The Cat EmpireThe Cat Empire continue to reward new and existing fans. From humble beginnings to regular world tours, the genre-bending jazz/pop/plus group continue to be committed to putting on a great live show.
"In the early days we spent a lot of time in the Speigeltent and that environment really rubbed off on us."
"We've been doing this for a while but once we get out on stage and start playing everything seems to fall into place, you know? I'd be lying if I said we don't get frustrated with certain processes with traveling and all that, but in the end we've got such an incredible fanbase and we're really conscious of keeping them happy with setlists and keeping them dancing, and you know, still playing well and putting on a show, what people expect from us," explains Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwala, the band's DJ.
Talking before a quick trip to Europe to "finish our world tour" (as you do), Khadiwala is also excited about coming back for a long overdue run of Australian summer shows. "In the early days it used to be every Australian summer we'd hit the road and go north, you know what I mean?" he says. However, with the shift away from the big summer festival circuit towards new live models, the Cat's schedule has changed too. "Yeah, I think all those big festivals still have their place, but at the moment there seems to be a focus on these smaller festivals and shows that create like an environment as well, you know? We played at this festival in England called BoomTown that had these humongous sets, and I think that's what Pleasure Garden and other things are looking to do now too."
The Cat Empire will also take the tour van in the New Year with Xavier Rudd. Covering Hobart, Ballarat, Byron Bay, Queensland and Adelaide, it'll be something of an unusual, but really fun circuit. "Yeah, we've just announced that run with Xavier Rudd, Harts, Ocean Alley and Sahara Beck, it'll be fun," Khadiwala confirms. As well as rewarding long-term fans of both the Australian outfits, the tour will serve to keep the musicians hungry, too. "Audiences have got a lot of options these days too to see music too, so I guess in terms of what we deliver, the music is still there but you've got to think about how you keep the fans within touching distance I guess."
Harping back to memories of playing in unusual venues back in the day (and comparing them to the newer trend of playing off the beaten track), Khadiwala explains how the band has continued to grow and feed of the live circuit. "Yeah, we've always had a connection to theatrics, and I guess in the early days we spent a lot of time in the Speigeltent and that environment really rubbed off on us. But in the end it's about really having a good time with the music and if you're in a beautiful environment it makes the music just that bit better."
