Enter Shikari on life in lockdown, career highlights and self-producing their 6th album

Enter Shikari are fresh off the back of releasing their sixth album, 'Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible', and recently caught up with Loz Guest in our new podcast, Kerrang! Radio: The Lockdown Interviews.

How are the band staying creative in lockdown?

Rou Reynolds, Chris Batten, Rob Rolfe and Rory Clewlow have been busy promoting their album in lockdown after the promotional tour was cancelled. The genre-straddling St Albans quartet told us how they've been doing what they can from their own homes, including live-streams, acoustic sessions, interviews and engaging with fans on social media.

When asked if they're staying creative, Rou revealed that after putting everything into their latest release being finished mere months ago, he's feeling 'empty' and 'gutted of all creative energy'.

Rou said, "This last week, I've started to pick up the guitar again and I've noticed little melodies coming into my head. So I think once I feel rejuvenated and replenished, I'll be straight back into writing, and I'm excited to do so. I work well in sort of solitary at home in my studio, so I'm not worried about drying up."

Have the lyrics taken on new meaning during the pandemic?

Rou agreed, "Yeah absolutely, it feels like the meanings of the songs have expanded, they feel more pertinent than even when I wrote them. Take the very first lyric on the album, on the song 'The Great Unknown'; 'Is this a new beginning, or are we close to the end?', that's sort of what it feels like. We have to frame this as a new beginning, we have to learn so much from the pandemic."

Rob added, "It can really help a lot of people feel connected and very hopeful and positive, it can also be used as a great therapeutic tool for difficult times, especially times as such isolation that we're in right now."

Did Enter Shikari produce Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible?

Rory explained, "I think the reason this record sounds like the most definitive Shikari record is because it's the first time we've properly self-produced a record, with Rou taking the major lead on production. It's had the least amount of outside influence other than us four in the band."

He added, "I've always wanted to try doing a self-produced record, but circumstances never really allowed before, so this is the first chance we've had to do it. It's been such an amazing experience, and I think that really shows in the record.

"I think it's a really interesting, fun record to listen to. I also think that's why it sounds like a greatest hits, and sounds like the most Shikari record, because it's got the most amount of Shikari in it."

Listen to the full Enter Shikari interview with Loz Guest

Is the new album Enter Shikari's proudest moment?

Chris told us, "If we felt this wasn't our best work and we'd just released it then we'd need to go back into the studio and we'd need to push ourselves further and go put ourselves out of our comfort zone a little bit more.

"We are incredibly proud of this record, we think it's our most creative album to date and yeah it's just amazing that it's been getting such great reviews."

Did Enter Shikari imagine they'd achieve this level of success?

Rob explained, "I don't think we ever thought that far ahead, I think we were just looking forward to our next gig each time to be honest. We keep saying it's a hobby that got out of hand, honestly if back when we started you'd said, 'In fifteen years you'll be releasing your sixth album and touring all around the world and this that and the other,' I don't think I'd have been able to imagine it."

Enter Shikari's career highlights

Chris reminisced, "I think those pinch yourself, surreal moments come in all shapes and sizes. Obviously I have great memories of doing big festivals, Reading Festival comes to mind where there was just a sea of people crowd surfing towards us and never seeing anything like that in my life.

"There's tonnes of shows where you have to sit back and take it all in. I remember when we did our first arena in Nottingham and me and Rob saying after where it was just one of those moments where you have to take it all in.

"I remember being over in Indonesia in Jakarta and playing there for the first time and their were only about 15-20 people at the show, but seeing the connection people that people have with the music and seeing how far the music has spread can also give you those defining moments."

If Enter Shikari weren't a band, what would they be doing?

Rob took the lead on this question and told Loz, "I've no idea what we'd have been doing right now if it wasn't the band, I can't see myself doing anything else to be honest. Certainly we'd have all still be in music, we're all musicians at heart and we love what we do. We've really achieved much more than we ever dreamed of and don't think we're going to stop anytime soon."

Enter Shikari Discography

When are Enter Shikari going on tour?

Enter Shikari are heading out on tour in the UK in November. Buy tickets from Kerrang! Radio Tickets here.

November

11th Southampton – Guildhall

12th Manchester – Victoria Warehouse

13th Cardiff – Great Hall

14th London – Alexandra Palace

16th Middlesbrough – Town Hall

18th Edinburgh – Usher Hall

19th Nottingham – Rock City

20th Nottingham – Rock City

21st Birmingham – O2 Academy

Listen to Enter Shikari's episode of Kerrang! Radio: The Lockdown Interviews here

WATCH: Rou Reynolds From Enter Shikari Pays Tribute To David Bowie With Cover Of ‘Heroes’

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