Eye Empire Frontman Says His Major Label Days Prepared Him for Life as an Indie Artist

Eye Empire's origins can be tracked back to 2007 when Corey Lowery [Stuck Mojo, Stereomud, Dark New Day] and B.C. Kochmit [Switched, Dark New Day] joined forces and started working on new material. After two years of writing and searching for the right voice, Donald Carpenter [Submersed] joined the act in October of 2009. Former Texas Hippie Coalition member Ryan Bennett fills out the band on drums. Eye Empire's debut album, 'Moment of Impact' will be released on October 25 via Bad Puppy Records / Bulldog Productions.

"Everyone in this band is a seasoned musician," says Eye Empire vocalist Donald Carpenter during a chat with Noisecreep last week. "We've all been signed to record deals in the past and have been through a lot. I was in a band called Submersed that was signed to Wind-Up for seven years and that eventually ran its course. When Corey reached out to me about this Eye Empire stuff, I was really excited to get involved. Once we started working together on the material that ended up on the album, I knew we had something special. I like to think that all the hard times we all went through in the past was worth it since it lead us to Eye Empire."

Produced by Corey Lowery and Eye Empire, early pressings of 'Moment of Impact' have already sold thousands of copies online exclusively through mail order. An expanded track listing with three previously unreleased songs is on the way for the fall. The single, 'I Pray' has been heard on Sirius/XM's Octane for months while the band has been staging one standing room only show after another.

Watch 'I Pray' from Eye Empire

Carpenter says being an indie artist is a big change from his days on a major label, but he's adjusting well. "Don't get me wrong, it's been a struggle – especially since we're doing this independently. I learned a lot of lessons while I was on a big label. You know -- what to or not to do. Also, with the way social media is, it's made it a bit easier to get the word out about your music. It's given us the ability to have a bit more control of things. Everything has been heading into the right direction with Eye Empire. We have a lot of fans online through our former bands and it's given us an advantage. I can't wait till everyone hears these new songs that will be on the reissue of our album. It's the best stuff we've done so far."

Eye Empire's reissue of 'Moment of Impact' will be out in the fall of 2011.

Eye Empire tour dates:

9/04 Madison, WI Taste of Madison

9/09 Jacksonville, NC Hooligans

9/10 Greenville, SC Handlebar

9/12 Augusta, GA Sky City

9/13 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits

9/14 West Palm Beach, FL Culture Room

9/16 Sarasota, FL Rusty Hook

9/17 Daytona, FL Sickboys

9/23 Detroit, MI Harpo's

9/24 Danville, IL Sarge's Tap

9/27 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades*

9/28 Portland, OR El Corazone*

9/29 Boise, ID Knitting Factory*

9/30 Spokane,WA Knitting Factory*

10/1 Seattle, WA Studio 7*

10/3 Billings, MT Mannys*

10/4 Colorado Springs, CO Black Sheep*

10/6 Lubbock, TX Wreckers*

10/7 El Paso, TX Trickey Falls*

10/8 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater*

10/9 Tempe, AZ Marquee*

10/10 Los Angeles, CA The Key Club*