Biography
Around the dawn of the 2000s, Australian singer and songwriter Luke Steele first surfaced as frontman of Perth-based indie rock outfit the Sleepy Jackson. Critically lauded in the mid-2000s for their offbeat yet hook-driven approach, the group paved the way for Steele’s next endeavor—an ambitious electro-pop partnership called Empire of the Sun, forged with Nick Littlemore. The duo’s sweeping blend of cosmic glam and buoyant pop propelled their 2008 debut, Walking on a Dream, to multi-platinum status in Australia and beyond. Steele’s soaring tenor, inventive compositions, and flamboyant performance attire formed the core of the act’s singular allure, a persona he further cultivated across subsequent releases, notably 2016’s Two Vines. In 2022 he launched his solo chapter with Listen to the Water, fusing introspective acoustic writing and radiant, ethereal synthesizer layers.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Steele relocated with his family to Perth in Western Australia during childhood, the city where he came of age and launched his musical path. His father, a blues guitarist, nurtured a deep musical affinity among Luke and his siblings, each of whom eventually participated in the local scene. Sister Katy Steele later fronted Little Birdy, while Luke assembled the Sleepy Jackson alongside brother Jesse, who handled drums; another sibling, Jake, contributed to a subsequent lineup. Their 2003 debut album, Lovers, achieved only modest sales yet drew extensive praise and secured four ARIA Music Award nominations. The 2006 successor, Personality – One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird, climbed a bit higher commercially and displayed tighter focus, its textures echoing George Harrison’s semi-orchestral, spiritually tinged solo work.
By 2007 Steele had already turned toward fresh territory. Teaming with longtime friend and Pnau frontman Nick Littlemore, Empire of the Sun arrived in 2008 and swiftly attained widespread commercial triumph both domestically and internationally. Anchored by its buoyant title track, Walking on a Dream earned multi-platinum certification at home and drew parallels to similarly adventurous duos such as MGMT and Daft Punk. Steele projected an enigmatic presence in ornate costumes evoking Sun Ra alongside 1980s science-fiction imagery—a visual signature that carried into 2013’s Ice on the Dune. Matching the cinematic scope of its predecessor, the album peaked at number three on Australia’s pop charts while registering strongly abroad.
After Two Vines in 2016, Steele sought a new direction. Stripping away the expansive, conceptual scale of Empire of the Sun and the dramatic rock of the Sleepy Jackson, he tracked his debut solo album. Issued in 2022, Listen to the Water presented a more intimate, reflective aesthetic grounded in acoustic guitar yet enriched with dense synths and the idiosyncratic touches long associated with his work.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Steele relocated with his family to Perth in Western Australia during childhood, the city where he came of age and launched his musical path. His father, a blues guitarist, nurtured a deep musical affinity among Luke and his siblings, each of whom eventually participated in the local scene. Sister Katy Steele later fronted Little Birdy, while Luke assembled the Sleepy Jackson alongside brother Jesse, who handled drums; another sibling, Jake, contributed to a subsequent lineup. Their 2003 debut album, Lovers, achieved only modest sales yet drew extensive praise and secured four ARIA Music Award nominations. The 2006 successor, Personality – One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird, climbed a bit higher commercially and displayed tighter focus, its textures echoing George Harrison’s semi-orchestral, spiritually tinged solo work.
By 2007 Steele had already turned toward fresh territory. Teaming with longtime friend and Pnau frontman Nick Littlemore, Empire of the Sun arrived in 2008 and swiftly attained widespread commercial triumph both domestically and internationally. Anchored by its buoyant title track, Walking on a Dream earned multi-platinum certification at home and drew parallels to similarly adventurous duos such as MGMT and Daft Punk. Steele projected an enigmatic presence in ornate costumes evoking Sun Ra alongside 1980s science-fiction imagery—a visual signature that carried into 2013’s Ice on the Dune. Matching the cinematic scope of its predecessor, the album peaked at number three on Australia’s pop charts while registering strongly abroad.
After Two Vines in 2016, Steele sought a new direction. Stripping away the expansive, conceptual scale of Empire of the Sun and the dramatic rock of the Sleepy Jackson, he tracked his debut solo album. Issued in 2022, Listen to the Water presented a more intimate, reflective aesthetic grounded in acoustic guitar yet enriched with dense synths and the idiosyncratic touches long associated with his work.
Albums
Singles
