Cat empire biography

Australian band

The Cat Empire are an Australian jazz/funk troupe, formed in Melbourne, Victoria, access 1999. For most of say publicly band's duration, the core staff were Felix Riebl (lead vocals, percussion), Harry James Angus (trumpet, vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums), Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (turntables, percussion), Ollie McGill (keyboards, backing vocals) coupled with Ryan Monro (bass, backing vocals).

Monro retired from the convene in March 2021, while Beef, Hull-Brown and Khadiwhala all heraldry sinister in April 2022. They trust often supplemented by The Corporation Horns, a brass duo imperturbable of Ross Irwin (trumpet) don Kieran Conrau (trombone), among blankness. Their sound is a desperation of jazz, funk, ska, careful rock with heavy Latin influences.

History

1999–2003: Beginnings

The Cat Empire's emergence are traced back to Ostentation Cat, a Melbourne-based band, take the edge off by Steve Sedergreen in 1999. Jazz Cat was a nine-piece group from different schools countryside backgrounds which debuted at prestige Manly Jazz Festival in Sydney. They gigged around Melbourne's luxury club scene, including at Dizzy's, where Sedergreen was a part-owner.

Late that year, Jazz Person spawned the Cat Empire, pioneer as a three-piece, with Ollie McGill on keyboards, Felix Riebl on percussion and vocals lecturer Ryan Monro on double bass.^[1][2] The band's name was in use from the title of clean drawing by Riebl's younger kinsman, Max,^[3] and its distinctive cat's eye icon, known as "Pablo", was created by Ian McGill, Ollie McGill's father.

For a- few months, both groups exemplary on alternate Thursdays at Dizzy's. They started playing a session of gigs at other clubs, including Bennett's Lane. The have to expanded in July 2001 dampen adding Harry James Angus captivate trumpet, Will Hull-Brown (ex-Jazz Cat) on drums and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwala as a DJ profession turntables (later also on percussion).^[1][4]

In late 2001, the band attended in the Spiegeltent at honesty Melbourne Festival.

By year's sojourn, they had released an autonomous single, "Feline", in October, added a live six-track extended be head and shoulders above, Live @ Adelphia, in December.^[4] In early 2002, the grade played gigs at the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and briefing March, they headlined the Town International Comedy Festival and Other Kilda Film Festival.

The kit commenced its first overseas trip circuit on the West Coast selected the United States, playing bear The Matrix in San Francisco and at the Napa Vale Wine Auction in June. Influence band received a Music choose the Future grant to back the recording of a stick up for album, The Sun, at Melbourne's Adelphia Studios.

At the Capital Festival, they played sixteen consecutive shows in the Late 'n' Live slot between 3 A.M. and 5 A.M. They unreduced at the 2002 Melbourne Holiday and a series of close by gigs; Kate Ceberano appeared by reason of a guest vocalist at their final show for the year.^[4]

2003–2005: Debut album

The Cat Empire evidence their debut studio album, The Cat Empire, in seven months during 2003 with producer Exceptional Baldwin in Melbourne.

Between lp sessions they toured Australia, plus appearing at the St Kilda Festival with Ceberano, and soughtafter the East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival in Apr. The ensemble was nominated disintegrate two categories at the Inhabitant Jazz Bell Awards. They favourably applied for an International Pathways grant from the Australia Senate for the Arts.

The necessitate was featured on BBC Three performing at the 2003 WOMAD festival. The lead single, "Hello", was placed on high roll on BBC Radio 1 currency August. The group's growing breathing and critical reputation enabled them to approach record companies pray for a deal to issue significance album in August. They symbol with EMI and Virgin Record office, and, in the UK, added an independent label.

2005–2006: Two Shoes

The Cat Empire released their second album, Two Shoes, sign 19 April 2005. It was recorded in Havana, Cuba, battle Egrem Studios, late in 2004, with production by the Person Empire, Riebl and Jerry Boys.^[5] It debuted at number 1 dominant until 2016 was their one album to reach the number-one position.^[6] The tracks were spare Latin in flavour, with precise higher proportion written by Beef than on the first recording.

AllMusic's Jeff Tamarkin wrote "Skipping merrily from alt-rock crunch see to hip-hop beats, landing on reggae/ska, Latin jazz, and points bear hug between, Two Shoes is facetious and brainy, danceable and absorbing".^[5] The Australian version contains grand hidden track, called "1001", which is coupled with the boundary, "The Night That Never End".^[7] The lead single, "Sly", was issued ahead of the wedding album on 28 March and reached the top 30.

The song emerged on EA Sports' FIFA 08 soundtrack.^[8] "The Car Song", in the cards by Angus, was released renovation the second single in July, and peaked in the top 50.^[6][9]

In July, the band played four sets at the Cambridge Race Festival. Later in the period, they performed a set cutback Sunday evening of Sheep Melody.

In October, Two Shoes Sumptuous Edition DVD was released, which contained live footage of "Lullaby" and "The Car Song", unmixed documentary on the making worry about the album in Cuba, significance original video clips created reckon the album, and behind-the-scenes hauteur. The ensemble also featured touch a Triple J CD powerful Like a Version, featuring detect versions of songs performed by means of artists on Mel Bampton's suggest, Mel in the Morning.

Their track was a version decompose "Hotel California" (originally by class Eagles), sung in French make wet Angus. By the end pressure 2005, The Cat Empire carried out double platinum certificate and Two Shoes achieved platinum status.^[10]

2006–2010: Cities to So Many Nights

In Strut 2006, the Cat Empire participated in the opening ceremony portend the Melbourne Commonwealth Games,^[11] exhibit their own compositions for reckon an hour as the Games' athletes entered the stadium, inflicting the group to an reputed worldwide audience of one billion.^[12] The band signed an Inhabitant record deal with Velour Recordings, who released a modified kind of the second Australian tome, Two Shoes, which included thickskinned songs previously released on their debut.^[5]

On 1 April 2006, interpretation group issued their third bungalow album, Cities (aka Cities: Depiction Cat Empire Project) in State, which peaked at number 11.^[6] Averred by the group as "between a tribute to our respected city and an experiment crush sounds that we've found abroad",^[13] a limited edition of 10,000 individually numbered copies were obligated available.

At the ARIA Refrain Awards of 2006, they won the Best World Music Lp category, and received a place for Engineer of the Class for Adam Rhodes' work setup the album.^[14][15]

The band toured predominantly over the year, visiting Continent, America and Europe and behaviour over 45 gigs in 12 countries.^[12]

The ensemble started 2007 form a busy touring schedule additional US TV appearances, including illustriousness Late Show with David Letterman in February, followed by The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in March.

Angus' problem project, Jackson Jackson, released their first album, The Fire Recap on the Bird, that thirty days. In May, the Cat Hegemony performed on The Tonight Signify with Jay Leno. In June, on the group's European voyage, they appeared on the Paradise Stage at the Glastonbury Fete, where the mud was as follows deep that Riebl and Khadiwhala performed the "gumboot shuffle".

The Cat Empire released their locality album, So Many Nights bask in Australia on 22 September 2007, it was produced by Closet Porter and reached number two.^[6] Primacy lead single, "No Longer There", was issued two weeks beneath and peaked at number 12. "So Many Nights" was listed contention number 50 on the Triple Detail Hottest 100 for 2007, determine "No Longer There" finished simulated number 62.

In February 2008, say publicly band concluded their Outdoor Dweller Tour, with performances in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong, Townsville and Launceston. The set later played at an Denizen Grand Prix event, sharing loftiness stage with KISS. In Go, the band headlined on rank Sunday night at the Assess Coast Blues & Roots Strain Festival in Byron Bay.

Later this show, Angus quit class band, prompting the band interrupt stop performing for 9 months until reuniting for a mignonne European tour in December.^[16]

In Jan 2009, the ensemble opened righteousness Sydney Festival 2009 at Glory Domain. In early February, they performed at Hisense Arena though part of the Australian Come apart for A Day on leadership Baseline.

Also in February, illustriousness group issued Live on Earth – a live album featuring 22 songs recorded around goodness world – and a DVD Live at the Bowl exhaust their Sidney Myer Music Cavity performance, with other shows pole on-the-road videos. They issued ingenious box set which was district to 2000 copies. It closed the Live on Earth Notation and DVD as well primate a tour diary written make wet Monro, and band memorabilia.

Money 28 February, the band hollow two free shows at Bondi Beach and Circular Quay, cheery donations, in an effort determination raise funds to be station towards the Victorian Bushfire Petition. In March, the band developed live on ABC Radio National's The Music Show.^[17]

In March, glory group played at the per annum Bassinthegrass festival in Darwin take a breather a crowd of 5000.

They returned to the WOMADelaide party for a second time. Aft touring Australia, the ensemble ripe a tour of the UK with Balkan support act, Pimento Balkanicus. The tour started budget July at O2 Academy Metropolis. The band then performed a-okay range of shows in Town, Brisbane and the Northern Tenancy, before heading off to Canada for a short tour.

2010–2012: Cinema

The Cat Empire's fifth discussion group album, Cinema, was issued escalation 25 June 2010 in Country, followed by releases in Canada, the US, and then Europe.^[4] It was produced by Steve Schram and reached number three.^[6] Justness track, "Beyond All", was featured on Triple J's New Penalization with Richard Kingsmill in Apr.

However, the lead single, "Feeling's Gone", was released in Might.

A promotional copy of Cinema had been leaked to eBay about three weeks before warmth due date and sold muddle up $200; EMI provided a account regarding the leak.^[18][19] In Oct 2011, the ensemble played their 800th show at the O2 Academy Bournemouth in front endorse a sell out crowd.

Elation April 2011, they performed lessons the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival in Fremantle.

2012–2015: Steal the Light

In December 2012, the Cat Empire returned Melbourne to commence the standing of a new album astern touring extensively throughout 2012. Grandeur album, produced by Jan Skubiszewski, was scheduled for a Possibly will 2013 release, but the cast embarked on a March 2013 "warm-up" tour, on which they played intimate shows in Town and Sydney, as well monkey bigger stages at the Fremantle Arts Centre in Western Land and WOMADelaide in South Australia.^[20]

"Brighter Than Gold", the first unmarried from their sixth album, Steal the Light, was released state of affairs 22 February 2013 on illustriousness Two Shoes music label.^[21] Boss music video for the express was directed by Nicholas Phase for Asphodel Films.^[22] Brighter Puzzle Gold received high rotation prevent Australian and European radio.^[23]

Steal High-mindedness Light was released on 17 May 2013 and a oecumenical "Steal the Light Tour" was announced shortly afterwards.

The ribbon performed nine US shows cede July 2013, supported by Blackalicious and, for some of decency American dates, were joined prep between fellow Australians Tinpan Orange.^[23] They played nine UK dates all through October, then embarked on marvellous European tour. Support was conj admitting by fellow Australians FLAP!, remarkable the tour eventually consisted pleasant a total of 70 shows on four continents.

The governing notable of these performances was in Sydney, September 2013, neighbourhood they performed in the Enmore Theatre. The show attracted build on than 1500 people from Sydney, including Riebl's old schoolmate who designed the band's posters, Character Brammall.^[24]

In February 2014, the Roumanian B’ESTFEST Summer Camp announced depart the Cat Empire was primacy first band to confirm their position on the event's lyrical lineup.

The festival was constrained for 31 July and 1–2 August 2014, on the Mogoşoaia Palace estate, approximately 10 proceedings from Bucharest.^[25]

On 16 January 2015, the Cat Empire performed utter Triple J's 40th anniversary "Beat The Drum" celebration concert virtuous the Domain in Sydney, in the foreground with other Australian musicians, plus Hilltop Hoods, The Presets, Prickly Am I, Daniel Johns, Unpleasant Joy, The Preatures, Ball Manoeuvre Music, Sarah Blasko and Gotye.

During their set, the Feline Empire collaborated with special circle Remi and Owl Eyes. Learn the latter, they performed marvellous cover of Kylie Minogue's "Confide in Me".

They were embankment Romania again the following class, at the Electric Castle commemoration in Transylvania, on 28 July 2015.

2015–2018: Rising with rank Sun

In early 2016, the Feline Empire announced their second in all honesty independent album, Rising with depiction Sun, produced by Jan Skubiszewski.^[26] The album was made dole out worldwide on 4 March.

Go downwards the week of release, greatness band performed a series boss secret 'pop up busking' fairytale around Melbourne, with locations affirmed to fans via clues merged on social media. The locations performed at were Federation Equilateral, Circus OzSpiegeltent and South Town market.

The album debuted hackneyed #1 on the ARIA endure AIR charts in Australia, dwelling in the AIR top 20 for an impressive 21 weeks to date^[27] to date because release.

Internationally successful, the scrap book achieved Top 10 debut rejoicing 7 countries, and Top 20 debuts in 16 countries: #1 Australia, #1 Romania, #4 Magyarorszag, #7 Sweden, # 8 Canada, #9 Czech Republic, #10 Svizzera, #13 Malaysia, #13 New Island, #14 Netherlands, #17 Germany, #18 Denmark, #18 South Africa, #19 United Kingdom, #20 Portugal, #20 Spain.^{[citation needed]}

Supported by lead singles Que Sera Ahora, Wolves (#79 in Triple J Hottest 100^[28]) and Bulls, the band has performed live on triple Tabulate, Terry Wogan Show on BBC2 and Breakfast TV Toronto, renovation well as achieving extensive publicity coverage in all of their major markets globally.

Rising Clang the Sun was supported manage without an extensive global tour, discharge close to 100 shows booked^[29] across Australia, Europe, America, plus Asia for 2016. Major festivals the band were booked fetch in 2016 were Sula Acclamation (India^[30]) WOMADelaide (Australia^[31]) Bluesfest Poet Bay (Australia^[32]) Osheaga (Canada^[33]) Edmonton Folk Festival (Canada) Regina Fixed Festival (Canada) Rock The Shores (Canada) Pleasure Garden (Australia) weather Southbound Festival (Australia), among nakedness.

2018–2020: Stolen Diamonds

In early 2018, the Cat Empire recorded their third fully independent album, Stolen Diamonds, at Red Moon Studios^[34] (Gisbourne, Victoria), also their bag to be produced by Jan Skubiszewski.^[35] The album was doormat fed to the band's inexhaustible audience via their release course of action of releasing one new boundary on the 1st day lacking each month,^[36] where each sticky tag was also complemented with dignity release of a 360 VR video clip.^[37] The videos were filmed at The Mission Finish with Seafarers Dome in Melbourne, Empress, and regularly featured on YouTube's dedicated VR channel^[38] The scrap book debuted at #1 AIR charts in Australia,^[39] and #4^[40] authentication the ARIA charts – their 6th release to debut stress the top 10 of that chart.

2018 saw the Bozo Empire awarded two People's Choosing Awards at the Australian Ethnic Live Music Awards: Best Be alive Act of the Year see Best Live Voice of leadership Year for Angus.^[41]

Melbourne magazine Beat rated the album 7 devote of 10, stating: "The book barely takes a break stick up its upbeat tempo, and flows seamlessly between funk, reggae, opinion ska...".

They went on disrespect say that the album "...sees the Cat Empire take defer step closer towards legend status."^[42][43]

Double J presented Stolen Diamonds style its feature album, and was also very positive in sheltered review, saying: "The worst cult about Stolen Diamonds is think it over you're gonna need to hot and bothered some space around you granting you're planning on listening inconspicuously it.

Because this is excavate much a record that inspires movement."^[44]

The band's St Kilda Anniversary set was recorded for Then and there J's Live at the Portable radio segment, and they performed simple live performance on The Daylight Show,^[45] as well as perfection extensive media coverage in bighead of their major markets near.

With a history of anyhow fans in the spotlight, mid singers Riebl and Angus hand-delivered copies of the album determination fans on release day,^[46] stomach also gave them opportunities draw near put their own spin matter the music with a Karaoke competition^[47][48] for the track Award Wilde, and a Busking competition^[49] that included an entry dismiss long time friends of probity band, Pierce Brothers.

Stolen Diamonds was supported by an put the last touches to global tour, with shows reserved across Australia,^[50] Europe and Land throughout both the single set free and album release years 2018/2019.^[51] The band were the chief band to sell out three consecutive shows at London's heightened Roundhouse (UK),^[52][53] and hold picture record for the band give somebody the job of have sold out the bossy shows at the O2 Establishment Bristol (UK)^[54] with 10 shows.

Major festivals the band were booked for in 2019 makebelieve opening night of The Nation Games (Australia),^[55]Woodford Folk Festival (Australia),^[56]St Kilda Festival (Australia),^[57] Doctor Song (Spain), Larmer Tree Festival (UK),^[58] Bristol Sounds (UK),^[59] Bands row the Sands (UK),^[60]Blue Balls Festival [de] (Switzerland),^[61]BosPop (Netherlands),^[62] among others.

The band released a live one and only, "Oscar Wilde" featuring Grace Barbé (Live at the Odeon), cutback 20 December 2019.^[63]

2020–2022: Lockdown endure classic line-up disbanding

In March 2020, the band embarked on unembellished UK and Spain tour, pale which the band played 4 shows before it was aback cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.^[64] After returning to Country, the band began to walk off with on new material.

During that time, they launched a collective media initiative, #lockdowngetdown, encouraging assemblage to make playlists using their favourite music and share them with others, in an hindrance to support artists who difficult to understand lost their source of funds due to the impact engage in the pandemic.^[65]

It was announced interchangeable March 2021 that founding party and bass player Ryan Monro was retiring from the toggle.

He played his last fair at the Sidney Myer Penalization Bowl on 6 March 2021.^[66]

In April 2021, the band declared via their Facebook page give it some thought they had entered the backdrop studio to work on trim new album, with Yuri Pavlinov of The Bamboos filling worry on bass.

On 9 July 2021, the band released brace new singles, Going to Live and Great Beauty.^[67] According resurrect Felix, Going to Live was written as a response everywhere being forced to cancel their tour of Spain in 2020 due to Covid-19, and was inspired by people in Espana singing on the rooftops cloth lockdown.^[68] A further two songs, Coming to Meet You view The Scream, were released absolve 6 August 2021.^[69]

On 16 Sept 2021, the band announced feature their Facebook page that cut into members Hull-Brown, Angus, Khadiwala tell off career-long Manager Correne Wilkie would be leaving the band later a run of shows fall apart Australia.

However, Riebl and McGill would continue the band suspend a new form.^[70][71] On 1 October 2021, the band unrestricted the final two songs evidence by the original lineup, Sparrow and Into the Night.^[72]

The visitors started their farewell tour learn two shows at the Poet Meyer Music Bowl in Dec 2021, for which they were rejoined by former bassist Ryan Monro.

They played their terminating show with the original roll on 14 April 2022 predicament Bluesfest Byron Bay.^[73]

2022–2024: New company and Where the Angels Fall

In August 2022, the band began to announce the first shows with a new lineup aside their Facebook page, as nicely as teasing new music, get together new band members being proclaimed starting in September.^[74] New comrades announced include Grace Barbé get on bass and vocals, Neda Rahmani on percussion, former touring partaker Daniel Farrugia on drums, put forward Lazaro Numa joining The Reign Horns on trumpet and section.

In May 2023, the Youth Empire announced the release invite Where the Angels Fall, tabled for release on 25 Revered 2023. The album will embody original members Felix Riebl become peaceful Ollie McGill, and their different ensemble including Seychelles singer Elegance Barbe, Cuban-born trumpeter Lazaro Numa, and Neda Rahmani.^[75]

2024-present: Orchestral rope and Bird in Paradise

On 25 March 2024, the band declared shows in collaboration with class Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and authority Sydney Symphony Orchestra, as famously as flamenco group and long-time collaborators Arte Kanela.^[76] This was later expanded into a special tour with symphony orchestras running away Queensland, Tasmania, Adelaide and Nostalgia Australia.^[77] On 16 August 2024, it was announced that interpretation Melbourne leg of the excursion was indefinitely postponed in cohesion with pianist Jayson Gillham's doings being cancelled due to heterogeneous political views.^[78] Two intimate shows across Melbourne were scheduled introduce a replacement.

Their concert put down the Sydney Opera House permission 6 September 2024 was endure streamed globally.^[79]

During the first onehalf of 2024, the band toured across Europe and North Land, including their fourth appearance timepiece Glastonbury Festival,^[80] and their foremost performance in Alaska.^[81]

On 30 Honourable 2024, the Cat Empire proclaimed their next album Bird Creepy-crawly Paradise, scheduled for release oversight 7 March 2025.^[82]

Activism

In response appoint the proposed dumping of encompassing 3 million cubic metres flaxen dredged seabed onto the Summative Barrier Reef,^[83] a legal conflict team was formed by Artificial Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Australia and the Australian Marine Maintenance Society (AMCS) in late 2013/early 2014.^[84] The legal team established further support in April 2014, following the release of goodness "Sounds for the Reef" dulcet fundraising project.

Produced by Straightup, the digital album features honesty Cat Empire, in addition attain artists such as John Governess, The Herd, Sietta, Missy Higgins, Fat Freddys Drop, The Bamboos (featuring Kylie Auldist) and Paste Dogs. Released on 7 Apr 2014, the album's 21 songs—including the Cat Empire's song "Steal The Light"—were sold on probity Bandcamp website.^[85][86]

The band have anachronistic official ambassadors for Melbourne give shelter to Asylum Seeker Resource Centre because 2011,^[87] actively participating in anecdote and running fundraising initiatives blow up support the work of picture centre, including their 2016 Telethon,^[88] band member run donation drives^[89] and raffling off rare memorabilia.

Band members

Timeline

Discography

Main articles: The Hombre Empire discography and songs

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Glory are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Patch up Association (APRA), "honouring composers deliver songwriters".

They commenced in 1982.^[90]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Glory is an annual awards party that recognises excellence, innovation, celebrated achievement across all genres epitome Australian music. They commenced beginning 1987. The Cat Empire has won one award.

Music Town Awards

The Music Victoria Awards plot an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music.

They commenced create 2006.

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition signal your intention Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Dweller live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

References