Modern darkwave act EMPTY STREETS has signed with Cleopatra Records for the release of Age of Regret, the second EP from songwriter Aaron Thompson’s brooding musical project.
“I’m incredibly excited to begin the next chapter of EMPTY STREETS alongside Cleopatra Records,” Thompson says. “To join their legendary roster with so many diverse, iconic musicians and artists is a dream come true!”
Says Cleopatra’s Matt Green, “Cleopatra Records is looking forward to releasing EMPTY STREETS forthcoming ‘Age of Regret’ EP. Darkwave fans will love it.”
Last month EMPTY STREETS offered a preview of the EP with a
video for the title track, co-produced by Jaime Preciado (Pierce The Veil). The fabulously melancholic single is available via all
digital music providers.
EMPTY STREETS’ debut, Demons, released last summer, pulled from a variety of heavier influences, including Nick Cave, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, VNV Nation, while also introducing a number of surprises. Thompson breathes strange life into Selena Gomez’s “Love will Remember.” This beautifully dark and dangerously catchy pop album quickly climbed the Spotify charts and found its way onto every romantic goth playlist during the COVID quarantine. Thompson’s talents were soon recognized by Dillinger Escape Plan’s Benjamin Weinman, who collaborated on EMPTY STREETS for the track “Fracas” on Weinman’s Patreon page.
EMPTY STREETS has revealed a new video for “Save Me” from Demons. Watch the “Save Me” video, available today, at
https://youtu.be/FC86SAQ6eIM.
“Marrying photogrammetry, augmented reality and traditional shots in a lonely hotel room, ‘Save Me’ is a brooding peek into my mind,” says Thompson. “It’s a song about desperately trying to escape sins of our fathers, sins of our youth, sins of society and finding some salvation somewhere, anywhere.”
Though this act may be new to many listeners, Thompson has a long musical history, as well as successful foray into the adult industry. You might recognize his alter-ego, Small Hands, from his prolific body of work as one of the most celebrated porn stars of his generation. But before this tattooed Elvis ever stepped in front of the camera to film his first hardcore sex scene, he was setting stages ablaze around the globe with his hardcore rock shows. EMPTY STREETS represents a return to form for this multi-talented artist.
Thompson grew up the son of a preacher in San Diego, California. From the moment he was gifted his first guitar, he turned from humming church hymns to playing the devil’s music on his six string. In 2003 Thompson stormed the San Diego music scene when he founded the band The Stranger’s Six, for which he was the frontman and songwriter. The band’s infectious live performance sold out notable venues like The Casbah, SOMA and House of Blues, and landed the group shared billing with the likes of 30 Seconds to Mars, TSOL, Panic at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional, The Misfits and The Cult. They were regularly nominated for “Best Punk Band” at the San Diego music awards alongside other local legends Pierce the Veil, Blink 182, and The Locust. In 2007 The Stanger’s Six signed to Koch Records, and went on several US tours, including the Warped Tour.
In 2012 Thompson joined the band Fenix TX on their headlining European Tour, which covered over 20 countries. That year, Aaron also became romantically engaged with adult film legend Joanna Angel. Thompson first dabbled in the adult industry by writing original scores for her Burning Angel films. But as the pair’s lives became more entwined, he took on more and more roles in Angel’s production team until he eventually stepping in front of the camera as “Small Hands.” Within a few years, Small Hands went from co-staring alongside Angel to winning “Male Performer of the Year” awards from every single adult trade association: AVN, Xbiz, XRCO, Adult DVD Talk, The Alt Awards and The Inked Awards.
In 2020 Thompson returned to music with his solo project EMPTY STREETS, which infuses his hardcore rock and roll roots with a darker, sexier edge. Prepare for a new era of darkwave!
EMPTY STREETS online:
