New Orleans has been the hub of some of the greatest music in American history. From it’s days as the hub of jazz in the twentieth century to bounce hip-hop to it’s continuing post-Katrina revival as shown in the HBO show, Treme, different sounds have come to represent the soundtrack of this great city. Empress Hotel is another band to add its name to the growing list of bands that are helping revive the New Orleans scene. The six-piece pop ensemble’s sound is inspired by both one hit wonders of the ’70s and legends such as Prince, Sparks, and Roxy Music. The band has a unique slant on their own pop songs though, with stream of consciousness lyrics, dynamic vocal melodies and layered harmonies. Their sound salutes the glory days of rock n roll and truly lives on stage. Recently, Bestnewbands.com chatted with Micah McKee about the band’s latest self-titled EP, where their band name came from and how their sound is representative of their hometown.

Daniel Kohn: What makes this EP so unique? How does it capture your sound in the manner you wanted?

Micah McKee: This EP, like the entire project Empress Hotel is completely unorthodox. We always had a plan but it has manifested itself in unexpected ways. The songs on the EP have a strange, fun feel–largely because we intentionally put ourselves out of our element, trying things that we never had the guts or desire to ever try. We only wanted it to sound unique in comparison to our own experiences in the first place, so it sounds genuine.

DK: What was the writing process like for the EP? Who does most of the writing?

MM: The writing process usually involves Ryan and I in a bedroom, and most of it can be attributed to cigarettes, coffee, donuts, microphones, synthesizers, a computer, a guitar, and a notepad. We need to buy more pens though. We run out of pens.

 

DK: Being from New Orleans, in your own words, how does this record express the sound and emotions of the region, or does it not?

MM: The Rogers Brothers and I grew up here. This is our home, and to us there is a sense of heartfelt finality to that idea. So no matter what we do, we’ll reflect our roots in little ways forever. If you listen close enough you can hear it, i think. Some of the tunes are about how amazing the nightlife and community is in our town, y’ know, getting fucked up and inventing something. That sort of thing is always nice. New Orleans is a playful city with a lot of nuance and depth, and I hope that comes across on record.

 

DK: Where does the name Empress Hotel come from?

MM: The Empress Hotel is an actual hotel in New Orleans. Sounds pretty, doesn’t it?  None of us have ever stayed there… I don’t know anyone who has stayed there.  But according to the hotel’s customer reviews, its pretty lousy and grimy.  Plus the Rogers brothers’ previous band was called Antenna Inn.  So this project kinda started as a rebuttal to that band.

 

DK: Do you think your sound does justice to some of your eclectic influences such as Prince and Roxy Music?

MM: I don’t think we’ll ever do justice to Prince. Come on! The same goes for anyone I suppose. We have our influences, and when we wear them on our sleeve it’s supposed to be genuine and mean something. I think we could be as great as Roxy Music someday, though. Yeah.

 

DK: What are the band’s goals for 2011?

MM: Well we’re touring on the EP, recording a full-length in April with T.J. Lipple, releasing it before the end of the year, touring on that, selling records, making money, buying cool gear for your enjoyment. I’m also excited about SXSW this year, Park the Van’s set up some great acts for sure. Also, we’d like to broadcast a live performance from the International Space Station. But it’s gonna take some funding, so we gladly welcome the public’s support!

 

Expect to hear big things from New Orleans’ latest pop outfit in 2011.