Empire of the Sun
Theatrical Aussie synth-pop royalty — headdresses, spectacle, and 'Walking on a Dream' euphoria, a duo that treats every festival set as full-scale cinematic ritual.
Empire of the Sun is an Australian duo formed in 2008 by Luke Steele, of The Sleepy Jackson, and Nick Littlemore, of Pnau. The two had first met in 2000 in a Sydney bar, introduced by Steele's A&R executive while both were signed to EMI, and had already crossed paths musically: Littlemore co-wrote a song on The Sleepy Jackson's debut, and Steele contributed to Littlemore's art-rock side project Teenager.
The pair reconvened in 2006 to write two songs for Pnau's self-titled album, work that pushed them toward a more vocal-driven sound and led to a new collaborative project, recorded through 2007 with producer Peter Mayes.
Their debut album, Walking on a Dream, introduced the pair's blend of synth-pop, disco and psychedelic pop. Its title track reached the Australian top ten and the album went double platinum at home and gold in the UK; follow-up single 'We Are the People' reached number fourteen in Britain, and the record won seven ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year, from eleven nominations.
The project is inseparable from its visual world: elaborate costumes, headdresses and an invented mythology built around characters the pair adopt in videos and on stage. Live shows are staged productions with dancers and choreography rather than conventional band performances.
Empire of the Sun has kept releasing albums since their debut, with Ice on the Dune in 2013, Two Vines in 2016 and Ask That God in 2024.
Empire of the Sun at a glance
Where is Empire of the Sun from?
Empire of the Sun is from Sydney, AU.
What kind of music does Empire of the Sun play?
Empire of the Sun is tagged synth-pop and electro-pop.
What festivals has Empire of the Sun played before?
Empire of the Sun has played Outside Lands 2026, Lollapalooza 2026, Osheaga 2026.
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