Enter Shikari have released storming new track ‘Stop The Clocks’, BBC Radio 1’s ‘Hottest Record’ on the Annie Mac show last night, ahead of playing four special sets at this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival on 23rd – 25th August. The single will be their first release on So Recordings.
“2018 was the first full year in Enter Shikari’s professional career in which we didn’t release any new music. We loved how ‘The Spark’ was connecting with people and wanted to give the album its rightful breathing space. but, not wanting to be dormant, we began a new track towards the end of the year. Anyone who has seen us live recently will have heard ‘Stop The Clocks’ – it’s an upbeat post-punk pop track about the joys of human connection. When someone is open and honest about their vulnerabilities, others can connect with them, and then all of us can feel stronger and more comfortable. It conveys the relief, warmth and freeing nature of the normalisation of mental health struggles, following decades of stigmatism. A flickering flame of positivity in these difficult and regressive times.” (Rou Reynolds)
Ever since the band added ‘Stop The Clocks’ to their live show in December 2018 the track has become a firm fan favourite, with Shikari related social media and fan groups pleading for its release.
Their award winning fifth album ‘The Spark’, released in September 2017, was their fourth to land in the UK Album Chart Top 5 and has seen Enter Shikari become one of the UK’s biggest rock exports taking their acclaimed live show to tens of thousands of fans across the world on their longest tour ever.
Renowned Enter Shikari frontman and producer, Rou Reynolds, has become a prominent music voice in mental health awareness working with the Mental Health Foundation amongst others. Reynolds has also written two best-selling books this year ‘Dear Future Historians (Lyrics and Exegesis of Rou Reynolds for the music of Enter Shikari 2006 – 2019)’ and ‘The Spark’, published by Faber.
The pioneering St Albans quartet have come a long way since their inception 10 years ago, but their principles remain the same – promoting equality, fairness and unity wherever they go. More news on the next chapter of their journey coming soon.