Sometimes the most compelling art can come from life’s greatest struggles, … Read Full Bio ↴Sometimes the most compelling art can come from life’s greatest struggles, which in the case of Tooth & Nail newcomers I Am Empire, only added fuel to the group’s already blazing alternative rock fire. Though the San Jose-bred fivesome had no trouble igniting the local scene since forming in 2008, including dates alongside Flyleaf, Sublime, Deftones, Silversun Pickups, Thursday, Four Year Strong and The Wedding, a pair of charting singles (“You’re A Fake” and “The Elevator”), plus additional acclaim from Alternative Press, AOL’s Spinner.com and San Francisco’s LIVE105 radio station, much of the catalyst behind the band’s label debut Kings stems from front man Austin Lyons’ fractured upbringing.

“The whole record is about abandonment, particularly the fact that my father is the one who abandoned me,” says the scorching singer/songwriter for I Am Empire (whose moniker is basically a battle cry to be yourself and never feel pressured towards conformity). “We decided to name the record Kings because it signifies the head of a household, and if you’ve been abandoned, you want to look past that person and try to be better when you grow up. The goal is to take up the crown that person left behind and be better than the person who left, which can really apply to any type of relationship.”

Yet the plot thickens in the case of Lyons, whose biological dad may have left when he was ten, though a stepfather entered the picture a little later down the line. In time, this new father figure of sorts became incredibly close to the family, so much so that Austin adapted his last name and considered him to fill the original role his birth dad missed, though that relationship also took an unexpected turn.

“Basically he decided to leave and said he wanted kids of his own, which absolutely destroyed me, my mom and my sister,” he reveals. “From that point on, I decided to write this record reflecting on what happened when both my biological dad and a person I called my dad left me. I try to be as honest as I can be because that really helps dive deep into myself. It’s been a big therapy session for me, and even though I opened myself up to a lot of painful things I didn’t want to put out there, it’s been good for my writing. Everything works out for the better, and even though these situations were awful, I want there to be a positive outcome.”

The results find the guitar-charged record split between tracks of justified venting to seasons of spiritual renewal, both of which find the band unfurling its emotions as if their lives depended on such gripping delivery. Cuts like the lead single “Brain Damage,” “Saints & Sinners,” “Heart Attack,” “To the Moon” and “Foxhole” are aggressive examples of anger relief that encourage listeners to never bottle up their emotions, while “Hammers & Anvils,” “Love & Despair” and “Take Me Away” speak of healing, reconciliation and forgiveness.

“Even if you’ve been abandoned, you need to dig past the depression and ask God to help you find the joy in your circumstances,” suggests Lyons. “God’s continually worked through my situation and I have a positive outlook, to the point where we can close up the record with ‘It’s Not Fair’ with lines like ‘you wished me away/ but I wish you well.’”

The music is just as varied as the lyrical longing, ranging from muses like Jimmy Eat World to Muse, My Chemical Romance and Anberlin (who the group co-writes with on a track). In fact, the dozen track disc also benefits from the multi-faceted approach of producer Rob Hawkins, who’s also known for his work with Disciple and Fireflight (to name a few).

“We tried to have a dirtier sound in general,” admits Lyons. “A lot of the songs are really heavy, a couple fall in the pop/rock vein and we even have a kind of folksy acoustic song. We have a wide range of sounds and made sure not to stick with the same type of song over and over again. We also made a point for there not to be any throwaway tracks on the album or to waste any time recording a song that wasn’t worthwhile.”

Between those artistic ambitions, members’ unceasing work ethic, tireless time on tour and thematic reliability, I Am Empire is a perfect match with Tooth & Nail, which is a literally a label dream come true for the guys who grew up listening to its influential roster. “We talked to them for about a year, and in the end, it just felt like family,” sums up Lyons. “They’re the kind of label we always dreamed to be on, especially in high school when we used to say ‘man, it would be so cool to be on Tooth & Nail someday.’ We’ve literally grown up with them and our sound works within its line-up. Everything’s going great and it’s going to be an awesome relationship.”

Sing
I Am Empire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You are worthy of a great song
So worthy of a good son that I could never be
You are evidence around me
Elegance resounding
By grace I am restored
But inside I don't feel right

I can't help but sing

Waiting for the warm spring
Winter wears me down
Falling to the ground
I can't help but sing

You are a beautiful disaster
Running so much faster
Like water through my veins
You are the hope that lives inside me
A faith that is arriving whenever I start to doubt
But inside I don't feel right

I can't help but sing
Waiting for the warm spring
Winter wears me down
Falling to the ground
I'll wait for any sound
Lie here 'til I'm found
I can't help but sing

Raise the voice inside
Call the dream to life
Open up my eyes tonight

I can't help but sing
Waiting for the warm spring
Winter wears me down
Falling to the ground
I'll wait for any sound
Lie here 'til I'm found
I can't help but sing
Waiting for the warm spring
Winter wears me down
Falling to the ground
I'll wait for any sound

Lie here 'til I'm found
I can't help but sing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Sing" by I Am Empire are a tribute to the power of music to lift spirits and provide hope in dark times. The first verse acknowledges the greatness of the subject of the song, possibly a deity or other powerful figure, and the singer's own shortcomings in comparison. The second verse describes the subject as a source of chaos and beauty, but also as a comfort and guide in times of doubt. Despite this, the singer admits to feeling inner turmoil, perhaps due to personal struggles or the general difficulties of life.

Despite the challenges they face, the singer "can't help but sing," finding solace and strength in the act of singing. The chorus repeats this sentiment and juxtaposes the cold and desolate imagery of winter with the warmth and hope of spring. The final verse serves as a call to action, urging the listener to "raise the voice inside" and pursue their dreams with open eyes.

Overall, "Sing" is a powerful anthem about finding hope and healing through music, even in the face of personal or societal struggles. The lyrics speak to the human experience of feeling small or inadequate in comparison to larger forces, but finding the strength to persevere through the act of singing and creating music.

Line by Line Meaning

You are worthy of a great song
You are truly deserving of a magnificent tribute

So worthy of a good son that I could never be
You are deserving of a better child than I could ever be

You are evidence around me
Your presence is indisputable in my surroundings

Elegance resounding
Your beauty echoes throughout the world

By grace I am restored
My redemption is owed to your divine grace

But inside I don't feel right
Despite appearances, I feel uneasy within myself

I can't help but sing
I am compelled to express myself through song

Waiting for the warm spring
Anticipating the arrival of a time of new beginnings and growth

Winter wears me down
The harshness of life's trials drains my spirit

Falling to the ground
Succumbing to the overwhelming burden of life's challenges

You are a beautiful disaster
Your chaotic nature is also breathtakingly beautiful