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Hong Kong band Empire has a roster of nine songs - and six of  them are about girls.  After all, it's what they know about.

'I don't like to write about things that we've never done, or pretend we're something that we're not,' says 18-year-old singer-songwriter Nick Dearman. 'I like to write about break-ups or girls I fancied.'

Dearman is sitting at a Pacific Place coffee shop  with two of his bandmates, bass guitarist Andrew McLeish, 16, and his brother,  rhythm guitarist Angus,  18. Lead guitarist Andy Mackinnon, 17, and drummer James King, 18, aren't around because of the Easter holidays.

The five-piece, first noticed at  last year's Rockit Festival, are one of the headline acts at this weekend's Skoolapalooza gig at South Island School, which will also feature  six other high school bands and a surprise guest.

Empire is also one of Hong Kong's bright young acts -  they're one of the few teen rock'n'roll outfits in the city.

'There are no rock'n'roll bands at all of our age, and I think that's why we stand out,' says Dearman, who describes himself as a showman and, accordingly, does most of the talking.

Alok Leung, owner of Lona Records and a fan of the band, says he can't think of any Hong Kong bands  who sound like Empire.

'Their rhythm section is good,' Leung says. 'They sound different. They're unique in the local  music scene.'

He says Empire have high quality songs and a lot of potential. 'They're young and full of energy.'

Empire formed at the end of 2005, and started off as a covers band, playing the music of Franz Ferdinand, Oasis and Radiohead. Well, they tried.

'We played in some crap bands when we were younger, and we used to cover music, but we were pretty rubbish then,' says Dearman.

Empire's presence on the main stage at Rockit last year confirmed that they're better now, and their sound, complete with driving basslines, heavy-duty riffs and energetic shout-singing, is  worth  the time of day. It has nabbed them a handful of headline slots at local shows and a spot in next month's HK Live lineup at the Fringe Club.

Dearman's lyrics are entertaining, at least: 'Wow, wow, wow, let me know, let me see/ you're walking down the street like Elvis Presley,' he sings in The Royal Bird, with the lyrics a few lines later somehow folding into: 'My, my, my, you're a dirty girl, talking f***in' dirty on the telephone/ I won't reveal your name to save you the shame/  I really f***in' love it how you're always game.'

Those tough words are in keeping with the band's philosophy that it's all about attitude. That's the quality they respect in their chief influences - Brit-rock bands such  as Oasis, Radiohead, Muse and Kasabian, from whose second album they take their name.

'They tell it like it is, and that's what we want to do as well,' says Dearman, who formed a band with Mackinnon after they saw their favourite group the Academy at the 2005 Rockit.

'You listen to their music and you can't help but just admire it,' Dearman says of the group, which has since disbanded.

That view contrasts with Dearman's opinion of so-called  emo music -  a genre  with roots in punk but  which takes a detour via  goth and pop - that dominates much of today's teen scene.

'I don't understand this emo culture - this whole thing about 'everyone will die' and all this pessimistic rubbish,' he says.

Angus McLeish chimes in. 'It's the opposite of what I listen to music for,'   he says. 'Our songs about break-ups aren't depressing. Gimme a Kiss and I'll Walk Away, is about going out and getting another girl, right away.'

Dearman says  this sentiment  sums up the band's attitude towards life. 'No strings attached,' he says, with a laugh.

The Skoolapalooza gig will also raise funds for Greenpeace's  efforts against global warming. Joining Empire on stage will be Exit on 12, Sedlec, Hungry Ghosts, Frodo,  the Artists and Discombobulation. Despite the organisers' good intentions, for the plain-speaking Empire boys, the gig is just about  the music.

'If you go to a gig, you don't say 'I'm going to a gig because I'm donating',' says Dearman. 'You're going for the music, aren't you?'

Skoolapalooza 2007, Sat, 6pm, South Island School, 50 Nam Fung Rd, HK$50 (advance), HK$60 (door). Inquiries: 9616 6673



Girls, girls, girls: Empire strike back