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21st June 2010 by Julia Hosking

As New Empire were touring the country on their The Summer Sky tour earlier this year, Julia Hosking managed to have a quick chat with guitarist Pete Gillies

New Empire may be rocking around the country, playing alongside major bands, dressing up for photo shoots and being interviewed for TV and radio, but not that long ago, they were just four teenage boys jamming on their instruments and having a bit of fun.

With this in mind, guitarist for New Empire – Pete Gillies – opens up and shares with today's Salvo youth some of the lessons he learnt as a teen.

"I think it's really important that we don't compromise on what we believe, that we stay strong on our personality and that we look to encourage people around us," he says.

"I think it's really easy, especially in circles in school and stuff like that to exclude people – most of the time for no reason at all – and even if it is for a reason, like, why bother ripping into people?

"... It's also so important to stand up as a hero in your community. It's important to stand up for what's right. It's important to look out for the needs of others that are close to you. These are all pretty standard things that everyone understands, but everyone's just got to take hold of it."

Having fun, really?

Pete is also passionate about warning young people of the dangers associated with drugs and alcohol. He recognises that the "fun" teenagers have when under the influence is merely perceived fun – it's not real. 

If instead, he says, you take the time that you spend drinking and having "fun" to work on your relationships, your real friends, on ways to improve yourself and enjoying practical activities where you can be having fun, then you're way better off.

"[God's] just out for us to experience life in the way that he's given it to us," shares Pete. "Not to experience it altered. Not to experience fake highs and fake lows, but to actually experience them for real."

Life-changing music

A lot of the lyrics in New Empire's songs contain messages that are similarly life affirming. This is because all four of the guys in New Empire (Pete Gillies – guitar, Jeremy Fowler – lead singer/guitar, Kale Kneale – drums, Sam Walker – bass guitar) are committed Christians; and while New Empire is not a Christian band, God definitely influences their music.

The boys have seen evidence of this in practice, as Pete explains.

"[We hear] some reports about people thinking about giving up life, and giving up hope, and then for some reason through our music and through what God does through what we do, they get a second wind for life.

"We're super-stoked to be part of a life-giving thing and a life-changing thing, and that's what we're all about. It's not about us, and we've always kind of been on that mindset where if it ever becomes about us, then we're losing perspective."

New Empire trivia

• Kale's highlight moments as part of the band are supporting Relient K at Youth Alive 2009, and realising that Underoath were watching their set at Parachute Festival in New Zealand 2010.
• Sam Walker's favourite Scripture verse is Matthew 6:25-27.
• Pete runs a music school in south Sydney called Freedom Music.
• Prior to committing to New Empire full-time, Pete was a high school teacher, Jeremy worked in the fire division for the National Parks and Wildlife Association, Sam was a Telstra technician, and Kale was studying primary school teaching.
• New Empire used to be known as Freedom One. Then they discovered that there was already a band by the same name, so they had to find a new moniker. Check it out on iTunes; they're a lovely couple of folk singers!
• New Empire had their song, Hero from their debut album, Come with me Tonight, chosen as the anthem for the Australian Navy in 2008 out of almost 200 other songs.
• Jeremy is the lead songwriter for the band, and when he's written a song, he records it on his phone and emails it to the guys to learn before rehearsal.

Quote them

• "Can't wait to be 60 and do a come back tour with all my grey hair ..." – Pete Gillies on the big picture dreams for New Empire
• "It's amazing what a small encouragement or even a smile can do for someone ... If we are the light of the world, I think our lights are meant to stay on!" – Jeremy Fowler
• "Interesting fact. I was in the World Trade Centres a week before 9/11." – Kale Kneale's claim to fame (thankfully, he's now part of New Empire)
• "It's always good to remember that when you face God he doesn't remember what you wore or had in your life, but what you did with it." – Sam Walker

Find out more about New Empire!

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1. 

   CaitEmpire

   June 22, 2010 at 8:17pm

   These guys never cease to amaze me. Their faith has helped to keep me strong in my faith. Thankyou Boys :)

   Reply
2. 

   Tally

   April 28, 2011 at 2:02pm

   I LOVE NEW EMPIRE THEY ARE AMAZING

   Reply