EMPiRE

EMPiRE was a Japanese idol group based in Tokyo. The project began as Project aW, announced in April 2017 as a collaboration between WACK and avex, and formally debuted as EMPiRE on August 23, 2017. From the beginning, the group was part of WACK’s idol scene alongside acts such as BiS, BiSH, and GANG PARADE. EMPiRE’s music mixed idol pop, J-pop hooks, and rock energy in a harder-edged style. Its songs featured dramatic arrangements and strong choruses, with a performance-driven emphasis on intensity, melody, and live presentation. As its career continued, the lineup changed as members joined and others departed, while the group developed through the contrast between WACK’s production style and avex’s major-label support. During its career, EMPiRE performed anime themes including the Black Clover opening "RiGHT NOW," the Black Clover ending "Black to the Dreamlight," and "Pierce" for Fairy Tail. EMPiRE concluded activities under that name at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA on June 2, 2022, and the project later continued as ExWhyZ.