Empire of the Sun

From Steelemore to Ask That God

Luke Steele of the Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau met in a Sydney bar in 2000, introduced by Steele's A&R man Simon Moor; both were on EMI. Littlemore helped write a song on the Sleepy Jackson's Lovers in 2003, Steele contributed to Littlemore's project Teenager in 2006, and they reunited for the Pnau tracks "Freedom" and "With You Forever", which sparked the project, first called Steelemore. Peter Mayes of Pnau produced and sometimes co-wrote, with recording through 2007 and Jonathan Sloan. Some link the name to J. G. Ballard's 1984 novel; Littlemore denied that, citing ancient sun-worshipping civilizations. Their stage shows are known for elaborate costumes, masks and headdresses, with a designer, Jessica Huerta, and a stated debt to Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain.

"Walking on a Dream" came out on August 30, 2008 and the album Walking on a Dream on October 3, 2008, reaching 6 in Australia, 19 in the UK and 97 in the US; ARIA certified it triple platinum. At the 2009 ARIA Awards it won 7 of 11 nominations including album of the year, and the BBC Sound of 2009 placed them fourth. Littlemore opted out of live performing in 2009, and the live debut, three headline shows at Parklife, came in September and October 2009, with Vive Latino, Glastonbury, Rock Werchter and a US debut at Lollapalooza in 2010. Ice on the Dune (June 14, 2013, Capitol) reached 3 in Australia, 20 in the US and 24 in the UK, Littlemore calling it a prequel to the first album. They played Coachella's Sahara tent in 2014, the Hollywood Bowl and the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in 2015, and scored Dumb and Dumber To.

Two Vines (October 28, 2016, Virgin EMI) was produced with Mayes, with Lindsey Buckingham and Wendy Melvoin as guests and part recorded in Hawaii, reaching 7 in Australia. "The Thrill" with Wiz Khalifa came in 2020 and "AEIOU" with Pnau in 2023. Ask That God (July 26, 2024, EMI Australia / Capitol) reached 10 in Australia, with a 2025 deluxe edition adding "Llego" with Danny Ocean. Littlemore said a fifth album would probably come out within a year, per Wikipedia.