The Empty Threats: "We Have A Lot Of Power Now"

The Empty Threats are transforming.

Making music on Kaurna Land, the colourful and queer post-punk outfit are renowned for their stylistic flair, their commitment to authenticity, and their rousing stage hijinks. They have toured all across Europe, and they have shared the stage with Aussie legend Jimmy Barnes - the Empties’ resume is definitely not one to sneeze at.

But things are looking slightly different for the band. For one thing, they are bursting back onto the scene with an altered line-up. Venus - known also as the magnetic guitarist-vocalist of indie favourite Swapmeet - has amicably left the band amidst their recent move to Naarm/Melbourne. Consequently, two new members have joined The Empty Threats: Grace Mensforth and Alex Dearman. What was once a five-piece is now a six-piece.

Founding band-member Michael Bond says, “I’m really keen…Alex has so much experience, but is also really keen to be part of something that wants to do something.”

Front-person Stu Patterson adds, “We never thought we would become a six-piece.” But then Alex randomly joined The Empties’ last gig and Patterson though to themself, “Fuck, this is the best we’ve ever sounded.” They continue, “Alex is a really good guitarist but can’t sing. And then Grace is an extraordinary vocalist and a really good guitarist as well. So having two people that are really, really good at what they do - I feel like we’ve got the best of both worlds.”

The band debuted the line-up with a recent interstate tour.

“It was a big test, the last tour,” Patterson says. “I was like, alright, we'll chuck you in the deep end. We're gonna do a whole bunch of Australian shows. And you either come out of it being like, I love this, or like, oh shit. And thankfully, both of them loved it.”

Is it daunting to tour with a new set of band members?

“We got so used to the band dynamic with Venus. A very sacred dynamic. Having two new members, it’s scary to know what they’re going to be like. But thankfully they were very cool,” Patterson says.

Bond chimes in, “You learn everyone’s strengths and what they need when you’re on tour. Because it’s a really intense experience. There’s so much going on. I think they both took to it very well.”

Though the new line-up hints at an exciting new transitional period for The Empty Threats, the loss of Venus to Naarm is obviously felt very deeply.

“Venus was such an important part of the band for three years,” Patterson explains. “Before Venus joined, we hadn't really done much interstate stuff. So they joined and really concreted in what the Empties are now. Even just their hectic stage energy - Venus has such a good stage energy and we really feed off of each other. That presence…

Bond describes it: “Energetic. Enthusiastic.”

“This album that’s coming out, we all went to middle of nowhere in the Flinders Ranges for two weeks, and we all turned off our phones and lost our minds a bit, and wrote this album together. And I feel like that was a really special bonding experience. So there's a lot of stuff in this new album that Venus was a part of.”

How are they navigating this transitional time for the band?

Patterson admits, “It would be a lie if I was to say that it wasn't difficult. I think the end of last year was pretty difficult. Just because we’d come back from Europe and we were all broke. And it was kind of like, ah, shit, who do we get to replace Venus? So it was a bit of trial and error. But I'm really happy, and I think the rest of the band’s really happy, with Alex and Grace and the energy and the musicality that they're bringing to the band. I feel like we’re all stepping up to another level, which is really cool.

“It was pretty organic as well,” Bond says. “You know, I feel like we all mesh, as people and also as artists. And it's nice having some fresh perspectives as well, because we've been writing together for ages - me, Stu, Matt and Lenny. So having some new heads in the room really, really is refreshing as well, and really fun.”

And now, the band is ushering in this current era with a new single. ‘the one’ debuted on all streaming platforms on Wednesday, March 14th, and hints at an album soon to come.

“This album is a lot more insular and introspective than Monster Truck Mondays,” Patterson says. “At the time we were writing it, a few of us were going through some hectic emotional times. I do feel like it's the most cohesive body of work. And ‘the one’ kind of represents some of these struggles that we were all dealing with. At the time, I was just starting to go down my journey of getting diagnosed with autism, so a lot of this stuff is talking about the beginning of that. So it's nice looking at it a year later. I was very much struggling over that period, and I'm glad I can look at it now in a much more positive light.”

Bond adds, “I think the tension and the energy in the song really is reflective of how you were feeling at the time. You were so frustrated about not having answers as to why you don't integrate with the world, interface with the world, in the same way that neurotypical people do. So I think it's really reflective of pre-diagnosis - ”

Patterson laughs. “Pre-diagnosis Stu.”

“Pre-diagnosis Stu: very frustrated with the world not working for them.”

The upstarts will be rocking the house down at the Crown and Anchor on Friday, May 16th - The Empties’ last gig before the beloved venue closes its doors for two years. Tickets are still available for purchase here.

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Bond is feeling hopeful about this new era for The Empty Threats. “I feel like we have a lot of power now with six people, so working out how to harness that power to the best of our ability and direct it is exciting.”

And they’ve got a packed year coming up in which to learn how to harness that power. “We’re going over to New Zealand, and playing Dark Mofo in June. Dark Mofo in particular we’ve very excited about. And then back to Europe in October,” Patterson says.

It’s a big, daunting, exciting, transitional period for the band.

“I think we all just want to get new music out there. And do right by it.”

the one is out everywhere now.