Empire of the Sun

Empire of the Sun is an Australian electronic duo formed by Nick Littlemore, also known for his work in PNAU, and Luke Steele, formerly frontman of the alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson. The pair began collaborating in 2007 and quickly became known for an elaborate, theatrical visual identity blending Peking Opera–inspired costumes, Incan-style headdresses, and other imagery drawn from ancient and futuristic empires.

Their debut album, «Walking on a Dream» (2008), produced the title track that became an international hit and remains their signature song, alongside tracks like «We Are the People». The record established their sound: lush, ‘80s-influenced synth-pop layered with dreamy melodies and grand, cinematic production. Their second album, «Ice on the Dune», continued this narrative-driven approach, with Littlemore and Steele adopting the personas of «The Lord» and «The Emperor» for what they described as a post-apocalyptic psychedelic concept.

Empire of the Sun's music sits at the intersection of pop accessibility and art-rock ambition, and songs like «Alive», «High and Low», and «DNA» show a continued commitment to widescreen synth textures and vivid costumed performance, making them one of the more visually distinctive acts to emerge from the late-2000s electro-pop wave.