Whether reincarnated from the most ostentatious ancient civilizations, or time-traveled back from a glittery space colony, Empire of the Sun are arguably one of the most entertaining bands to ever watch live. Adorned with a golden headpiece fit for a Mayan deity, frontman Luke Steele looks ready for idol worship as he and other half Nick Littlemore regaled his followers at the band's Yahoo! On the Road performance at the House of Blues in Dallas last Monday.
But who is ultimately responsible for adorning Empire of the Sun with their elaborate metals, foils, furs, and feathers? Sydney-based costume designer Andrea Cainero has been bringing the merry band of immortals to dazzling, corporeal life since 2008.
[ Related: Empire of the Sun and Gold Fields: An Outstanding Dallas Double-Header ]
From the road, the fashion design-educated Cainero told us, "I previously worked with Josh Logue who has directed most of the Empire videos. He mentioned he was looking for someone to make costumes for their second clip "We are the People" that was going to be filmed in Mexico. I loved the band's first single "Walking on a Dream" and after seeing the video for that track, I knew I had to be a part of the second one. The budget was pretty tight on the clips at that point, so I paid for my own airfare to Mexico and have been working with the band ever since."
For Cainero's first gig with the band, she researched Mayan and Aztec history for the band's ensembles, sourcing materials from Monterrey, Mexico. The resulting mash-up of old world and space age that Cainero calls the "Cultural Future" became the band's signature look that is unlike any other group.
Steele and Littlemore have a definite say when
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