Twenty two years ago, while MP3 sharing disrupted and disconcerted the global music industry, The Cat Empire released the most fun and uplifting debut self-titled album.
The record brought a new musical idiom into Australia's radio waves and live music scene.
Hailed as a visionary band capable of versatile and vibrant compositions juxtaposed with skilful playing, where each band member brought a different world influence; it added their own authentic cultural heritage either by the instrument they played or by singing in their own language.
It was groundbreaking at the time and two-plus decades years later, their multicultural approach to songwriting keeps attracting a broad cultural mosaic of music fans.
When it comes to their songwriting, the band never shies away from their unique and cheeky sense of humour, which is evident on their debut single 'Hello' – written when they were just teenagers and propelling them into the upper ranks of the Australian music industry.
Earlier this year, the trailblazing Melbourne outfit released their tenth studio album 'Bird Of Paradise', which once again is a reinvention of their sonic vocabulary.
The record flirts with flamenco-influenced compositions, taking listeners on a Spanish magic carpet ride that translates to their live shows. "The main emphasis of this album for us was to write songs that felt musically natural and free flowing," band leader and co-founder of The Cat Empire, Felix Riebl says.
"We performed these songs live in the studio, so when we play the songs live, it feels really great and when these new songs are put next to the classic songs, they fit really well in the set list."
When you listen to 'Bird Of Paradise', it's impossible to miss influences such as the palmas (handclapping) and Spanish guitar played in a traditional flamenco style that embellishes many of the new songs, and their uncanny ability to write bombastic tunes that sit perfectly alongside songs with emotional sophistication and ethereal moods.
"The origins of 'Bird Of Paradise' came from songs 'Owl' and 'Rock 'n' Roll' from our previous album (2023's) 'Where The Angels Fall', and they became powerful songs for us to perform live. Then I realised that we had written a bunch of songs in that style, so why not make an album that has a flamenco flavour.
"We thought instead of doing the normal Cat Empire approach to have a world between one song and another stylistically, we should finish the album in the way we started it where the songs stylistically sit in the same sonic world."
Another metaphor for this album could be – the room you entered is the same room you must stay in and leave by, a sonic room fans will wish to stay in for quite some time.
Already playing shows in North America this year, the band turn their attention to their Australian tour that kicks off this weekend in Western Australia.
They'll be accompanied by special guest, flamenco guitarist Richard Tedesco, an old musical companion of The Cat Empire adding his magical finger-style playing technique as well as flamenco dancers. Fans can also expect the usual dose of Afro Cuban music to ooze into this rich tapestry of fresh new music.
With this many musicians and guest artists joining the upcoming Cat Empire shows, the tour promises to deliver energetic performances, giving audiences a genuine musical human exchange.
This celebratory party atmosphere has been a consistent trait for the band throughout the years, be it at music festivals such as the Bluesfest or the three magnificent shows they performed last year at Sydney Opera House backed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Children's Choir.
Presently, the band is going through a special time musically and the future is certainly going to be creatively exciting for this sonically curious and diverse collective.
They head to Europe after wrapping up this national tour and will continue to write new music as well as playing with overseas orchestra's while dipping their musical toes in new waters and having complete artistic freedom to make whatever music they like.
The Cat Empire's unique ability to adapt with subsequent albums and tours, allows them to one night play with a symphony orchestra at a grand hall, the next at a muddy rock festival with a few jazz clubs in between.
There's truly something for everyone at a Cat Empire concert; it will make diehard Aussie rock fans want to dance salsa, and jazz purists feel like they can jump out of their seats and sing-along unashamedly.
The Cat Empire 2025 Tour Dates
Sat 9 Aug - Freo.Social (Fremantle)Sun 10 Aug - Freo.Social (Fremantle)* sold out
Fri 15 Aug - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 16 Aug - Bar On The Hill (Newcastle)
Sat 23 Aug - Mundi Mundi Bash (Broken Hill)
Thu 28 Aug - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Fri 29 Aug - The Tivoli (Brisbane)* sold out
Sat 30 August - The Tivoli (Brisbane)* new show
Sun 31 Aug - Munro Martin Parklands (Cairns)
Thu 4 Sep - Odeon Theatre (Hobart)
Fri 5 Sep - Civic Hall (Ballarat)
Sat 6 Sep - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)
Sun 7 Sep - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)* sold out
