While Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore go their separate ways, the arrival of a new joint project cannot be ruled out.
The future of music is likely to be sparkling! While the celestial melodies and haunting rhythms of the past continue to echo in our hearts, the iconic band Empire of the Sun is back at the forefront. After several years’ absence, the duo with their characteristic energy and inimitable aesthetic are being clamored for by fans to release a new album. But what’s really going on?
Nick Littlemore: from glory to illness
Nick Littlemore is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter and producer, born May 6, 1978 in Sydney. He is best known for forming, in 1999, the electronic music group PNAU with his friend Peter Mayes. The group quickly gained recognition in the Australian music scene thanks to its unique blend of electronic, pop and dance music. In 2008, Nick Littlemore formed the » Empire of the Sun « project in collaboration with musician Luke Steele. The band quickly became renowned for their captivating electronic music and stunning visual staging, creating a distinctive blend of psychedelic sounds, pop and electro. Their debut album, entitled » Walking on a Dream « released in 2008, was an international success and propelled the duo onto the global music scene. By 2019, Nick Littlemore had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. As a result, the artist had to take a long leave of absence to recover from this very serious neurological disease, which paralyzed half his face for 9 months and left one of his eyes open for 4 months. But he came back stronger thanks to his remix of the track » Cold Heart « in the company of Elton John and Dua Lipa.
Luke Steel: the spirit of innovation
Luke Steele is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter and producer, born December 13, 1979 in Perth. In 1998, he founded the band The Sleepy Jackson, which blends elements of alternative rock, pop and folk. The band has enjoyed considerable success in Australia, releasing several critically acclaimed albums. In 2008, Luke Steele collaborated with Nick Littlemore to form the project Empire of the Sun. The band quickly became famous for its unique electro-pop music, as well as for its elaborate and visually arresting stage performances. After the duo split up, Luke Steel released his first solo album in 2022, entitled « Listen to the water ».
Is it the right time to release a new album?
This year, 2023, marks the 23ᵉ year of friendship between Steele and Littlemore. In fact, in an interview with The Music media outlet last February, Luke Steele let it be known « it’s definitely a unique relationship… but it’s powerful, you know? We understand the mission and the vision. It’s quite beautiful ». So, given the friendship that binds the two artists, but also and above all their all-consuming passion for music, it’s certain that Steele and Littlemore will release an album at some point. Everything suggests that they already have a project in the oven, and it’s only a matter of time before they unveil it. So let’s be patient.
