Isaac from Empathy Test answers some of Dom’s questions, reflecting on ten years as a band, the history, creativity and more…
Moritzbastei Leipzig
S] Hi Isaac, how are you today?
A little tired. I went to bed late and then my cats woke me up early. I should follow their lead, and take naps all day! However, I am still buzzing from last weekend’s shows in Prague and Leipzig. Prague was the first night of Empathy Test’s 2024, “10 Year Anniversary Tour”, and we set ourselves a huge challenge, performing for two hours for the first time ever, including five or so old tracks that the current live lineup of Empathy Test (myself on vocals plus Nadine Green on keboards and David Leisser on drums) as well as a new song.
S] How do you define success as an artist, has that definition changed?
I think being able to do what you love full-time is the first major rung on the ladder of success for an artist. I quit my day job back in 2018, and haven’t looked back, so I’m pretty happy with that. At the weekend, Empathy Test sold out a 500 capacity venue in Leipzig, Germany, and performed a two hour headline set with two encores. It was incredible. Two years ago, we sold out a 350 capacity venue in the same city, so it’s nice to see things grow, year on year.
S] What about legacy, now you are ten years plus in to the journey, do you consider that?
I think every artist wants to leave something enduring behind them. That’s the dream, to achieve immortality through your art. We have four different songs with over a million plays on Spotify and we have Wikipedia pages in German and Spanish. The English one keeps being deleted because apparently we aren’t relevant enough to have one. I wonder if someone with an editor account just has it in for us. It sounds silly, but I feel like a Wikipedia page is a modern barometer of your impact on culture.
S] How do you look at the ‘Losing Touch’ EP now?
The Losing Touch EP was our debut release but somehow Empathy Test, as a project, landed fully-formed. We’d taken our cues from the Drive movie and its synth-based soundtrack, but that had a very slick, American vibe to it. We put a lot of ourselves into everything we do and I guess we couldn’t help but sound English, we kind of misfired stylistically, but somehow released our best and most popular track first. To have a legend like Boy George still singing its praises a year or two after his first hearing it, is a big compliment
S] Similarly, the ‘Monsters’ record, and where you guys were as a band mentally, at that time?
The Monsters album was very much a record of its time, being released as it was, during the first of the pandemic lockdowns in the UK. It had a dark and claustrophobic feel to it, and songs about everything from anxiety (Monsters), to the negative effects of social media (Stop), the innate lonliness of the post modern world (Fear of Disappearance), toxic relationships (Doubts) and climate change (Holy Rivers). It’s like a disaster movie with a happy ending (Love Moves).
S] What is next for the band, after this epic run of European and UK shows?
After our successful first headline tour of North America last year, we’re thinking about doing some more North American shows, and we are always looking to break new ground, and perform in new territories. Currently, Empathy Test is not working on anything new as Adam is busy with other things. So I am working on some solo material which we are going to perform alongside the Empathy Test stuff at shows. The first Isaac Howlett single, House of Cards is slated for a digital release on 20th February. I’m hoping to release a few tracks over the course of the year.
S] Is there a message you have for your long-term supporters?
Yes, thank you all so much for all of your support over the past ten years, it’s been a hell of a ride and although there’s nothing new (musically) on the table, I’m not saying there won’t ever be. Adam and I just need to find ourselves back on the same page creatively. However, please come along and help us celebrate ten years on our anniversay tour, we are performing longer sets than ever before, and playing the more obscure songs that haven’t had a live outing in a while. The fact that it’s been ten years is also ramping up the feels and there were tears (from me) in Leipzig.
S] Is there anything else I’ve missed that you’d like to plug?
We’ll be touring all round Germany in March and the UK in April (dates on empathytest.com) and we’re currently in talks to do an “Empathy Fest” (see what we did there?) in Germany later in the year. And of course, keep an ear out for my (Isaac Howlett) debut solo single, House of Cards in February. You can follow me on Spotify here.
S] Thanks for your time, as always!
You’re welcome, thank you so much for taking the time to interview us, it’s always an honour and a pleasure.
Editor.
