Interview
Enter Shikari Interview
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 8/10/09
Enter Shikari is not your typical band and they are from the United Kingdom. They have a strong following of fans and when they came out here to the States you could clearly tell at the shows that they are gaining popularity here too. They mix dance music and hardcore style music as one and when it comes to their live shows, it’s nothing like you’ve seen before, energy fills the stage and the crowd goes crazy. Enter Shikari has been on the August Burns Red tour this summer in the States and we were lucky enough to get an interview and they were more than delighted about it.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Chris: I’m Chris.
Rory: And I’m Rory.
What is the story behind the name Enter Shikari?
Rory: It came from Roughton’s uncle who had a boat called Shikari.
What would you say are some differences between your latest release COMMON DREADS and TAKE TO THE SKIES?
Chris: The main difference is that it was our first time working with a producer. We wanted to work with someone who had a little more of a dance background and production. It’s something that we felt that the first album was lacking. That would be the main difference, and also that our ideas have matured a lot.
What was the writing process like with COMMON DREADS?
Chris: Lazy. We kind of set days aside to write for about seven or eight hours but that didn’t really work. We kind of realized you can’t force yourself to write.
Yeah, it has to come naturally.
Chris: We spent a few months writing and a few months in the studio.
Who are your influences?
Rory: This is like the hardest question ever for us because we all listen to so many different things.
Chris: Prodigy is probably one of the big ones.
Chris & Rory: And At The Drive In.
What is the significance of the lyrics “…and still we will be here, standing like statues”? It’s on both the song “Stand Your Ground, this is Ancient Land” and at the end of “Solidarity” off COMMON DREADS.
Rory: That was a long time ago! I think it was about solidarity and everyone standing together like statues, everyone holding strong.
Chris: I think it spoke to us as a band as well. It was repeated like a theme throughout the first album. We got a lot of critics saying, “Oh, this band is only going to be here for one album.”
What would you say makes your music stand out compared to other bands in the same genre?
Chris: Hopefully we add a little fun to it as well. We always aim to make our live shows fun and in the studio we don’t tie ourselves down, we’re always up for experimenting. Also the electronics makes us stand out a little bit.
Tonight is the last night for the August Burns Red tour for you guys, how was it? Rory: It’s been grueling. The drives have been long, the weather has been hot.
Chris: Rory’s ginger, he can’t handle the heat.
[everyone laughs]
Chris: we find him sitting in dark corner of places.
Rory: The shows have been really cool and everyone on this tour has been really cool as well.
Chris: It’s been nice for us because we have also been able to play places we haven’t been to before.
Me: What’s been your favorite place to play?
Chris: For us it has to be the places we have actually played before because we have a little bit of a following. We get a few more people to come and see us. There’s nothing like it when you come this far and you see people screaming the lyrics back at you. West and East coast is really good for us but we have to work on in the middle of the States.
What is your favorite song to play live?
Rory: Whatever one is new. It’s always fun to play new ones because its more fresh.
Chris: For me at the moment it’s Solidarity, as soon as we play ZZONKED that is going to be my favorite.
What is your favorite part about touring out here in the States?
Chris: I guess that all the people who come to the shows are really into the music. That is the main difference we really see. It’s not so much a drinking culture, which is why a lot of kids go to the shows back home. Here is more about the music and I think that is really cool and refreshing.
Me: What about the food!?
Rory: The cupcakes are amazing. A few people have brought them to the shows and its been pretty special.
Chris: My brother has put on a big request for a mass order of Twinkies that I have to bring back as well.
How does the crowd/fan base here in the States differ from back home?
Rory: As Chris was saying, there is a lot less of a drinking culture out here. People are generally more active and on it and dance more, not that there is anything that is particularly the right thing to do.
Me: The drinking age there is 18, right?
Chris: Yes, but if you grow a beard it’s like 15. [laughs]
You guys have played many festivals such as Leeds Festival and Bamboozle in New Jersey. What one has been the most fun to play?
Chris: I’m going to go with Summer Sonic in Japan, it’s one of the best ones we’ve done.
Rory: Hmmm, yeah, probably the same.
Me: Why do you guys like it so much?
Chris: I think it’s just Japan in general, everything is just so well organized when you go over there, it’s insane. I remember at one point they had to put a backdrop up and had to employ a single person for each tie so there were about twenty people standing at the back of the stage ready to do the knot and up it went.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Chris: Come see us in September, we’ll be back, and then come see us after that, we’ll be back again.
Rory: We’ll be doing more dates early next year out here.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Chris: I’m Chris.
Rory: And I’m Rory.
What is the story behind the name Enter Shikari?
Rory: It came from Roughton’s uncle who had a boat called Shikari.
What would you say are some differences between your latest release COMMON DREADS and TAKE TO THE SKIES?
Chris: The main difference is that it was our first time working with a producer. We wanted to work with someone who had a little more of a dance background and production. It’s something that we felt that the first album was lacking. That would be the main difference, and also that our ideas have matured a lot.
What was the writing process like with COMMON DREADS?
Chris: Lazy. We kind of set days aside to write for about seven or eight hours but that didn’t really work. We kind of realized you can’t force yourself to write.
Yeah, it has to come naturally.
Chris: We spent a few months writing and a few months in the studio.
Who are your influences?
Rory: This is like the hardest question ever for us because we all listen to so many different things.
Chris: Prodigy is probably one of the big ones.
Chris & Rory: And At The Drive In.
What is the significance of the lyrics “…and still we will be here, standing like statues”? It’s on both the song “Stand Your Ground, this is Ancient Land” and at the end of “Solidarity” off COMMON DREADS.
Rory: That was a long time ago! I think it was about solidarity and everyone standing together like statues, everyone holding strong.
Chris: I think it spoke to us as a band as well. It was repeated like a theme throughout the first album. We got a lot of critics saying, “Oh, this band is only going to be here for one album.”
What would you say makes your music stand out compared to other bands in the same genre?
Chris: Hopefully we add a little fun to it as well. We always aim to make our live shows fun and in the studio we don’t tie ourselves down, we’re always up for experimenting. Also the electronics makes us stand out a little bit.
Tonight is the last night for the August Burns Red tour for you guys, how was it? Rory: It’s been grueling. The drives have been long, the weather has been hot.
Chris: Rory’s ginger, he can’t handle the heat.
[everyone laughs]
Chris: we find him sitting in dark corner of places.
Rory: The shows have been really cool and everyone on this tour has been really cool as well.
Chris: It’s been nice for us because we have also been able to play places we haven’t been to before.
Me: What’s been your favorite place to play?
Chris: For us it has to be the places we have actually played before because we have a little bit of a following. We get a few more people to come and see us. There’s nothing like it when you come this far and you see people screaming the lyrics back at you. West and East coast is really good for us but we have to work on in the middle of the States.
What is your favorite song to play live?
Rory: Whatever one is new. It’s always fun to play new ones because its more fresh.
Chris: For me at the moment it’s Solidarity, as soon as we play ZZONKED that is going to be my favorite.
What is your favorite part about touring out here in the States?
Chris: I guess that all the people who come to the shows are really into the music. That is the main difference we really see. It’s not so much a drinking culture, which is why a lot of kids go to the shows back home. Here is more about the music and I think that is really cool and refreshing.
Me: What about the food!?
Rory: The cupcakes are amazing. A few people have brought them to the shows and its been pretty special.
Chris: My brother has put on a big request for a mass order of Twinkies that I have to bring back as well.
How does the crowd/fan base here in the States differ from back home?
Rory: As Chris was saying, there is a lot less of a drinking culture out here. People are generally more active and on it and dance more, not that there is anything that is particularly the right thing to do.
Me: The drinking age there is 18, right?
Chris: Yes, but if you grow a beard it’s like 15. [laughs]
You guys have played many festivals such as Leeds Festival and Bamboozle in New Jersey. What one has been the most fun to play?
Chris: I’m going to go with Summer Sonic in Japan, it’s one of the best ones we’ve done.
Rory: Hmmm, yeah, probably the same.
Me: Why do you guys like it so much?
Chris: I think it’s just Japan in general, everything is just so well organized when you go over there, it’s insane. I remember at one point they had to put a backdrop up and had to employ a single person for each tie so there were about twenty people standing at the back of the stage ready to do the knot and up it went.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Chris: Come see us in September, we’ll be back, and then come see us after that, we’ll be back again.
Rory: We’ll be doing more dates early next year out here.