Songfacts®:

• After eight long years of silence, Empire of the Sun returned with the aptly named "Changes." The song ushers in a new era for the duo of Luke Steele and Nik Littlemore while staying true to their roots. It's classic Empire of the Sun: a pulsating, danceable beat and an infectious, exuberant synth riff that gets your feet moving before you even realize it.
• Luke Steele's vocals soar with optimism as he sings of embracing change and finding new beginnings, reflecting the band's own journey after their extended break.
  
  '"Changes' was a breakthrough track for us," he said. "It felt like the moment of clarity when it became evident we were in the new era, our time of rebirth, the next chapter of Empire."
• Steele and Littlemore wrote and produced the song with four Swedes: Vincent Pontare, Salem Al Fakir, Magnus Lidehäll, and Pontus Winnberg.
  
  Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir comprise the songwriting and production duo Vargas and Lagola. They have worked with Avicii, Madonna and David Guetta.
  
  Magnus Lidehäll works closely with Vargas & Lagola.
  
  Pontus Winnberg is one half of the Swedish production duo Bloodshy & Avant along with Christian Karlsson. They've created tracks for the likes of Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Jennifer Lopez. Both Winnberg and Karlsson are also members of the synth-pop group Miike Snow.
  
  "'Changes' was the song we made with the Swedes, and it felt like the quintessential Empire of the Sun comeback song," said Steele to The Sun. "It's a really great song and has transformed into something that's not really ours anymore."
  
  "We feel like conduits," he added. "Empire is bigger than us and the audience own the song - you have to honor the love that people have for it."
• "Changes" was released as the lead single from Ask That God on April 4, 2024. Recording sessions for the album took place worldwide, beginning in Asia.
• The Eastern influence is palpable in the song's Michael Maxxis-directed video, shot in Thailand. In the visual, Steele and Littlemore crash land on an earth-like planet, fully kitted-up and ready for dancing. A local boy, a curious witness to this extraterrestrial arrival, becomes the catalyst for the magic that unfolds. Maxxis worked hand-in-glove with the band to craft a visual that mirrored Empire of the Sun's signature blend of mysticism and spectacle.
  
  "The idea grew from some themes we wanted to explore," explained the director. "We wanted to tell a story in a sort of fairytale form about the importance of passion, the power of the imagination, and the effects of a strong will in shaping our realities."
  
  Filmmaker Nichael Maxxis has also shot videos for The Heavy ("Sixteen"), City and Colour ("Fragile Bird") and Elle King ("Ex's & Oh's"). He made his feature directorial debut in 2020 with the Canadian comedy drama film Puppy Love.