Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Empires To Ruins
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Paul – For me, I got a little drum kit as a kid for Christmas and remember playing we will Rock you. Drums is the only instrument I’ve had lessons in and it’s the one I really can’t play!
Glenn – Probably my Dad playing The Beatles around the house. I remember listening to the White Album when I was about 5 or 6 and proclaiming that “Piggies” was the best song ever.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Honestly it was mostly about friendship. We all got together in Kyle’s parents garage and tortured the neighbours for years. We all enjoyed a good party and playing gigs tied in with this nicely. Over the years, it’s evolved considerably to encompass more deep meaning.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Really it started as a coping mechanism to stay sane during the COVID-19 lockdowns, but we’ve continued with it. We like to explore dystopian themes and topical matters, so in a world where everything seems to be getting censored, we find we can speak more freely through our music.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
It’s heavily inspired by the nostalgia of the
music we grew up listening to in the 2000s. We blend elements of Alternative Rock, Post-Hardcore, Punk and Grunge to deliver a distinctively aggressive, but nuanced sound.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Paul – That governments do not work for the best interests of the people.
Glenn – That you don’t have to complicate things for the sake of doing so, sometimes keeping it simple can work.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
We’re essentially a remote band, with one member based in South Wales and two on the North Coast of Ireland. So GarageBand, as basic and simple as it is, has been absolutely necessary in our creative process. It’s our preferred software to lay down demos which can be sent between one another and tweaked accordingly.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
We recently gigged with a band called Ragewolf in Belfast and their live show blew us away.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Paul – Very much so, the content of our lyrics really reflects our personal views which are shaped by our personal experiences.
Glenn – I wouldn’t say my personal experiences as such, but like Paul, my personal views on topical matters has had a huge influence on my writing.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
We would love our music to open some people’s eyes to what we feel is going on around them. If it encouraged them to simply question official narratives and form their own opinions, free from mainstream media, then we would feel we have achieved something.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Paul – If in doubt play Love Machine by Girls Aloud.
Glenn – No matter how much effort you put into your music, someone somewhere is always going to demand that you “play Wonderwall”.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Probably Download.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Paul – Rise Against, I think their music, lyrics and resistance themed messages really resonate with me.
Glenn – There’s a well known phrase “don’t meet your heroes” and it’s always given me a bit of anxiety when presented this question. If only to get a better understanding of how his mind worked, I’ll say Kurt Cobain.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music?(Website,Spotify, IG, links)
https://linktr.ee/empirestoruins will give you access to everything we’ve got to offer.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
We just want to continue to build on 2025, play more gigs in more places with more bands and record a few more tracks and meet more new people along the way.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Ultimately, we hope you’ll see the heart of three lifelong mates from the north coast of Ireland who’ve been chasing this passion the genuine buzz of creating something dynamic, nuanced, and aggressive together. That friendship, that drive to blend nostalgia with fresh fire..
