Short Empire
Meet Caerphilly-born UK Open Mic performer Short Empire:
Hi Short Empire, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:
Do you play solo only, or also in a group?
Solo
How old are you?
47
Where were you born?
Caerphilly
Where did you grow up?
South Wales
How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)
From nothing comes something
Where are you based now, and why?
London, for creative purposes
What got you into making music in the first place?
Energy
What instrument/s do you play?
Singing, Guitar
Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?
Arthur Lee, Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Sam Cooke, Kool Keith, Gene Clark, Dion, Ennio Morricone, My Bloody Valentine, Prince. They all push pop, not poop.
Do you write your own songs?
Yes
How many years have you been writing songs for?
20+
What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?
Sometimes it hits you straight on the head, other times it comes to you when you strum the guitar
How long have you been playing open mic nights?
1
Why did you get into playing them in the first place?
Great place to try out new material
What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?
Just do it
What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?
Varying quality of the PA systems
What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?
One Wednesday night at The Prince of Wales Feathers was particularly memorable, with some serious effort going into a Tina Turner number. I’ll leave it at that.
If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?
No
What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?
I’m still alive
What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?
A feature film set in Mexico
Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEiL5dMnR76bGAJgBjt9pEg
Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?
Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?
www.instagram.com/shortempiremusic
What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?
We’re done! Anything else ou want to share before we go?
No thanks!