Empire of the Sun

Members

• Luke Steele

Deep Dive

Overview

Empire of the Sun are an Australian electronic music duo formed in 2007, built on a collaboration between Luke Steele of alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore, who came from electronic dance band Pnau. Emerging from Sydney in the mid-2000s, the partnership merged electronic production sophistication with art-rock sensibility, staking out space in the global synth-pop and new wave revival that was gathering momentum in the 2000s. Their arrival marked a notable shift toward synth-driven pop in the Australian rock landscape.

Formation Story

Empire of the Sun crystallized in Sydney in 2007 when Luke Steele, fronting The Sleepy Jackson since the late 1990s, joined forces with Nick Littlemore, a key figure in the Australian electronic scene through Pnau. The collaboration brought together two distinct creative traditions: Steele’s background in alternative rock and art-rock experimentation, and Littlemore’s grounding in electronic dance production and synth-based songwriting. This pairing reflected a broader early-2000s trend toward cross-genre collaboration, where alternative and electronic musicians began working in closer proximity. Sydney itself had become a breeding ground for electronic experimentation alongside its rock heritage, and Empire of the Sun emerged as one of several acts crystallizing that fusion.

Breakthrough Moment

Empire of the Sun announced their arrival with their debut album Walking on a Dream in 2008. The record showcased a polished synth-pop sensibility informed by 1980s new wave and glam rock touchstones, filtered through contemporary electronic production. Walking on a Dream established the sonic template they would refine: shimmering synthesizers, propulsive rhythms, and layered vocal arrangements that favored texture and spatial effects over raw rock energy. The album’s arrival coincided with growing international appetite for synthesizer-led pop, and it positioned the duo as significant players in that resurgence rather than as a niche electronic act.

Peak Era

The period from 2008 through 2016 represented Empire of the Sun’s most consistent creative output and touring presence. Following the foundation laid by Walking on a Dream, they released Ice on the Dune in 2013, which deepened their exploration of electronic textures and synth-pop songcraft. Two Vines, arriving in 2016, continued that trajectory, confirming their status as a sustained force in electronic music rather than a one-album phenomenon. Throughout this span, the duo maintained touring activity and cultural relevance in festivals and venues worldwide, solidifying their international profile beyond Australia.

Musical Style

Empire of the Sun traffic in synth-pop and new wave informed by 1980s precedent but executed through contemporary digital production. Their sound is characterized by layered synthesizers—both lush pad work and sharp, articulate lead lines—paired with electronic drums and drum machines that lock into propulsive, dance-adjacent grooves. Luke Steele’s vocals are often treated with effects and layering, creating a prismatic, sometimes ethereal quality rather than conventional rock frontman presence. Nick Littlemore’s production hand is evident in the meticulous arrangement and the emphasis on sonic space and texture over traditional instrumentation. The songwriting tends toward art-pop structures, avoiding three-minute radio formulas in favor of atmospheric development and timbral variety. Across their catalog, the duo have incorporated glam rock influences—particularly in their embrace of visual presentation and theatrical sensibility—while remaining fundamentally rooted in electronic and synth-driven frameworks rather than guitar-based rock.

Major Albums

Walking on a Dream (2008)

Their debut established the synth-pop blueprint they would inhabit: pristine production, 1980s new wave gestures, and a focus on sonic texture over guitar virtuosity. The album announced them as serious contenders in the global synth-pop revival.

Ice on the Dune (2013)

Five years after their debut, this follow-up deepened their electronic palette and demonstrated sustained creative ambition beyond a debut’s novelty, cementing their long-term trajectory.

Two Vines (2016)

Their third full-length continued the exploration of synth-led pop and electronic rock, further refining the instrumental and vocal textures developed across their prior output.

Ask That God (2024)

Released sixteen years into their career, this album demonstrates their ongoing creative presence and commitment to the project into the 2020s.

Signature Songs

• “Walking on a Dream” — The title track from their debut, encapsulating their synth-pop aesthetic and becoming their most recognizable composition.
• “We Are the People” — A showcase of their ability to wed electronic production to anthemic songwriting and layered vocal arrangements.
• “It’s Catching Up” — Demonstrates their skill at building atmospheric electronic textures and layered synth work.

Influence on Rock

Empire of the Sun arrived at a moment when synth-pop was experiencing genuine international revival after years of underground cultivation. Alongside acts like MGMT and Chromatics, they helped normalize the synthesizer and electronic production as primary tools in art-pop and alternative rock contexts. By bringing Australian electronic sensibility into dialogue with American and British new wave lineage, they contributed to a cosmopolitan synth-pop language that transcended regional scenes. Their work has influenced subsequent electronic and alternative acts interested in texture, production sophistication, and the marriage of dance-music rhythms with art-pop sensibilities.

Legacy

As of 2024, Empire of the Sun remain active, with the release of Ask That God demonstrating sustained creative output across their sixteen-plus-year span. They have maintained a steady presence in international touring and festival circuits, carving out a durable niche in electronic music that transcends their initial moment of emergence. Their catalog on streaming platforms continues to reach listeners globally, and their influence on synth-pop and electronic rock production remains evident in subsequent artists. The duo’s longevity—moving from 2008 debut through the 2020s with consistent album output—distinguishes them in a landscape where many electronic acts of their era faded after initial success.

Fun Facts

• Luke Steele’s primary band The Sleepy Jackson remains active alongside Empire of the Sun, allowing him to work in both alternative rock and electronic idioms simultaneously.
• Nick Littlemore’s background in Pnau, an electronic dance project founded in the 1990s, gave him extensive production experience before joining forces with Steele.
• The duo’s visual presentation and aesthetic has consistently emphasized the theatrical and artistic dimensions of electronic pop, reflecting glam rock influences in their approach to performance and imagery.