Empire of the Sun: The Life Story Behind the Walking on a Dream Stars

Empire of the Sun is a band that looks like a dream and sounds like one too. They wear elaborate costumes, they perform on stages that look like other worlds, and they make electronic pop music that is both joyful and strange. Their most famous songs, Walking on a Dream and We Are the People, became hits around the world, and they are still played at parties, on the radio, and in films today. They are songs that make you feel like you are floating, like you are in a place that is both familiar and magical, and that feeling is at the heart of everything Empire of the Sun does.

The band is a duo, made up of Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore, two Australian musicians who came from very different backgrounds and who created something together that neither of them could have made alone. Luke Steele was the singer of the rock band The Sleepy Jackson, with a high, dreamy voice and a love of melody. Nick Littlemore was a member of the electronic duo Pnau, with a talent for beats, synthesisers, and dance music. Together, they combined rock and electronic music, and they created a sound that was both pop and art, both catchy and strange.

What makes Empire of the Sun different from other bands is their visual world. They do not just make music. They create characters, costumes, and stories, and they perform as if they are from another planet. Luke Steele often wears elaborate headdresses, capes, and face paint, and the band’s videos and live shows are full of colour, light, and fantasy. That visual world is a big part of why people love them, because it makes their music feel like an escape, a place where you can forget the ordinary world for a while.

Their story is also a story about friendship, about creativity, and about a band that works slowly, releasing albums only when they feel ready. They have made four albums over more than fifteen years, and each one is different from the last, but each one has the same dreamlike quality. This is the story of how Empire of the Sun became one of Australia’s most imaginative bands, and how their music continues to matter today.

Luke Steele, Nick Littlemore, and Two Different Worlds

Empire of the Sun began in Sydney in 2007, when Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore decided to work together on a new project. Luke Steele was born in Perth, Australia, in 1979, and he grew up in a musical family, with a father who played blues and a mother who sang. He learned to play guitar and to sing, and he became the singer of the band The Sleepy Jackson, which was known for its dreamy, psychedelic rock music. Luke had a high, clear voice, and a talent for writing melodies that were both beautiful and strange, and he was already a respected musician in Australia before Empire of the Sun began.

Nick Littlemore was born in Sydney in 1978, and he grew up listening to electronic music, learning to make beats and to use synthesisers. He was a member of the electronic duo Pnau, which was known for its dance music and its experimental sound, and he had a talent for creating rhythms and textures that made people want to dance. Nick was a producer and a musician, with a love of the studio and a gift for turning ideas into sounds. He was very different from Luke, but that difference is what made their partnership work.

The two men met in Sydney, and they discovered that they shared a love of music that was both pop and experimental, both catchy and strange. They decided to work together, and they began writing songs in Nick’s studio, combining Luke’s melodies and voice with Nick’s beats and electronic sounds. It was a slow process, because they were both busy with their other bands, and they wanted to get the music right before they released it. They worked for more than a year on their first album, and they took their time to create a sound that was truly their own.

The name Empire of the Sun came from a novel by J.G. Ballard, and it fitted the band’s dreamlike, cinematic world. It suggested a place that was both beautiful and strange, a place where the sun never sets, and that image became central to the band’s identity. They were not just a band. They were a world, and they invited listeners to step into that world with them, through their music, their videos, and their live shows.

Walking on a Dream and a Debut That Captured the World

In 2008, Empire of the Sun released their debut album, Walking on a Dream, and it became a major success around the world. The album included the title song Walking on a Dream, which became a huge hit in Australia and Europe, and We Are the People, which became a hit in many countries and is still one of their most loved songs. The album was praised by critics as one of the best electronic pop albums of the year, and it won several ARIA Awards in Australia, including Album of the Year. It was a dream start for a new band, and it made Empire of the Sun famous overnight.

Walking on a Dream was a perfect album for its time. It had catchy pop songs, it had dreamy electronic sounds, and it had a production that was both polished and playful. Luke Steele’s voice was high and clear, Nick Littlemore’s beats were driving and danceable, and the songs were full of colour and light. The album sounded like a sunny day, like a holiday, like a dream you do not want to wake up from, and that feeling is why people loved it. It was music that made you feel good, and it did it without being simple or boring.

The success of the debut album meant that Empire of the Sun was suddenly famous, and they toured the world, playing to large crowds and appearing on television shows in Australia, Europe, and America. They were welcomed as stars, and they were praised for their imaginative live shows, with elaborate costumes, colourful staging, and a sense of theatre that made every concert feel like a special event. For a duo that had started in a Sydney studio, it was a dream come true, and it seemed like they would be famous for many years to come.

Walking on a Dream remains the album that defines Empire of the Sun, and it is still loved by fans today. Its songs are full of joy, and they capture a moment in time when two musicians from different worlds came together to make something beautiful. It was a brilliant start, and it set up expectations that would be hard to meet in the years that followed. But the band was determined to keep going, and they would not give up easily.

We Are the People and a Song for the World

We Are the People is the song that defines Empire of the Sun for many people, and it is one of the most famous Australian songs of the 2000s. The song was written by Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore, and it has a melody that is both simple and haunting, with a chorus that makes you want to sing along. The song is about unity, about people coming together, and about the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. It is sung with a dreamy, hopeful voice, and it is backed by electronic beats that make you want to dance. It is a song that feels both personal and universal, and that is a big part of why it became so popular.

The song became a hit around the world, reaching the top ten in many countries, and it was used in films, in advertisements, and on television. It was played at parties, at festivals, and on the radio, and it became a favourite for people who loved electronic pop music. For many listeners, it was the first time they had heard Empire of the Sun, and it made them want to hear more. It was a perfect introduction to the band, and it showed what they could do at their best.

We Are the People remains a beloved song today, and it is still played on the radio and in films. It has become a classic, and it is a testament to the band’s talent for writing a simple, beautiful pop song. The song is a reminder that a great pop song does not need to be complicated. It needs a strong melody, a strong beat, and a singer who believes in every word, and We Are the People has all three. It is a song that will be played for many years to come, long after the moment that made it famous has passed.

For Empire of the Sun, the song was both a triumph and a challenge. It made them famous, but it also meant that they had to live up to its success with their next album. That is a lot of pressure for a young band, and it is a pressure that many bands find hard to handle. Empire of the Sun did their best, and they made more good music, but We Are the People will always be the song that people remember first when they think of the band.

Ice on the Dune, Two Vines, and a Slow, Careful Career

After Walking on a Dream, Empire of the Sun took their time with their next album, Ice on the Dune, which was released in 2013. The album included the songs Alive and DNA, which became hits in Australia and Europe, and it showed a band that was still writing good songs, still experimenting with new sounds, and still loved by their fans. The album was more electronic and more dance-focused than the debut, and it proved that the band could change its sound and still keep its identity. It was a brave attempt, and it produced some wonderful music.

The band followed Ice on the Dune with the album Two Vines in 2016, which included the songs High and Low and To Her Door, and which was recorded in Hawaii with a more organic, natural sound. The album was well received by critics, and it showed a band that was still growing, still trying new things, and still making music that mattered to them. They toured the album around the world, playing to large crowds and enjoying the success that had come with their first album. They were still a popular live band, and their shows were still exciting and imaginative.

Empire of the Sun works slowly, releasing albums only when they feel ready, and that slow pace is a big part of their identity. They do not rush to make a new record every year. They take their time, they work on songs until they are right, and they release an album when they believe it is good enough. That patience is rare in the music business, where many bands are pressured to release new music constantly, and it is a sign of artists who care more about quality than about quantity. Their fans have learned to wait, and they are rewarded with albums that are worth the wait.

By the late 2010s, Empire of the Sun was one of the most respected electronic pop bands in the world, with a fan base that spanned generations. They had achieved what few bands achieve: a long career with music that was both popular and artistic, and a visual world that was both imaginative and memorable. They had done it by staying true to their sound, by working slowly and carefully, and by making music that mattered to people. It was a remarkable achievement, and it is a testament to the strength of the duo.

Costumes, Characters, and a World of Their Own

One of the most distinctive things about Empire of the Sun is their visual world. Luke Steele often performs in elaborate costumes, with headdresses, capes, face paint, and other decorations that make him look like a character from another planet. Nick Littlemore also wears costumes, and the band’s live shows are full of colour, light, and theatre, with dancers, projections, and staging that create a dreamlike atmosphere. That visual world is not just decoration. It is a central part of the band’s identity, and it makes their music feel like an escape from the ordinary world.

The band’s videos are also famous for their visual imagination, with scenes of deserts, oceans, forests, and other worlds, all filmed in bright, saturated colours. Their videos are like short films, with stories, characters, and a sense of wonder that matches the music. They are a big part of why people love Empire of the Sun, because they make the songs feel even more magical. A good video can make a good song even better, and Empire of the Sun’s videos do that, again and again.

The costumes and characters also allow Luke and Nick to become different people on stage, to step outside themselves and to perform as the characters they have created. That freedom is important for artists, because it lets them express things they might not be able to express as themselves. Luke has said that the costumes help him to perform, to feel confident, and to connect with the audience in a way that would be harder without them. It is a form of theatre, and it is a form that Empire of the Sun has mastered.

Today, the visual world of Empire of the Sun is as famous as their music, and it is a big part of why they are loved by fans around the world. Their live shows are events, their videos are works of art, and their costumes are instantly recognisable. They have created a world that is both beautiful and strange, and they have invited listeners to step into that world with them. That invitation is still open, and people are still accepting it, years after the band first began.

Ask That God and a Return After Years Away

In 2024, Empire of the Sun released their fourth album, Ask That God, after a gap of eight years since Two Vines. The album included the songs Changes and Music on the Radio, and it showed a band that was still writing good songs, still experimenting with new sounds, and still loved by their fans. The album was well received, and it proved that the band could return after a long break and still make music that mattered. It was a joyful comeback, and it was welcomed by fans who had waited a long time for new music.

The long gap between albums was not a sign that the band had stopped. It was a sign that Luke and Nick were busy with their other projects, with their families, and with their lives, and that they wanted to take their time with the new album. They worked on Ask That God for several years, writing songs, recording, and refining the sound until they were happy with it. That patience is a big part of their identity, and it is why their albums are worth waiting for. They do not rush, and they do not release music until they believe it is ready.

The band also toured Ask That God, playing shows in Australia and around the world, and their live shows were still as imaginative and as exciting as ever. Luke Steele performed in his elaborate costumes, Nick Littlemore played his electronic instruments, and the crowd sang along to Walking on a Dream and We Are the People, as well as to the new songs. It was a celebration of the band’s whole career, from the debut album to the new record, and it showed that Empire of the Sun is still a vital and creative band.

Today, Empire of the Sun is remembered as one of Australia’s most imaginative bands, and their music continues to be loved by fans around the world. Ask That God is a fitting addition to their catalogue, and it shows that they still have much to say. Their story is not finished, and their music will continue to inspire people for many years to come.

A Dreamlike World That Keeps Growing

Empire of the Sun’s world is not just about costumes and videos. It is about a feeling, a sense of wonder that runs through every song, every show, and every album they make. Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore have created a place where the sun is always setting, where the desert meets the sea, and where music feels like a dream you do not want to wake up from. That world has grown with each album, from the sunny pop of Walking on a Dream to the more mature sounds of Ask That God, and it has stayed consistent even as the music has changed. Fans who step into that world feel like they are part of something special, and that feeling is why they keep coming back.

The band’s collaborations have also helped their world grow, because they have worked with other artists, producers, and visual designers who have brought new ideas to their music and their shows. Those collaborations have kept Empire of the Sun fresh, even after more than fifteen years, and they have shown that Luke and Nick are open to new influences. A band that works alone can become stale, but a band that welcomes other voices can keep growing, and Empire of the Sun has done that. Their world is not closed. It is open, and it keeps expanding with every album and every tour.

Their music has also been used in films, in advertisements, and in television shows around the world, and that exposure has introduced their dreamlike world to millions of people who might never have heard them otherwise. A song in a film can make a listener feel something powerful, and Empire of the Sun’s songs have that power. They are songs that fit a moment, that capture a feeling, and that stay with you long after the film ends. That is a sign of timeless music, and it is a big part of why their songs are still loved today.

My Take:

When I think about Empire of the Sun, the first thing I think about is colour. Their music is colourful in a way that is hard to describe. It is bright, joyful, and full of light, and it makes you feel like you are in a place that is both familiar and magical. I think that colour is what makes them special. Many bands make music that is dark or serious, but Empire of the Sun makes music that is bright and hopeful, and that hope is a wonderful thing. I love that about them, because it feels like a gift.

I love the song Walking on a Dream, and I think it is one of the best pop songs of the 2000s. It has a melody that is both simple and beautiful, a beat that makes you want to dance, and a feeling that is both dreamy and joyful. I can hear Luke Steele’s voice, high and clear, and I can feel the sunshine in the music. It is a song that makes me happy every time I hear it, and I think that is the mark of a great pop song. It is a song that will always be remembered, and I am grateful that Empire of the Sun wrote it.

What I admire most is the partnership between Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore. They come from very different musical worlds, rock and electronic, but they found a way to work together and to create something that neither of them could have made alone. That is a rare and beautiful thing, and it is a lesson for anyone who works with other people. When two different talents come together with respect and with a shared vision, the result can be greater than the sum of its parts. Empire of the Sun is proof of that, and I respect them for it.

I also think about their visual world, because it is so distinctive and so imaginative. Luke’s costumes, the headdresses, the capes, and the face paint are not just decoration. They are a way of creating a character, a story, and a world that the music lives in. I think that visual imagination is a big part of why people love Empire of the Sun, because it makes their concerts feel like a special event, not just a show. It is theatre, and it is art, and it is a wonderful thing to see.

There is a sadness in their story too, and it is the sadness of waiting. Empire of the Sun works slowly, and their fans have to wait years between albums. That waiting can be hard, because you love a band and you want to hear new music from them, but they are taking their time. I understand why they take their time, because they want to get the music right, but I also feel the sadness of that wait. It is a reminder that good things take time, and that patience is a part of loving a band like Empire of the Sun.

I admire the album Walking on a Dream, and I think it is one of the great pop albums of the 2000s. It has Walking on a Dream, We Are the People, and other songs that are all classics, and each one is different from the last. That range is rare, and it shows how good the band’s songwriting was from the start. I think Walking on a Dream is a perfect album, in the sense that it has no weak songs, and every song feels like it belongs. That is hard to do, and Empire of the Sun did it on their first try. It is an album I return to again and again, and it never gets old.

When I listen to We Are the People, I hear something special and moving. It is a song about unity, about people coming together, and it is sung with a hope that makes you believe in a better world. I think it is one of the most beautiful songs Empire of the Sun ever made, and it is a song that has touched many people. It is played at weddings, at festivals, and on the radio, and it is remembered by fans as a classic. I am grateful for We Are the People, and I will keep listening to it.

I also think about Luke Steele’s voice, because it is one of the most distinctive voices in Australian music. It is high, clear, and full of character, and he sings with an honesty that makes you trust him. He is not a loud, showy singer. He is a dreamer, and his songs are full of the small details of a dream world that people recognise. I think that is why his solo work and his work with The Sleepy Jackson are also loved, because people love to hear a singer who tells the truth in his songs. He is a rare talent, and I admire him a lot.

If I have a criticism, it is not about the band itself. It is about how the music business treats bands that work slowly. Empire of the Sun takes years between albums, and some people in the industry think that is a bad thing, because they want new music constantly. I think that is wrong. Good music takes time, and a band that takes its time is a band that cares about quality. Empire of the Sun cares about quality, and their albums are worth the wait. I think the industry should respect that, and fans should be patient, because the result is always worth it.

I think about the album Ask That God, and I feel happy that the band came back after eight years away. It must have been a joyful moment for Luke and Nick, to release new music after so long, and to see that the fans still loved them. I think a comeback like that is a sign of a band that is truly loved, because fans do not wait eight years for a band they have forgotten. They wait for a band that mattered to them, and Empire of the Sun mattered to a lot of people. I am glad they returned, and I am glad they are still making music.

For a young reader, I think the lesson of Empire of the Sun is simple. Be imaginative, work with people who are different from you, and take your time to make something good. Empire of the Sun was imaginative, they worked together across rock and electronic music, and they took their time with each album. That is a good example for anyone, musician or not, who wants to build something that lasts. Success does not come overnight. It comes from years of work, and Empire of the Sun proved that.

I also learn from them that a band needs more than good songs. It needs a visual world, a story, and a sense of theatre that makes the music feel alive. Empire of the Sun has all three, and that is why their concerts are so special. A band is not just a group of people playing music. It is a world, and when that world is created with care, the music is better for it. I think that is a lesson for life as well as for music: create a world that people want to step into, and they will follow you.

I keep thinking about the word dream, because Empire of the Sun’s music is all about dreams. Walking on a Dream is a song about dreaming, We Are the People is a song about hope, and their whole visual world is a dream. I think dreams are a wonderful thing, because they let us imagine a better world, and Empire of the Sun’s music does that. It is not just entertainment. It is a gift, and it is a gift that has been given to millions of people. I am grateful for that gift, and I will keep listening to it.

When I think about their future, I do not worry about them. They have already proved that they can return after a long break and still make great music, and they have already made songs that will last for ever. I think they will keep making music for as long as they want to, and people will keep listening, because their songs are timeless. A good pop song does not get old. It just gets better with time, and Empire of the Sun’s songs have got better with time. I am glad they are still here, still making music, and still dreaming.

I will end my thoughts on Empire of the Sun with a simple feeling. I feel grateful that they made Walking on a Dream, and I feel grateful that they never gave up on their imagination. The world is full of bands that make ordinary music, and it is full of songs that are forgotten quickly. Empire of the Sun’s music is still remembered, and it is still loved, and that is a tribute to their talent and their creativity. I am grateful for Walking on a Dream, for We Are the People, for Ask That God, and for all the other songs they made. They are a gift, and I will keep listening to them.

One more thought stays with me. I think about the two musicians in a Sydney studio, writing songs, dreaming of a world where the sun never sets. They could not have known that they would one day be one of the most imaginative bands in Australia. They just played, because they loved to play. I think that love is the real secret of their story. When you love what you do, you keep doing it, even when it is hard, even when the road is long, even when the success takes years to come. Empire of the Sun loved to play, and they kept playing. That is why their story still matters, and why I think people will keep listening to them for a long time to come.

I also think about the fans, because Empire of the Sun had fans who loved them deeply and who still love them today. They wear the costumes, they sing the songs, and they go to the concerts, year after year. I think a band is only as good as its fans, and Empire of the Sun had some of the best fans in the world. They have kept the band’s music alive, and they have kept Walking on a Dream alive. I respect those fans, and I think they deserve to be part of the story too.

Another thing I notice is how the band’s music crosses generations. Young people today are discovering Empire of the Sun for the first time, through films, through streaming, and through their parents’ record collections. They hear Walking on a Dream and they love it, even though it was made before they were born. That is a sign of timeless music. A good song does not belong to one decade. It belongs to everyone, and Empire of the Sun made songs that belong to everyone.

I think about the simple joy of dancing to Walking on a Dream, and I think that joy is something the band gives to people every time the song is played. There is a moment when the chorus starts, the crowd dances, and everyone feels the same thing at the same time. That shared feeling is rare, and it is why people love music. Empire of the Sun creates that feeling better than almost any band I know, and I think that is a gift worth celebrating.

I also think about the importance of imagination, because Empire of the Sun shows that imagination is a valuable thing in music. They did not just make songs. They made a world, with costumes, characters, and stories, and that world is as important as the music itself. I think that is a lesson for anyone who makes something: do not just make a product. Make a world that people want to step into, and they will follow you. Empire of the Sun did that, and I respect them for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Empire of the Sun’s most famous song?

Empire of the Sun’s most famous songs are Walking on a Dream and We Are the People, both from their debut album Walking on a Dream. Walking on a Dream became a huge hit in Australia and Europe, while We Are the People became a worldwide hit and is still played today.

When was Empire of the Sun formed?

Empire of the Sun was formed in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 as a duo with Luke Steele, singer of The Sleepy Jackson, and Nick Littlemore, member of the electronic duo Pnau. They worked together in Nick’s studio for more than a year before releasing their debut album.

Who are the members of Empire of the Sun?

Empire of the Sun is a duo made up of Luke Steele on vocals and guitar, and Nick Littlemore on keyboards, synthesisers, and production. Steele comes from rock music and Littlemore from electronic music, and together they created the band’s dreamlike pop sound.

What album made Empire of the Sun famous?

The album Walking on a Dream, released in 2008, made Empire of the Sun famous. It included Walking on a Dream and We Are the People, won ARIA Awards including Album of the Year, and sold in large numbers around the world.

What is Empire of the Sun’s latest album?

Empire of the Sun’s latest album is Ask That God, released in 2024 after a gap of eight years since Two Vines. It included the songs Changes and Music on the Radio, and it showed the band returning with new music after a long break.

Why does Empire of the Sun wear costumes?

Empire of the Sun wears elaborate costumes, headdresses, and face paint as part of their visual world, creating characters and a dreamlike stage show. Luke Steele has said the costumes help him perform and connect with the audience, turning concerts into theatre.