A worldly crew, the Cat Empire has returned from seemingly constant travels to bring us a third album, So Many Nights .
Europe, Asia, Canada and the US have all been graced with their presence, sometimes repeatedly and the band is set to play a national tour in Australia.
According to Cat Empire band leader, Felix Riebl, So Many Nights is a collection of “vignettes from our travels; stories that got etched out in the back of a tour bus over the years. You get to a point, living like that, where it really gets hard to distinguish between what’s happening and what’s a dream”.
Lyrics from the title song encapsulate that feeling of infinity:
“So many dawns, so many flights, so many ships, so many heights, so many hands, so many places, so many moons, so many places, so many drinks, so many shows, so many isles, so many woes, so many miles, so many sights, so many moments, so many nights”
Born in the late night jazz clubs of Melbourne, but canvassing the sounds and souls of a million and one parties across the world, the Cat Empire have a very adaptable, wide appeal. Their home-grown soundtracks to those never-ending parties on summer nights combine an array of styles and genres, inspired by Spanish-style fiestas – parties that start late, and end later. It’s something they experienced first hand on their travels:
“It’s a different vibe overseas,” says ‘Jumps’ Hhadiwala, Cat Empire’s DJ.
“First of all it’s exciting to be somewhere else, especially Europe and especially Spain because you have dinner at 10pm then you start to go out at 12.30, 1am. It’s a completely different energy.”
The Cat Empire recorded their previous album, Two Shoes, in Cuba. So Many Nights, by comparison, was recorded in Melbourne yet retains that world-music feel.
They are currently out on a national tour to introduce fans to their new material. Can Australian crowds and venues live up to the European parties they’ve become accustomed to?
“Nothing really compares to Australia – I’m not just saying that!” Jumps promises.
“Australia’s been with us from the start – we’ve grown up playing in Australia, in Melbourne and around Australia and that’s where we’ve gelled as a band.
“Everyone’s really into it overseas but there’s a bit more of a passion and a bit more respect for the band in Australia because we’ve been around for a while. The vibe’s great in Europe but nothing compares to coming home and playing in your own country.”
Jumps says the constant touring and interaction with other musicians has influenced the sound of their new creations:
“It’s influenced it a bit in terms of just going through Europe numerous times and America and Canada and the UK, we’re constantly seeing other bands play and getting to hang out with all different people. The songs over there sometimes they’re a bit freer too because when you’re playing to a new crowd or a crowd who’s only seen you a couple of times you keep it quite jammy and that’s let us go back to our roots a fair bit – really jamming out into sections and really having fun with the songs.
On_So Many Nights_, the Cat Empire breaks new ground in at least two ways.
Added to the repertoire is the first song the band has written about a specific issue – global warming and sustainability.
Penned by Felix Riebl, No Longer There, the first single from So Many Nights, sounds vastly different from previous singles thanks in part to its lyrical and sonic poignancy.
“Felix has been quite passionate about sustainability and doing his part to tell everyone to be really aware of what’s going on,” explains Jumps.
“Everyone has the power to make changes to help their kids and their kids’ kids. That’s the message of No Longer There. It is an issue but it’s very simply put forward.”
The album also contains the first song the band has written together. All six members had a part to play in the creation of the slow funk finale, Won’t be Afraid.
“That groove, that’s something the rhythm section had been playing a fair few times over the past year, on and off at rehearsals and sound checks and stuff like that,” explains Jumps.
“Everyone just got really attached to it, and some lyrics came up for it and we tried it and it ended up working and everyone was really happy that it worked. You’re always messing around and jamming and it was good to create a song this time.”
So Many Nights isn’t the only new record from the band. As part of their current national tour they attempt to beat the current venue record of seven gigs over eight days at the Sydney Metro Theatre. They’re well on their way towards conquering it.
So Many Nights is out now, and if you’re quick you can catch the Cat Empire as they head around Australia throughout September and October.
