama CFX Grand piano which you see me playing throughout the music video. We contacted our PR and management team to see if there was an opportunity to collaborate, showcasing the song and their amazing pianos used on the track. They have taken “Only Way Out” and promoted the song through several of their social media channels which was greatly appreciated and we now have the opportunity to collaborate more which will likely start off with some filming at their central London store.
ANNE: Let’s look into the future…Where do you see yourselves as a band ten years from now?
HENRIK: Our goal has always been to play the major festivals of Europe. That hasn’t changed and that’s what we hope to be doing. If we can go beyond that and break into playing gigs and festivals in the USA and South America that would be the next goal for me.
DID: Ten years is a long time away! I think in the shorter term, what Henrik mentions above rings true. We’d also love to jump on a support tour or two (arena perhaps?) with some well established artists and open up for them. We want to bring our music to new audiences. We’re ambitious, driven and aiming high.
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