Rising With the Sun

Rising With the Sun is the seventh studio album by The Cat Empire, released in 2016. Following the success of Steal the Light, this record continues the band's collaboration with producer Jan Skubiszewski, resulting in a sound that is more cohesive and 'stadium-ready' than their earlier, more improvisational jazz-fusion works. The album is notable for its recurring animal imagery (Wolves, Bulls, Eagle, Bataclan) and a more pronounced focus on world-beat and Latin-pop elements. It debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, cementing the band's status as a commercial powerhouse in the Australian independent scene. Sonically, the album leans heavily into the 'Empire Horns' section, using them to create massive, anthemic hooks that bridge the gap between jazz complexity and pop accessibility. It represents a refinement of their festival-circuit sound, prioritizing infectious rhythms and high-fidelity production over the raw, live-take feel of their debut era.