I have had the opportunity to preview their upcoming release, a song called "Note The Meaning". I really enjoyed what I heard. It's a nice electronic tune which with it's driving dance beat and the echoing and dour lead vocal finds Empire Saints somewhere between Giorgio Moroder, Depeche Mode and LCD Soundsystem. They are currently working on a new album and if "Note The Meaning" is any indication of what we'll hear on the album I am certain that Empire Saints will find their career in music rising to the next level. "Note The Meaning" is a big step forward for Empire Saints, most particularly in the technical and production sense of their music.
- Randall Webb
Empire Saints
Bio from the Empire Saints website
http://www.empiresaints.com/index.html
Empire Saints are an Irish four-piece
band consisting of Fiachra Treacy (vocals and guitars), Uisneagh Treacy
(bass), Noel Healy (drums) and Pete Cheevers (guitars).
Formed in 2009 by brothers Fiachra and Uisneagh, they began working with Noel on putting together a collection of material in the studio, the result of which was their debut EP, Soundtrack to the City. The four track EP was produced and recorded by Garreth Mannix in Sun Studios, Dublin.
Last year they were joined by guitarist, Pete Cheevers, who brought a unique quality to the band with his ethereal guitar playing, that complimented the mood and sound of the music perfectly.
The band have gigged extensively both
in Ireland and abroad, playing in such venues as Whealan’s, Crawdaddy,
The Empire and The Hope and Anchor in London.
Empire Saints were finalists in the Guinness Our Thursdays competition and as a result, played support to the Magic Numbers, Imelda May and David Gray in Folan’s Quay Galway, as part of the Arthur’s Day celebrations.
Appearing on the cover of the Hotpress magazine was a great boost to the band’s profile. They are currently working hard in the Vault studio in Dublin putting the finishing touches to their debut album.
A few words from band member and founder Fiachra Teachy
Empire Saints are Fiachra Treacy (guitars, vocals) Pete Cheevers
(guitars, keys) Uisneagh Treacy (bass, vocals) Noel Healy (drums,
grovebox)
We have just finished recording our debut album, which we recorded and produced ourselves. Looking back it was a very difficult process. We enjoyed it at the start but when it came to chopping and changing we all have very strong opinions and this can lead to arguments (had to dodge a few drumsticks, cheers Noel!!!). It meant the album took a lot longer than we expected. In hindsight a producer would have made it a lot easier, even if they were to act merely as an adjudicator. We could not agree on mixes and drafted in Phil Hayse (producer with Bell x1 and Cakesale to name a few) to sprinkle some magic on the album which he so expertly has done. He has made the tracks sound more like an album, putting a dance feel on the guitar tracks and really bringing the electronic tracks to life.
The majority of the tracks on the album start off as a song written by Fiachra on an acoustic guitar but don't really become Empire Saints songs till the rest of the boys get a hold of them. Noel and Uisneagh have come up with some of the initial ideas also with Noel specializing in the electronic songs he puts together on the grovebox.
We have just finished recording our debut album, which we recorded and produced ourselves. Looking back it was a very difficult process. We enjoyed it at the start but when it came to chopping and changing we all have very strong opinions and this can lead to arguments (had to dodge a few drumsticks, cheers Noel!!!). It meant the album took a lot longer than we expected. In hindsight a producer would have made it a lot easier, even if they were to act merely as an adjudicator. We could not agree on mixes and drafted in Phil Hayse (producer with Bell x1 and Cakesale to name a few) to sprinkle some magic on the album which he so expertly has done. He has made the tracks sound more like an album, putting a dance feel on the guitar tracks and really bringing the electronic tracks to life.
The majority of the tracks on the album start off as a song written by Fiachra on an acoustic guitar but don't really become Empire Saints songs till the rest of the boys get a hold of them. Noel and Uisneagh have come up with some of the initial ideas also with Noel specializing in the electronic songs he puts together on the grovebox.
The band has a wide variety of influences which took a while to hone into one particular sound. The Stone Roses, The Cure, Massive Attack, Bob Dylan, Joy Division, Leftfield. I think all them have one thing in common that the songs come from the heart and do have an emotional feel which we try to emulate.
We have played gigs all around Ireland and in London, and have been on the same bill as The Magic Numbers, David Gray and Newton Faulkner at Arthurs Day in Galway. We played in front of 3500 people that day and it really gave us a boost and made us think if we work hard we could have something really special here.
We are all finally happy with the album and think it is something to be very proud of. Every song has its own place on it and we feel it is the type of album people will be able to put on and listen the whole way through, the kind of album people used to make before the emphasis became solely on 'the big hit'.
The album will be called 'Product' for a couple of reasons. The songs are about the environment we are in and have grown up in Dublin and Bray. There are stories about people we know and also ourselves so the songs are a product of our environment. We also put in two years of work into it and are eventually left with the album, It seems to sum all the bu**s**t up into one 'product'. To sell, to give away. Personally I just want people to listen to it and hope they can relate to the songs and come see us live.
The album should be released at the end of March and will be available worldwide on itunes.
People can check us out on myspace, facebook and follow us on our website www.empiresaints.com
Empire Saints
Empire Saints - Eventually
Empire Saints - Flow
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