Honestly, it felt like they were never coming back. For eight years, Empire of the Sun was basically a ghost. We had Luke Steele doing his solo thing with Listen to the Water and Nick Littlemore deep in the weeds with PNAU, but the "Emperor" and the "Prophet" seemed to have left the building for good. Then, out of nowhere, we got Empire of the Sun - Cherry Blossom. It wasn't just a single; it was a relief.
It’s rare for a band to disappear for nearly a decade and return without sounding like a parody of themselves. Most synth-pop acts from the 2010s either leaned too hard into TikTok bait or got weirdly experimental and lost the plot. Not these guys. When they dropped "Cherry Blossom" as the lead-off for their 2024 album Ask That God, it felt like they just picked up a conversation they started back in 2008 with Walking on a Dream.
The track is surreal. It’s shimmering. It’s basically a three-and-a-half-minute dopamine hit that manages to stay grounded in actual emotion.
The Sound of a Rebirth
If you've listened to "Walking on a Dream" or "Alive" about a thousand times like I have, you know that specific Empire frequency. It’s that high-gloss, side-chained compression that makes everything feel like it's underwater but also in space? Empire of the Sun - Cherry Blossom nails that specific vibe while adding a layer of maturity that honestly surprised me.
Luke Steele’s vocals have always been an acquired taste for some, but here, he’s dialed back the theatricality just enough to let the melody breathe. It’s catchy. Stupidly catchy. The chorus doesn't scream at you; it sort of washes over you.
Musically, the song is built on a foundation of pulsating synths and a driving bassline that feels very much like a nod to the "French Touch" era of Daft Punk or Phoenix. But it’s the lyrics that carry the weight. It’s a song about fleeting beauty. Cherry blossoms, by nature, only bloom for a tiny window of time. They’re gorgeous and then they’re gone. Using that as a metaphor for a comeback after an eight-year hiatus? Pretty smart.
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I think people forget how much work goes into making something sound this effortless. Nick Littlemore is a literal genius when it comes to layering sounds. If you listen with good headphones, you can hear these tiny, granular textures—little chirps and digital echoes—that fill the stereo field. It’s dense. It’s expensive-sounding.
Why Cherry Blossom Matters Right Now
The music industry in 2026 is obsessed with "vibes" and 15-second clips. Most songs are written by committee to satisfy an algorithm. Empire of the Sun - Cherry Blossom feels like it was written by humans. Weird humans in headdresses, sure, but humans nonetheless.
There was a lot of pressure on this release. When Ask That God was announced, fans were skeptical. Could they really capture that 2000s indie-dance magic again? Or was it going to be a "how do you do, fellow kids" moment?
The reason "Cherry Blossom" works is that it doesn't try to be modern. It just tries to be good. It embraces the maximalism that made the band famous in the first place. Big drums. Big hooks. Zero apologies.
Breaking Down the Aesthetic
You can't talk about Empire of the Sun without talking about the visuals. The music video for "Cherry Blossom" is a fever dream. Filmed in Thailand, it features the duo in their signature regal, post-apocalyptic attire. It’s high art meets sci-fi.
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- The costumes: Still ridiculously elaborate.
- The setting: Lush, green, and ethereal.
- The vibe: Pure escapism.
In an era where every artist is trying to be "relatable" by filming themselves in their kitchens, Empire of the Sun stays committed to the bit. They are characters. They are world-builders. That commitment to the aesthetic makes the music feel more important than it probably is. It creates a universe you want to inhabit.
The Evolution of Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore
To understand why "Cherry Blossom" sounds the way it does, you have to look at what the guys were doing during the break. Luke Steele moved to Northern California, lived in a cabin, and got really into folk music and spirituality. You can hear that "earthiness" in the lyrics. He’s less interested in being a pop star and more interested in being a storyteller.
Nick Littlemore, on the other hand, was dominating the charts with PNAU. He learned how to make records that move people on a dance floor in 2024 and 2025. He brought that modern production crispness back to Empire.
When they reconvened in Japan (where the inspiration for "Cherry Blossom" obviously started), those two worlds collided. You have the spiritual, slightly eccentric songwriter and the world-class dance producer. That’s the secret sauce.
Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people thought Empire of the Sun - Cherry Blossom was just a throwaway track or a B-side they’d been sitting on since Two Vines. That’s not true. This was one of the first things they wrote when they got back together. It was designed to be the "bridge" between their old life and their new one.
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Some critics said it was "too safe." I disagree. In a world of dissonant hyperpop and depressing "sad-girl" indie, making something unapologetically joyful is actually kind of a radical act. It’s hard to write a happy song that isn't cheesy. "Cherry Blossom" manages to stay cool while being completely sincere.
How to Actually Experience the Track
If you’re just listening to this on your phone speakers while scrolling through emails, you’re doing it wrong. This isn't background music.
- Get the Vinyl: The production on Ask That God is incredibly warm. The digital versions are great, but the analog mastering brings out the low-end in a way that feels way more "Empire."
- Watch the Video: You need the visual context. The song is half of the experience; the Emperor’s journey is the other half.
- Listen at Sunset: There’s something about the frequency of this song that just hits different when the light is fading.
The Impact on the 2026 Music Scene
We are seeing a massive revival of "Indie Sleaze" and 2010s synth-pop. Bands like MGMT and Justice are having massive moments again. Empire of the Sun - Cherry Blossom positioned the duo at the front of that line. They aren't just legacy acts; they’re still innovators.
The track has already been remixed by some of the biggest names in house music, keeping it alive in clubs from Ibiza to LA. But the original remains the gold standard. It has a soul that a remix just can't replicate.
It’s about the feeling of waking up. After eight years of silence, the "Cherry Blossom" represents the band blooming again. It’s fragile, it’s temporary, but man, it’s beautiful while it lasts.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to dive deeper into this era of the band, don't just stop at the single. Here is how to get the most out of the current Empire of the Sun cycle:
- Explore the "Ask That God" documentary snippets: The band released several short films detailing their journey to Japan and the spiritual awakening that led to "Cherry Blossom."
- Check out the PNAU remixes: If you want a harder, more club-ready version of the track, Nick Littlemore’s PNAU touch provides a completely different energy.
- Track the tour dates: The live show for this era is reportedly their most ambitious yet, featuring AI-generated visuals that react in real-time to the music—a perfect marriage of their classic style and new tech.
- Listen to "Changes" immediately after: It’s the sister track to "Cherry Blossom" and provides the necessary context for where the band's head is at right now.