The Cat Empire began as a trio with McGill, Riebl, and Monro in late 1999, and started playing a wide variety of gigs in Melbourne. The band soon expanded in 2001, adding Angus, Hull-Brown, and Khadiwala.
THE Cat Empire's message, on stage and in the studio, has always been about breaking down borders: musical, geographic, lingual. But they have never done it so powerfully as they do on their new album, Cinema. The album serves up a set which captures the inexorable force - and sheer joy - of their live performances, delivered in a format perfect for lounge-rooms, backyards, BBQ’s, cafes, road trips and parties all over the world.
Cinema, the band's fourth studio album, is a dazzling statement of a band at a peak of its powers, music designed to move the body and the mind. Right from the opening track, Waiting, this is music that leaps from the speakers.
All the elements that people love about The Cat Empire are there but the result is brighter, bolder. And yes, more cinematic. What grabs the ear immediately is that this is not a band playing with genres. In the past, The Cat Empire dived in to any musical style which took their fancy, from reggae to salsa, Latin to hip-hop. Cinema reveals a band that has developed an emphatic voice that is all their own.
``That's a sound that has emerged out of nearly 10 years of playing on stage together,'' says singer and percussionist Felix Riebl. ”The result is an album that's much more integrated than anything we've done before, with a Cat Empire sound that runs consistently through it. The lyrics are perhaps darker, but they are accompanied by music that is uplifting which gives it a strange but powerful feeling.''
Riebl adds: “At times the album is thoughtful, at times it makes you just forget and dance. But it is an album that has more sonic depth than we've ever had before, experimental in parts but with really direct choruses. It's going to be a great album to play live, especially on big stages and at festivals.''
Of course, the stage is never far from the thoughts of this band. In an age when so much of selling music seems to be about celebrity and fashion, The Cat Empire have risen to be one of Australia and indeed the worlds favourite live acts through sheer musicality and the power of their interaction on stage. The band - Riebl, Vocalist and trumpeter Harry Angus, keys player Ollie McGill, bassist Ryan Monro, drummer Will Hull-Brown and Jamshid Khadiwala (aka ‘Jumps’) on decks - played their 700th show in Amsterdam last year, and will hit the 800 mark in 2010. While it is not well known in Australia, The Cat Empire are one of the country's most successful musical exports, doubling their audience numbers at every return stop.
They have headlined some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Summersonic (Japan), Rock am Ring (Germany) and V Fest (UK), playing Bonnaroo (US) as well as to an audience of 300,000 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. They have also played on some of world's highest rating entertainment shows, including Dave Letterman and Jay Leno. This year their worldwide tour in support of the international release of Cinema will see them return to Canada, US, Europe, Japan and the UK, where they will play to a full house at London's Brixton Academy.
The knowledge that they would be playing songs from the new album on so many big stages focused the song writing sessions for Cinema. The album was recorded close to home at Sing Sing studios in Melbourne with producer Steve Schram, and he encouraged them to make an album that was their most collaborative song writing effort yet.
``That was a deliberate decision from all of us,'' says the lion of the live show - Vocalist and Trumpeter Harry Angus. ``With six people in the band sometimes there will be a song on an album that not everyone wants to play live. This album certainly gets around that problem. And I think that after so many years playing together the guys are much more confident about contributing to the writing. Steve encouraged us to do that. That's been great for us.''
Of working with The Cat Empire, Schram says “it was the perfect studio scenario; amazing players open to trying anything and willing to take a back seat when required. Egos were left at the door.” He adds “In terms of musicianship, it's no secret that they don't come much better than The Cat Empire. Yet Cinema shows that simplicity and one well placed note packs more of a punch and serves the song far more than musical chops alone. We set out to explore in depth the mood and character of each song while maintaining a focus on performance rather than studio trickery. “
After taking their longest break from studio recording after the release of 2007's So Many Nights, the band reconvened feeling refreshed. ``In 2008 we took a break from touring for 8 months. Then in 2009 we released our (live album) Live on Earth” Riebl says. ``When we came back to the band, and then into the studio we all rediscovered what we loved about The Cat Empire in the first place; that it is a band that can do the unexpected, that we have great energy and make music that is always a lot of fun to play on stage. The feeling right now is just like when we were starting out. We're all very excited about that.''
Cinema will be released ...
JUNE 25, AUSTRALIA
JUNE 29, CANADA
JULY 6, USA
AUGUST 2010, EUROPE & JAPAN
See www.thecatempire.com for tours and information
Am I Wrong
The Cat Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All they tell me is lies
I can't hide so I run
Across the globe like a spy
But the sun makes a hole
Burning right through the sky
All my feelings are bold
And my thoughts are alive
Through these thoughts to the sun
Through the black in my eye
As if I was the one
Is it me who is lead?
Or unsaid do I lead
With these drums to the ends of all streets?
Am I wrong, Mother Theresa?
It's been so long, but I want to believe you
If a thought was a bomb
That was tripped by desire
We could light up these halls
We could dance through the fire
On an ocean of dreams
In devotion of cause
In emotion of fears
In a notion that roars out
I love you, I love you,
I love you, I love you
But I need you to cry
Or I need you to do something
Magic like sing
As if holding to life
Or I need you to fall and to fall and to fly
Am I wrong, Mother Theresa?
It's been so long, but I want to believe you
Am I wrong, Mother Theresa?
It's been so long, but I want to believe you
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong?
You called me last night
You said "Please stay inside"
But I was deep in the storm
I was deep in the riot
On the rise of a falling
Horizon I cried
"Is it wrong to be born and defy?"
Am I wrong, Mother Theresa?
It's been so long, but I want to believe you
Am I wrong, Mother Theresa?
It's been so long, but I want to believe you
Am I wrong?
The opening lines of The Cat Empire's song "Am I Wrong" set the stage for a journey of self-reflection and uncertainty. The singer of the song is grappling with conflicting messages: all they are told is hope, but it feels like it's all just lies. They can't escape their feelings, so they run around the globe like a spy, but even the sun can't burn away their bold emotions and alive thoughts. The lyrics then pose a question: "Is it me who is lead?/ Or unsaid do I lead/ With these drums to the ends of all streets?" This line suggests that the singer is torn between following someone else's lead and leading on their own, with music as their guide.
The second verse of the song begins with the idea that thoughts can be bombs, tripped by desire, and that if we harnessed that power, we could light up the world and dance through the fire. The singer seems to be asking for something more from their loved one: either tears, magic, or the ability to fall and fly. The chorus repeats the question of whether or not they are wrong, addressed to Mother Theresa but also to the world at large. Finally, the song ends on a note of defiance, with the singer crying out to the horizon, "Is it wrong to be born and defy?"
Overall, "Am I Wrong" is a song about questioning authority, embracing uncertainty, and finding the courage to be true to oneself. It's a reminder that it's okay to be unsure, to ask for help or guidance, and to challenge the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
All they tell me is hope
People constantly tell me to have hope
All they tell me is lies
But I know deep down that everything they say is false
I can't hide so I run
Instead of facing my problems, I try to escape and hide from them
Across the globe like a spy
I travel all over the world looking for answers, like a secret agent
But the sun makes a hole
The sun shines so brightly that it seems like it's piercing through the sky
Burning right through the sky
The sun's heat is so intense that it feels like it's burning through the atmosphere
All my feelings are bold
My emotions are strong and passionate
And my thoughts are alive
My mind is full of ideas and plans
I would follow you there
I am willing to follow someone, even to the ends of the earth
Through these thoughts to the sun
I am willing to use my ideas and plans to reach for the stars
Through the black in my eye
Through the darkness and obstacles in my path
As if I was the one
I act with confidence and conviction, as if I am the one in control
Is it me who is lead?
Am I being led by someone else?
Or unsaid do I lead
Or am I the one leading, without realizing it?
With these drums to the ends of all streets?
With the rhythm and beat of the drums, can I lead others to the farthest reaches?
If a thought was a bomb
If an idea could have explosive power
That was tripped by desire
If that power was ignited by a strong desire
We could light up these halls
We could use that power to light up the darkness of the world
We could dance through the fire
We could accomplish anything, even in the face of danger
On an ocean of dreams
In a sea of endless possibilities
In devotion of cause
Focused on a specific purpose or goal
In emotion of fears
Driven by both strong emotions and fears
In a notion that roars out
With an idea that bellows out and demands attention
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you
I have strong, genuine feelings of love for someone
But I need you to cry
However, I also need to see them express their emotions and be vulnerable
Or I need you to do something
Or maybe I need them to take action to show that they care
Magic like sing
Or even use music to express themselves
As if holding to life
As if their life depended on it
Or I need you to fall and to fall and to fly
Or perhaps I need them to take risks and pursue their dreams, even if it involves falling along the way
You called me last night
Someone recently spoke to me
You said 'Please stay inside'
They advised me to stay safe and not take any risks
But I was deep in the storm
However, I was already caught up in a difficult situation
I was deep in the riot
I was in the middle of chaos and upheaval
On the rise of a falling Horizon I cried
Even though things seemed dire and hopeless, I refused to give up and continued to fight for what I believed in
Is it wrong to be born and defy?
Is it wrong to be true to myself and resist conformity, even if it means going against what others tell me to do?
Am I wrong?
Am I doing the right thing?
Am I wrong?
Should I be doubting myself?
Am I wrong?
Am I making a mistake?
Am I wrong, Mother Theresa?
Asking for guidance and support from a religious figure known for her wisdom and compassion
It's been so long, but I want to believe you
Even though it's been a while since I've sought your advice, I still have faith in your words
Contributed by Gabriella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheScheiss
Keeps getting better and better. Should be studying or sleeping but listening to new good music is addictive.
Pelin Durukan
Yess me too i can’t stop, i don’t want to....
Tom Evans
I know exactly what you mean...probably because I'm in the same situation lol
Okay I Believe You
Fav song by them.