Interview by Tamela J. Ritter

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Empires: DIY Band Gives It Away for Free

In 2007, two long time friends, Tom Conrad and Sean Van Vleet who were both looking for a change in their lives, reconnected.

"Sean and I went to high school together. We were both going through some changes at about the same time and decided to start over back home in Chicago," said Conrad.

They had no thought about starting a band, but when they reconnected with another friend, Ryan Luciani and then Max Steeger, who Conrad had known since Steeger was 12, it just all fell into place.

"We were friends long before we were band mates. We all have different perspectives musically, but there's a collective mindset that makes it all work," said Conrad.

With Conrad, 25, on guitar; Van Vleet, 26, as lead singer, Luciani, 23 on drums and Steeger, 21, on guitar the indie-alt band Empires started their musical career by producing and releasing their first album "Howl" themselves, and giving it away for free download on their website, http://www.weareempires.com/.

"It was more of an introduction. We just wanted the first thing they'll remember about us is that we gave them free stuff. Like, ‘Hey, I don't know you, you don't know us, but here, take this. If you like it, come back and say hi,'" said Conrad.

In the first year after the online release, the album has been downloaded more than 60,000 times. Conrad said another advantage of making the album available on the website and not charging is that it opened up the possibility of introducing them to people all over the world.

"It's been awesome to see people from other countries getting into the music."

Their second album, "Bang" was released on their website on March 9 of this year. Originally starting with 16 songs, they narrowed it down to a seven song download with a price tag of two dollars or four dollars for the deluxe version that came with an extra song and a few other extras.

"Our family, friends and fans said it's about time we start charging, but for us, whatever we make, goes right back into the band," said Conrad.

The extras on the deluxe also include a video recorded by their drummer Luciani who is their documentarian and photographs by Conrad who also acts as art designer for the band.

"Everyone's got their own contributions," said Conrad.

Guitarist Steeger also does all the recording while Van Vleet does the writing.

"Sean comes with the very bare bones of a song and the band fusses it out and gives it a skeleton and in the end is Max," said Conrad.

The band's Do It Yourself work ethic is yet another reason the band just works, Conrad said.

"It just gives more depth to the band. We're all equally invested."

He said he's a big believer of the more you do yourself the stronger you are and the more honest you remain.

"With us, what you see is what you get."

  Besides, Conrad said, the contributions they all make are the things they'd be doing in their spare time anyway.

"When I don't have my guitar, I have my camera, I'm taking pictures. When Sean isn't singing, he's got his pen, he's got his paper. He's writing all the time, lyrics, short stories, everything."

Not that they have a lot of time. Since the release of "Bang" they've been on the road pretty consistently. From teen centers in New Canaan, CT to music festivals like Verge and SXSW, they are few places they wouldn't play.

"We haven't been doing this long enough to be jaded yet. It's easier for a broke band, every time we go out there is a new thing to learn and we'll take what we can get," said Conrad.

They also haven't been playing long enough to get sick of any of their songs yet either, but, for Conrad, newer songs are always his favorite. So, his favorites right now are "Voodooized" and "Hello Lover" off of "Bang."

"Those were recorded last and anything fresh is more exciting."

He admits there are pros and cons of touring so much, that being gone for so long almost feels like a second life, but "none of that matters if you're doing what you like."

Besides, he goes on to say, his priorities have changed.

"When I was younger, touring was all about adventure. But now? Fuck adventure. It's all about hanging out with people I dig, doing the thing I love. We're pretty joined at the hip."

It was the experience Conrad gained when he was younger in the band The Academy Is... that he also contributes to why Empires works so well.

"That was actually a big thing, to know what you don't want. There's been nothing to regret. It's made this experience a little bit smoother, made us more comfortable in our own skin."

Followers of the band noticed earlier this year that the bassist that recorded with them, Alfred Smith, isn't the same that has been touring, or that there is no bassist.

"We're treating it like an open spot and inviting guest musicians. We don't want to twist any arms," said Conrad.

He understands this is one of the pitfalls of a band made up of long time friends.

"Al was great, but he was always just there, not really one of us."

Conrad describes their sound as more than a sound and more like an attitude.

"We're electric and loud and we're not a lot of bullshit. Basically we're a bunch of guys who like playing together and see how loud we can get."