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about, but it came up about a verse on a new track that I was making that needed another style of spoken word, some different bars on it, and he suggested Narstie. I said absolutely, that would be perfect. So yeah, got him down and it was a hilarious experience. He is one of the most ridiculous guys ever, so relentlessly funny, yeah it was a wicked experience. Ah, nice! So the new album is out. Is it a reflection of the state of the world right now? What's your views on BREXIT and all that? Do you think that there is light at the end of the tunnel? God, I don't know, I mean at the moment it's just frustrating because it's the only thing that is being talked about, it's like everything politically has been put on hold at the moment just because of BREXIT. And no-one knows what it is going to end up being STILL! I mean 'Take My Country' back is the main track on the album that sort of reflects a lot of our feelings about BREXIT. I mean not even just BREXIT but that sort of rise of nationalism we've seen, not just in the UK but throughout Europe, and obviously in America, Trump and stuff, so I think that song encapsulates our feelings I guess. Yeah, It's all just more added stress, it's hard enough just living! So, touring? I know you had a few issues with the darker side of the industry wearing you down? What helped you get through that period? Umm, well I mean, I guess first and foremost just having the creative outlet, having music to switch off and that sort of solitary creation is just like so good for any period of adversity. Yeah, I dunno, I had a very sort of strange 6 months basically the end of 2015 early 2016. I guess it was just through exhaustion. I think I'm just lucky to have the boys in the band, we've been mates since primary school, so we are all very close, I'm lucky to have them around me, the whole sort of ethos of the band is like one big family really. So our management, everyone who works our stage, our press are just like friends that have been with us forever, so yeah just really lucky to have people around me that understood and cared. Ah that's nice. That's what I get from you guys, a team, you just do it all yourself. I love that fact that there is a band like you around at the moment that are sticking the finger up to everyone else in the industry. Ah amazing, thank you, man. You're about to embark on your biggest tour? Finishing off at Alexandra Palace 10,000 cap WOW! Yeah an absolutely amazing venue, so beautiful, amazing architecture, it's just one big expanse really, its difficult because often when you get up to arena-sized venues they can often feel a bit sterile, you know plastered in advertising and very sort of clean, not anything very interesting just your classic arena where you might go and watch, I don't fucking….."something on ice" Yeah, Alexandra Palace is like the complete opposite of that, a beautiful building full of character and the atmosphere is always amazing I know you also mentioned that you have a close team that work with you, Do you have a hands-on approach to the live shows? Yeah absolutely, so we've had our lighting guy since, well I think he joined us during the first album, 2007, he's worked with us since and we designed the production and the lighting and all that business with him. Which we are currently doing, actually we had a meeting yesterday about the tour and planning it. Yeah, exciting times. Cool, I recently went to see a band at the 02 Arena (I won't mention any names) I was really disappointed that they didn't put on a big show; they just stood there playing. There were 22,000 people watching that wanted more, I feel there should be little more responsibility to do more! Yeah yeah, well I think that's what we've always tried to. I mean music is an amazing tool to express whatever it is you want to express, but when you get into a venue that size, your options open up endlessly, there so much of like an onslaught of the senses, not just what people are hearing, but it's what their seeing, what their feeling. What's the message you would like to get across in your music? Ooof well that's broad… I guess the main thing for me is that music as a tool has been something that humanity has had since day one, so if you go back to tribes or any early culture or society they will have had music and would have used music to bring people together, it creates community. So for me that's all we are trying to do with our music still, because we live in a world that's so divided now and to be able to use this one, I think its literally the one thing that's left, cos religions on the downfall now, and the thing is religion as much as it did unite people it wasn't indiscriminate, whereas music can unite anyone no matter who you are where you from what you believe in, it brings us all together, it reminds us that we are humans and we are vulnerable and just sounds can make us feel a certain way or makes us feel the same way. Yeah to be able to create a community is just amazing. What ideas changed your life? Blimey! well I guess... well I'm quite into philosophy so there a few philosophers that have had a distinct easily applicable ideas which have really helped me, one I even got a tattoo from, a Roman philosopher Cicero who said a very simple phrase "criticize by creation". Which basically means instead of calling things out you don't like, being a big mouth, being very negative, you take the things that you don't like and you say the complete opposite, you say you're going to make something as far away from that as possible, creation is how you criticize basically. I spent a very long period as I mentioned earlier of being so fed up with this kind of metal, we were touring with a lot of metalcore bands who just didn't inspire me at all, just seemed so boring, normal and recycled, instead of it getting me down and pissed off and melty about it, I used that Cicero quote and just tried to concentrate on what I'm doing. Such good attitude! Don't moan about it, change it. So If you were prime minister what would be the first law you would change? Oh Jesus... um I guess the most sane things to be done quickly would be to put in place something that makes countries stick to the Paris agreement, the climate change stuff, cos I think at the moment there's no set global vision of how we are going to get carbon emissions down and try and tackle what is basically an oncoming storm. Even though it doesn't feel immediate, you walk outside and the world is still there, with all the tipping points and if we don't act literally in the next few years we will be fucked in 20 years, yeah I'd have to go in on that. Yeah, it's scary stuff makes you question whether you should have kids! Ha-ha yeah. Finally, to wrap it up mate, which three people would you take to a desert island? Jeeze, erm, right well I reckon, first, someone to cheer us up, make everyone laugh, do you know the Scottish comedian Limmy? No, I don't mate. He's not one of the mainstream comedy lot, he's fucking hilarious, he's so dark but really funny, so definitely take him. Then I guess I'd better take a lady friend... um, man, I'm so shit with celebrities ummmm oh I know, that woman from Star Wars can't think of her name (consults his computer) let me look hang on a minute. Oh I will start thinking of my third one, well I guess the third one maybe should have been first one, will need someone to help me survive, so I'd have to take Ray Mears! Remember Ray Mears? Yeah, I remember him, is he still going? Ha-ha yeah, I think so, my brothers going to see him, he's doing a little tour of venues explaining how to survive. Ah that's it (found his google search) my other choice would be Natalie Portman. Enter Shkari 2017 Arena Tour Dates below: Nov 16 – Liverpool, Arena Nov 17 – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena Nov 18 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena Nov 19 – Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena Nov 21 – Manchester, Victoria Warehouse Nov 22 – Brighton, Centre Nov 24 – Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena Nov 25 – London, Alexandra Palace " MUSIC CAN UNITE ANYONE NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE FROM, WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, IT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER. " Follow @ENTERSHIKARI 2017 / ISSUE 104 INDIE 49