Interview: Jack Price
Enter Shikari’s highly anticipated new album, A Kiss For The Whole World, is set to be released on April 21 through SO Recordings / Ambush Reality.
Despite their longstanding career, the band found themselves at a creative standstill prior to writing and recording the album. For years, their music had been fueled by the energy of live crowds, but the pandemic changed everything. With their bond to their audience severed, the band had to find new ways to draw inspiration.
Despite the difficult circumstances, A Kiss For The Whole World showcases the band’s purpose and versatility. The album’s 12 tracks feature an array of styles and vivid imagery, revealing the band’s growth through their struggles. The album’s title is a testament to their resilience; to plant a kiss on the entire world, one must feel deeply.
The Everblack Podcast spoke to Rou Reynolds from Enter Shikari about their new album, A Kiss For The Whole World, post-pandemic life, the importance of humour and more!
Watch/ listen to the interview here :
It was in the Spring of 2022 that the band descended to the coastal town of Chichester, and a delipidated farmhouse, to rebuild their studio setup and capture their renewed momentum on record. Using only solar power to track the album – in what Reynolds says was to “bring back some sense of naivety” – the life-giving properties and Technicolor palate of A Kiss For The Whole World were made real. Reynolds continues: “Back to basics. This band – my best friends – bundled into an old farmhouse, miles away from anywhere. Off-grid, and ready to rediscover ourselves. This album is powered by the sun, the most powerful object in our solar system. And I think you can tell. It’s a collection of songs that represent an explosive reconnection with what Enter Shikari is. The beginning of our second act”.
This release marks Enter Shikari’s seventh studio album, with each of their previous releases charting in the UK top 10. In addition to his role as the band’s lyricist, Rou Reynolds has published several books on Faber Music, including the recent A Treatise On Possibility. The band’s official biography, Standing Like Statues, was published in October 2022 by Faber Music. The band has headlined major festivals and venues, including Glastonbury, Alexandra Palace, and the Slam Dunk festival. As sponsors of their local football team, St Albans FC, Enter Shikari continue to embody the spirit of their community.
Pre-order A Kiss For The Whole World here.
