Since Empathy Test's conception in January 2013, the London-based Electronic Pop act has self-produced and released three stunning albums (Losing Touch and Safe From Harm in 2017 and Monsters in 2020) and a string of memorable singles. Their "dark, anthemic electro-pop" (Fresh on the Net) has won them critical acclaim, a legion of dedicated fans worldwide, and features from the likes of Vice on HBO, MTV's Catfish, Netflix, KCRW, BBC Introducing, Clash, LoBF, Earmilk, PopMatters and many more.

Empathy Test - Top Tracks

The debut song by Empathy Test, an electronic pop duo from London, UK. Originally released in February 2014 on the Losing Touch EP. Re-released as part of the Losing Touch LP in November 2017.

LYRICS:

Scared of losing touch
If I really mean that much
Why pretend that you love him?
Don't call me out the blue
When it's clear that I still do
And you know he knows it too.
Going home alone
The only love I've known
It's always been you.
It’s always been you.
 
Tell me it's not real
Tell me he doesn't make you feel
The way I made you feel.
If you care for me at all
You'll hang up when I call
You'll clear me space to fall.
If you give I will receive 
And despite what they believe
It's always been you.
It's always been you.
 
It’s always been you.
 
When you're feeling alone
And you're colder than stone
Call me you know...
It's always been you.

Losing Touch

Losing Touch EP

Performed live at Liliom Kino in Augsburg, Germany, for Losing Touch Festival, a festival named after Empathy Test's 2014 debut single. With Christina Lopez on drums and Oliver Marson on keyboards. Originally released in 2020 on the 'Monsters' studio album.

Time To Be Alive

Monsters (Live at Liliom Kino, Augsburg 2022)

The empathy test in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner is based on the premise that machines, no matter how advanced, lack compassion. But for childhood friends, Isaac Howlett (vocals) and Adam Relf (production), Empathy Test is all about wearing their hearts on their digital sleeves. With driving synth chords, punchy 4/4 beats and euphoric ‘80s melodies, the London-based duo take inspiration as much from modern acts like Chvrches and Purity Ring as they do from Vangelis and Depeche Mode. But far from sounding like just another ‘80s-electro reboot, Empathy Test have cultivated a mesmerizing and immersive identity which sets them apart from pretty much anyone else on the scene.

With an insistence on glorious hooks and instantly memorable vocal lines, Empathy Test are refreshingly unafraid to be pop music. Since self-releasing their debut EP “Losing Touch” in February, Empathy Test have picked up thousands of fans via sheer word-of-mouth and late-night tweets, and collaborated with Richard Swarbrick on numerous viral animation videos for ESPN and Liverpool FC. Empathy Test signed to Brooklyn’s Stars & Letters Records in the spring of 2014, with their follow-up EP “Throwing Stones” releasing December 9th, 2014.

Website → http://empathytest.com
Facebook → http://facebook.com/empathytest
Twitter → http://twitter.com/empathytest
SoundCloud → @empathytest

©℗ 2014 Empathy Test

Throwing Stones EP

Empathy Test - Holding On

Empathy Test are back with double A-Side ‘Demons / Seeing Stars’, the first taste of the forthcoming debut album. Since releasing their stunning debut EP, ‘Losing Touch’, the enigmatic duo have impressed with their brooding cinematic electro pop sound; winning both critical acclaim and a legion of dedicated fans worldwide. Their music has seen radio support with KCRW, BBC Introducing and XFM and features with MTV, Clash Music, Earmilk and PopMatters amongst others. Isaac Howlett and Adam Relf formed Empathy Test after discovering a mutual love of eighties sci-fi soundtracks, nineties guitar bands and underground dance music. With echoes of CHVRCHES and Purity Ring, their sound has been described as Future Pop, Dark Wave and numerous other variations along similar themes.

The name Empathy Test is taken from the science fiction film Blade Runner. The duo’s artwork is also sci-fi inspired and follows similar themes to the movie, focusing on the basis of consciousness and the relationship between humans and technology. New track ‘Demons’ deals with the human nature of jealousy and how it can destroy a relationship. It explores how some people unconsciously cultivate jealousy in a partner in order to control them. In this all-consuming infatuation, nothing else matters - “and now she wakes up, every day and she invites, all of my demons to play.” It’s a subject that captures the duo’s strength and goes straight for the jugular.

Empathy Test are renowned for captivating their audiences with their branded mix of analogue synth sounds, uplifting melodies and catchy choruses. Live shows take audiences through driving creative rhythms and eighties pop beats, and new single ‘Demons’ is a live favourite amongst fans. While on tour last year, Empathy Test performed at Wave-Gotik- Treffen Festival in Germany, Urban Forest Festival in the UK and headlined Riba Rocks Festival in Spain. They have shared stages with artists such as Bombay Bicycle Club and The Japanese House. Empathy Test are embarking on another European tour that culminates with a show at London’s The Garage in October 2016. If you haven’t already checked out the electro pop prism of Empathy Test’s world then it’s time to acquaint yourself with this amazing new talent.

Twitter: twitter.com/empathytest
Facebook: fb.com/empathytest
Website: www.empathytest.com

EMPATHY TEST DEMONS LYRICS:

All of my dreams have flown away
All of my ambition with the wind 
Now you’re here.

I never thought I would be satisfied
With anything I had
Now I’m not so sure.

I waited so long for you
Now you’re here I don’t know what to do
With you.

I went hunting for love
When I thought I’d lose.
I meant to shoot down a dove
Shot an angel instead.
And now she wakes up every day and she invites
All of my demons to play.

Fade in fade out like a musical
Rhythm and rhyme in time
Our heart beats sing
Just to remind you we’re still alive in here.

I waited so long for you
Now you’re here I don’t know what to do
With you.

I went hunting for love
When I thought I’d lose.
I meant to shoot down a dove
Shot an angel instead.
And now she wakes up every day and she invites
All of my demons to play.

Well I love her, I hate her
I abhor her, I adore her 
Just the same, just the same
Just the same, just the same.
Well I love her, I hate her
I abhor her, I adore her 
Just the same, just the same
Just the same, just the same.

Demons | Seeing Stars

Demons

Vampire Town (Remastered)

Losing Touch (Remastered)

The b-side to Empathy Test's new single Empty Handed, which releases in all digital stores on 20th June 2019. Pre-order it now on Bandcamp in digital, CD and vinyl formats: bit.ly/EMPTYHNDD

Website: http://www.empathytest.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/empathytest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/empathytest
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/empathytest
VK: https://vk.com/empathytest

EMPATHY TEST 'A RIVER LOVES A STONE' LYRICS

You are, brittle like the wind 
But I can, see right through your skin.
Well you've got such beautiful bones
And I love you like a river loves a stone.

I am, fickle as I'm thin
I shut you out, but you still got in.
My worst intentions have all been overthrown
And now I love you like a river loves a stone.

Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.
I love you like a river loves a stone.
Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.
I love you like a river loves a stone.

You are, brittle but you'll bend
And I may, break you but you'll mend.
Well you paint me with such subtle tones
And I love you like a river loves a stone.

We are, brilliant though we're flawed
I wish you'd be a little self-assured.
Your best intentions, have all been overthrown
And now I love you - like a river loves a stone.

Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.
I love you like a river loves a stone.
Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.
I love you like a river loves a stone.

Well I could sit and stare at you for hours
Like a bouquet of funeral flowers
But every leaf is painted black
And every petal is as pale as wax.

Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.
I love you like a river loves a stone.
Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.
Oh yeah I love you like a river loves a stone.

Empty Handed

A River Loves a Stone

Following the success of double A-side single, Holy Rivers / Incubation Song, which has racked up over 150,000 streams on Spotify since its October release and was praised by Clash Music for its “shimmering synths, glacial electronics, and heartrending vocals”, London Synthpop group Empathy Test returns with a second, tantalising taste of their upcoming third album, in the form of new single Empty-handed.

Empty-handed presents another sonic leap forward for a band that has never been one to tread water when it comes to their sound, presenting a harder, darker style whilst simultaneously tipping their proverbial hat to the Synthwave scene that helped launch their career back in 2014. An arpeggiated synthesiser provides a relentless momentum from the get-go, while the deceptively simple composition gradually builds to its epic conclusion.

Opening line, “My heart is an empty vessel / Drifting out to sea” sets the tone both lyrically and emotionally. It’s about being unable to give a partner the emotional support or commitment they need and the feeling of emptiness that comes with that. As always, Empathy Test delivers a perfect marriage of music and emotion, the sudden flourishes of strings and synthesisers rushing past like spirits in the night. 

There’s a sense of urgency here that has not been present previously, as well as an innate confidence that suggests the third album, which comes after the simultaneous release of two debut albums Losing Touch (Remastered) and Safe From Harm in November 2017 and is slated for release in early September, might just be the band’s most accomplished to date.

Empathy Test is childhood friends Isaac Howlett (vocals and songwriting) and Adam Relf (production and composition). They perform live with the help of Christina Lopez (live drums) and Samuel Winter-Quick (live keyboards). This June, they tour the UK with Canadian Post Punk band Actors and in September, North America, with Industrial Pop act Aesthetic Perfection. They will also be appearing at selected festivals in Europe. 

Empty-handed will be self-released in digital and CD formats on 20th June 2019, with b-side A River Loves a Stone and remixes by ex-Black City Lights producer TRAAPS and LA artist and producer Ari Mason, plus the band’s customary 7” vinyl picture disc format, all of which can be pre-ordered right now from Empathy Test’s Bandcamp.

For more information, please feel free to contact Empathy Test on email: info@empathytest.com

Monsters

Incubation Song (Album Version)

Fear of Disappearing

Holy Rivers (Album Version)

Stop

Empty Handed (Album Version)

The band Boy George called a musical orgasm. We don't answer messages on here. Email info[at]empathytest[.]com with any serious propositions.

Vampire Town (Remastered)

Empathy Test

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