1. De ce “The Cat Empire” si nu “The Dog Empire” sau “The Lion Empire”. Care este povestea din spatele numelui trupei?

Felix Riebl: Povestea din spatele numelui trupei este una simpla, fiind un trio la inceput, dupa o repetie, am observat desenul fratelui meu in varsta de opt ani de pe frigider care se numea “the cat empire” (imperiul pisicii). Mai mult decat numele trupei, logo-ul este cel care spune multe despre muzica noastra. Ochiul pisicii si coroana sunt pentru mine o atmosfera, una misterioasa si a ajuns sa reprezinte spectacolul live – toti acei oameni care se aduna de pe tot globul.

2. Acum aveti foarte multi fani de pe tot globul. V-ati asteptat sa atingeti un asa succes?

Felix Riebl: Nu! A fost o surpriza totala.

3. Stiu ca primul album de studio a fost lansat in 2003 iar trupa a inceput sa cante in 1999. De ce a fost lansat albumul asa de tarziu?

Felix Riebl: Trupa era un trio instrumental in decembrie 1999 si abia in 2000-2001 am inceput sa ne dezvoltam cu adevarat. Ne-a luat trei ani sa gasim toti membrii, sa scriem destule cantece si sa ne dezvoltam sunetul nostru live inainte de a incepe sa inregistram. Unele trupe inregistreaza si astfel obtin o audienta mai mare, noi in schimb ne-am dezvoltat ca o trupa live inainte de a inregistra.

4. Trupa imbina foarte multe stiluri de muzica. E greu sa amesteci atatea stiluri iar rezultatul final sa fie unul bun? Care este reteta secreta?

Felix Riebl: Trebuie sa fie interesant din punct de vedere ritmic. Cantecul trebuie sa primeze, astfel refrenul este esential. Cred ca intentia este la fel de importanta. Nu am inceput niciodata o melodie spunand ca trebuie sa fie diversa sau diferita de ultima. Cred ca cele mai bune melodii apar aproape accidental, asa ca rezultatul final este o surpriza.

5. In acest an The Cat Empire va canta pentru prima data in Romania*. Intai in Timisoara si apoi in Bucuresti. Stiti ceva despre Romania?

Felix Riebl: Am cantat in Timisoara si am aflat cate ceva despre revolutia care a inceput acolo. Am trecut de asemenea pe langa statui din bronz si mi s-a spus ca sunt ale unor compozitori romani. Dar sa fiu sincer, stiu foarte putine despre Romania si cultura ei. Abia astept sa vizitez Bucurestiul si sa ma intalnesc cu niste rezidenti. Din perspectiva trupei am aflat de curand ca piesa “The Lost Song” este foarte populara in Romania si ca exista o zona de litoral care pune piesa in fiecare dimineata… Asta a fost ca un vis.

6. Care este mesajul trupei The Cat Empire pentru toti fanii romani?

Felix Riebl: Va multumesc ca ati asteptat atat de mult! Bucuresti este locul urmatorului show… Suntem foarte incantati!

*Intrebarile au fost trimise trupei inainte de concertul din Timisoara (11 iulie)

Cititi interviul integral in limba engleza



1. Why “The Cat Empire” and not “The Dog Empire” or “The Lion Empire”. What’s the story behind the band’s name?

The story behind the band’s name is simple, we were a trio at first, and after one of our first rehearsals, we noticed a picture my 8 year old brother had done on the fridge, which was titled ‘the cat empire’. More than the name though, the logo is really the thing that evokes something about the music. The cat’s eye and crown is about an atmosphere for me, it’s mysterious, and has come to represent the live show – all those people coming together around the globe.

2. Now you have a lots of fans all over the world. Did you expected to reach such an enormous success?

No! It came as a real surprise.



3. I know that the first studio album was released in 2003 and the band started to sing in 1999. Why the album was released so late?

The band was an instrumental trio in Dec 1999, so really it only just began to emerge in 2000/1. It took us 3 years to find all the members, write enough songs, and develop our sound playing live before we were ready to record. Some bands do a recording and get an audience that way, we were established as a live band before we did a recording.

4. The band combine so many styles of music. It’s hard to blend different sounds and the final product to be something very good? What’s the secret recipe?



It has to be interesting rhythmically. And the song has to come first, so the chorus is key. I think the intent is important as well, we never start a song saying it’s got to be diverse, or different from the last. I find the best songs happen almost like accidents, so the result is a surprise.



5.This year “The Cat Empire” will be performing for the first time in Romania. First in Timisoara and then in Bucharest. Do you know something about Romania?

I have played in Timisoara, and was told a bit about the revolution starting there. I also walked past some bronze statues, and was reminded of some Romanian composers. But to be honest, I know very little about the country and the culture. I’m looking forward to exploring Bucharest a bit, and meeting some locals. From a band persective, we soon found out that ‘the lost song’ is popular here, I was told there was a beach community that often plays it in the mornings… That was a trip.

6. What is the message of Cat Empire for all romanian fans?

Thanks for waiting so long! Bucharest is our next show… We’re very excited!