Roll of the Dice: 8 questions with Empired

Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.

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After years of touring and writing separately, the members of Empired found one another last year have been on fire ever since. Following the recent release of the incredible Finding Calm In The Chaos, the band is picking up steam and winning over fans in short order. TGEFM was lucky enough to chat with the Empired dudes about their sound, their record and their future.

Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the amazing reception of Finding Calm in the Chaos.  What can you tell us about yourself and the record for readers just discovering you?

Bruce Zabel (guitar, vox)- “Thank you! We recorded the record in two sessions over the summer of 2023. We found that we all had something to say and found that we had instant chemistry writing together so all 10 songs plus an additional single for a split with a buddy band were pretty much all written in less than a month. 3 of the songs (Paradise, Arco and KGWe) were all written in one session alone.”

What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do”  Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?

Jai Hansel (bass,vox)- “Honestly “Call Me” by Blondie is what set off my musical journey. To this day I regularly listen to this band. Parallel Lines would be my desert island choice l, the song writing, instrumentation, lead vocals, and back-ups are perfect. Those melodic elements of post-punk, and pre new wave taking Rock n’ Roll to another level and never duplicated. I highly recommend this album. “

Cam Mosavian (guitar): “Ian MacKaye, aka Punk Rock Buddha. Fugazi and Minor Threat changed my life while also setting the bar for integrity and band ethics.  Also, the Weezer Blue Album haha.  The insert or the back cover had a black and white image of their jam space in a garage, and I remember looking at that picture and wanting to have that gear and space, even though I had no idea what the gear was or how to play an instrument.”

Bruce– ” Leper Messiah” by Metallica made me want to pick up a guitar and try to learn it. I started out on guitar in the metal/hardcore realm so I learned tunes from Metallica, Pantera, Bane, Alice in Chains and then I got into Phish and more jam band styles of songwriting/guitar playing.” 

This record featured Brenna Red of The Last Gang and Linh Le of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, then the record release stream was hosted by legendary writer/director Kevin Smith.  What did their experience bring to the band and music?  How important is collaboration in your personal process?

Bruce– “We were blown away that Brenna and Linh wanted to be a part of the album. They brought their power as vocalists but also some really incredible suggestions in regards to arrangement. It truly meant the world to us. With Kevin Smith, it was just amazing that he digs our music and wanted to be a part of the record release show. He gave us some amazing advice/compliments behind the scenes at the release and there may be some more cool collaborations coming in the future.”

We’ve all got a few, what is your biggest regret? A gig you turned down, advice you didn’t take, what one thing do you wish you handled differently as a musician?

Jai– “This may be cliche but I don’t have any specific regrets because life happens good and bad and we choose what we allow in our lives and how we operate. Up to a certain point we learn to respond and not to react, we realize what we want and don’t want. The greatest confusion is experiencing uncomfortable situations with band mates, not being on the same page, or just not vibing. With Empired we are the opposite of that. I’ve never worked with a group that embodies such creativity, support, care for each other, ambitious drive. This is my A team, all top dudes. We can count on each other without any hesitation or doubt.”

Cam: There have been multiple gigs and offers to join established bands that I’ve turned down, for one reason or another. Some of those offers I’ll reflect on and wonder what may have been, but ultimately at the time it wasn’t the right time or choice for me, and I stand by that decision. Every choice I’ve made until now has led me on the path to where I am today in Empired, and I’m more than content with that.

Bruce– “Not meeting and starting this band sooner is probably the biggest one.We’ve all been in and around this scene for decades and have done some projects we are incredibly proud of. Empired for us just hits different.”

What have been some of the most memorable moments or experiences as a professional, touring musician so far? What’s been the most unexpected? The weirdest?

Jai-: “So many experiences on the road, in previous bands I’ve had guns pulled out at shows a few times. Vehicles breaking down, equipment getting stolen, unmentionable things. Maybe I’m too desensitized but I can’t think of anything that seems too weird.”

Cam: “Touring with Richie Ramone and opening for Bad Religion are two of my most memorable experiences, probably also the most unexpected and weirdest as well!”

Bruce– “There have been more than a few but the one that sticks out to me is almost getting into a fist fight with a promoter at a show in Worcester because he wanted to short us our pay. He ended up paying what we were owed tho, so that was nice. I got asked to play guitar for Rick Barton on a six week North American tour but wasn’t able to do it, that’s a big regret for not taking that on.”

One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should?

Jai- “ I’d definitely say our buddies The Heartwells, a band from Orange County called Bloodstains, Spark of Life, Upper Downer is a great band. Also check out our homies/ well known bands Bad Cop Bad Cop and The Last Gang.“

Bruce– “Oh this is easy! Heartwells are our boys and they are about to release their debut LP so you need to keep track of them. Same goes for Matt Caskitt and the Breaks as well as Toxins and Raptors. So good and you should absolutely check them out.”

Now that the world has its hands on the record,  what’s next for Empired?

Bruce– “Tour. Tour. Tour. We want to play everywhere on earth. We love the road and honestly feel that there is no better way to get new fans/spread the word about your band then touring. So we are building our own tours since we are still independent. Even tho we all have been in several different projects we feel this is truly our second chance thus the skull design on the front of our record. That skull is the “saint of second chances” for a reason.

What do you wish I asked about or that you had more of an opportunity to speak about during this interview?

Jai– “Haha, there is a lot I could talk about but I would like to say being a part of Empired has allowed me to just be me and without judgment. It has provided me the space to unload and blast my endless creativity to the band and the world in such a positive way. I think the Empired experience can be projected and nurtured all throughout my life, and we like to bring that same energy to everything we do and everywhere we go. There’s a lot of fucked up things going on in the world right now, there is a lot of struggle and Empired isn’t specifically a band that sings about politics or necessarily have a political agenda but like they say “the political is the personal” and actions speak louder than words and personally we all try to make  conscious decisions and an effort to be the best humans we can be in the moment. We put that in our music recorded and live. I don’t want to live in a society of robots and nazis, We have a long hard road to go, and I think we can be more kind, understanding, respectful, and provide the space for people to be individuals, and a space to accept and love ourselves and allow others to love us. Let’s bring that party! We are all Empired!