Empires (band)

Empires
Empires performing in 2014
Background information
Origin Chicago, IL
Genres Indie rock, Garage rock, Alternative rock
Years active 2008 - 2015
Labels Island Records
Chop Shop Records
History Recordings
Website http://weareempires.com [1]
Members Sean Van Vleet (vocals)
Tom Conrad (guitar)
Max Steger (guitar)
Mike Robinson (drums)

Empires was an indie rock band from Chicago, IL. The band consisted of Tom Conrad, Sean Van Vleet, Max Steger, and Mike Robinson.

Background

In early 2008, Empires was formed when longtime friends guitarist Tom Conrad approached singer Sean Van Vleet about writing music together.[2] Conrad and Van Vleet spent the year writing music together, and the induction of the other band members soon followed, Max Steger, Ryan Luciani and Al Smith. The band's name, "Empires", was thought of by Tom Conrad and Sean Van Vleet at the same time, albeit on opposite sides of Chicago (Tom was on the 'L' Train at the time, while Sean was at their shared apartment).

The band has consistently mentioned having a very DIY ethic when it comes to recording and releasing music with Max Steger as their producer / engineer, mixer and masterer, Tom Conrad as a designer and Sean Van Vleet as a writer.[3] In 2014, the band's third full-length studio album, Orphan, was produced by John Congleton and released on Island Records / Chop Shop Records.[4]

Empires made their national television debut on David Letterman on June 17, 2014.[5]

Lead singer Sean Van Vleet confirmed in an Instagram comment on August 23, 2017 that the band was no longer making music.

Members

Sean Van Vleet

Upon leaving Empires, Sean Van Vleet began writing songs for film/TV, as well as for the experimental indie pop project NVDES. He has had more than 70 song placements in film/television, promos, and advertisements. His songs have been featured in newer shows such as The Bold Type, The Brave, The Good Doctor, and Marvel's Inhumans, as well as more established shows such as Lucifer, Grey's Anatomy, Shameless, Empire, and The Vampire Diaries. Van Vleet has had his music featured in the series premieres of Dynasty and 24: Legacy.

In 2015, his cover of "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" with Josh Mobley was featured in the official trailer for Victor Frankenstein.

Van Vleet's songs have found success in ads as well, landing big campaigns with Apple, Macy's, Oakley, PacSun, New Balance, Volkswagen, Victoria's Secret, and PrettyLittleThing.

"Walk Out On Me" by Courtney Love has been featured on the Empire soundtrack, Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1. The album was released through Columbia Records and has become a commercial success. In its first week, the album reached number one on the Billboard 200 with 130,00 album-equivalent units. [6] It was also the first TV soundtrack to top the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [7] The album was certified Gold in the United States in January 2016. [8] Additionally, the album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016. [9]

Discography

• HOWL (2008)
• BANG EP (2010)
• Garage Hymns (2012)
• How Good Does It Feel EP (2014)
• Orphan (2014)

Tour History

Empires has performed and toured alongside such artists: Geographer, Alkaline Trio, Kaiser Chiefs, The Whigs, Augustines, Deerhunter, Saint Motel, A Silent Film, Death Cab for Cutie, The Temper Trap, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, and Black Francis, Chain Gang of l974,

• Austin City Limits Music Festival (2014)
• Bunbury Music Festival (2013)
• Big Guava Music Festival (2015)
• Bonnaroo Music Festival (2014)
• BottleRock Napa Valley (2014)
• Hangout Music Festival (2014)
• Forecastle Festival (2015)
• Lollapalooza (2012)
• LouFest (2014)
• South by Southwest (2014)

References

  1. ↑ http://weareempires.com
  2. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/empires-are-feeling-very-good-indeed-20140619
  3. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6251511/empires-exclusive-premiere-new-album-orphan-sean-van-vleet-interview
  4. ↑ http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/09/album-review-empires-orphan/
  5. ↑ http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/video/3AB52C72-3F99-094C-0463-ACF642FE040C/david-letterman-empires-how-good-does-it-feel-/
  6. ↑ "'Empire' Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart, Madonna Arrives at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  7. ↑ "'Empire' Is First TV Series Soundtrack to Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  8. ↑ "HITS Daily Double : Rumor Mill - YTD TOP 50 ALBUMS CHART". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  9. ↑ Koerner, Allyson. "'Empire' Receives Some Grammy Love". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
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