Exclusive: Reunited Empire Of The Sun Single By Year’s End

Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore are working together again on a new Empire Of The Sun record in New York and theMusic.com.au can reveal that they have submitted initial demos to their label, EMI.

The label hopes to release a single by the end of the year and what will be the band's second album next year, but they admit it's dangerously close to being too long between drinks.

After creating their debut album Walking On A Dream (released late 2008) together, Littlemore (from Pnau) was notably absent in the touring and live performances by the group, which Steele (The Sleepy Jackson) undertook on his own.

It prompted rumours of a split between the two and doubts over whether they had the desire to follow up the album with a second, or whether Steele would look to involve other collaborators in Littlemore's stead.

Speaking to theMusic.com.au today in Sydney, Bart Cools, EMI Music's Executive Vice President for marketing in Europe and the Rest of the World, said that the release is one of particular interest for the label on a global level, given that they expect it to have traction around the world, especially in Europe.

Cools, who lives in Amsterdam and works in London, admitted that it was 'promising' to have them in the same room together and working on new material.

 "Yeah. I mean, I've never even met Nick," he admitted. "That's OK. I've seen Luke live a few times and obviously he's more connected to what's happening here at EMI and it's easier. I just hope that out of that combination with the two of them comes another amazing people of work."

He said that having the first single done by the end of the year is "the plan".

"But then again it's up to them - it needs to be right. It's not a race. But at the same time, it's been four years since the last album - that's dangerous. When you let that go to five years regardless of how good or exciting the album is, it's going to be a hard slog to get it back to people. Music moves on a bit, so before you know it you've missed your momentum."

He added, "I can get that when you're in the studio working on your art, it [timing] is not something you've got in your head in all the time. It's my job, and the job here of the guys, to keep that in mind. There's no point in coming up with a masterpiece that nobody's interested in."

The full interview with Bart Cools, which covers EMI's new dance network, reaction to their purchase by Universal and Sony and Alison Wonderland's new demos, will be published soon on theMusic.com.au.

CORRECTION: Their debut album was titledWalking On A Dream, as pointed out in the comments below.