Formed in 1999, Enter Shikari have been shaking up the heavy music scene for over two decades. Known for fusing post-hardcore, electronic, and punk elements, they’ve built a reputation for their genre-bending sound and explosive live shows. Their latest album, A Kiss for the Whole World, scored them their first UK number-one, earning praise from critics, fans, and new listeners alike. But it’s not just about the music—they are also fiercely political, using their platform to speak out on global issues dear to them, all while spreading messages of hope and positivity through their lyrics. This week, they’re bringing their massive energy to Australia for Knotfest, sharing the stage with legends like Slipknot and A Day To Remember. I caught up with lead singer Rou Reynolds ahead of their performance to talk about all things Enter Shikari and what fans can expect from the show.
Enter Shikari’s 2024 album A Kiss For The Whole World which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart- an incredible achievement after decades in the game. “It was almost a sigh of relief”, Reynolds recalls. “We’ve been going for so long. We’ve had two number twos, all of our albums have been at least top ten. So to finally get that number one- it was like, ‘Okay! Yeah!’. As much as you can try and be all punk and like, ‘oh, I don’t care about charts, man’, it was amazing. Over twenty years we’ve been a band, to still be growing and still be achieving these milestones, it just felt so special.” And while it is a huge achievement, the celebrations were a little unceremonious, with Reynolds sharing, “We literally found out that we were number one at Heathrow Airport, about to travel to North America to do a tour there. There was this euphoric hour where we just had some champagne at the bar and then we got on the plane and that was kind of it. I’m kind of sad, really, because we didn’t get to properly celebrate it but yeah, it happened and we were really grateful for the support and everyone that bought the record and everything. Now it’s forwards and we’ll see what happens next.”
It only takes a quick listen to understand what makes Enter Shikari so unique- their flawless fusion of different sounds and genres is utterly captivating, yet bizarre. When asked how they manage to achieve this distinctive blend, Reynolds says, “I’m quite lucky really in that it just comes quite naturally because I was brought up around such a wide range of music. My nan, who lived with us- she was into big band jazz and so the first instrument that I ended up wanting to play was the trumpet. I learned that for a few years and idolised Glenn Miller and Louis Armstrong. And then my dad was a DJ. He DJ’d Motown and Soul, so I think melody was just embedded in me. I think thats why we didn’t end up just becoming a straight-up hardcore punk band or something, because melody is so important. And then we discovered our local punk scenes and at the same time were discovering drum and bass, and jungle. We had all these different friend groups that were involved in different types of music and therefore we had all of these inroads and ways to get into these different styles… so yeah, it’s not like a conscious thing when I’m writing.”
This week, as the band prepares to perform at Knotfest in Australia, it’s clear that Reynolds and the rest of the band are extremely keen to share the stage with some heavy music giants and get rowdy with Aussie crowds. “Australia always obviously feels so far away, and it feels like when we’re going it should be a celebration of the fact that we’ve just travelled around the other side of the globe. I think our set is going to be very broad, hopefully it’ll have something from every era of the band and lots of remixes as well, and just give a realistic sense of what Enter Shikari is…The passion and thrill of a show in Australia has always been so consistent, ever since we first went there really. Whether it’s a festival or we’re doing a headliner in a venue, there’s always an unmistakable vibe that we always look forward to.”
During their two-and-a-half decades, Enter Shikari have been very politically vocal. This is apparent through their lyrics, live performances and how Reynolds uses social media to raise awareness for causes important to him. “It’s getting harder and harder to make music with an uplifting message” Reynolds says on making music in the current political climate. “It’s our job to show the bigger picture because, you know, everyone’s lives are so intense, so full of just survival, really. We go from jobs to looking after our families to trying to educate ourselves, to try and stay healthy. Life is very messy and very chaotic and very difficult. And therefore it’s very easy to just get stuck in routines or very easy to just think that this is the way that things are and therefore should be.”
Reynolds goes on to explain the driving philosophy behind their music: “I always want to be realistic. I’ve never wanted to make just straight up optimistic, hope for hope’s sake. Shikari should be realism before it’s optimism, I think. But at the same time, you want to motivate people. And just talking about the terrifying trajectories that humanity is on at the moment isn’t very motivating. It sort makes us just, like, ‘fuck!’ and just shy away from things. So yeah, it’s definitely a difficult balance to strike and one that we think about quite a lot.”
Their political activism extends beyond their music, with the band taking action for particular causes. On their last arena tour, they donated £1 per ticket sold to raise money for grassroots music venues across the UK. They’ll also play some more intimate and obscure venues in Australia this week, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting smaller live music spaces. “It’s just something we’ve always enjoyed. We’re lucky in a way that in many parts of the world we haven’t got the same stature that we have in the UK or Australia- where we’re playing these bigger venues and festivals- and we get to still play these smaller spaces. That’s something we’ve really grasped as a part of us, and it keeps up grounded in the places we grew up playing, and therefore its just something that we now put in place wherever we go.” This type of support is especially valuable in Australia, where it’s no secret that the live music scene is struggling. With countless venues closing heir doors and multiple festivals coming to an end, Reynolds says it’s a similar story in the UK. “The last two years we’ve lost on average a music venue every week here in the UK which is just outrageous really because these are the places that create community, like genuine community. And you don’t really get that like in many other areas of life.”
Chatting to Reynolds, it’s very clear that Enter Shikari are in an incredibly exciting place right now, with their first number one album under their belt and their passion for creating meaningful, impactful music stronger than ever. With their love for Australian crowds, there’s no denying that their upcoming performance at Knotfest will be a high-octane celebration of everything the band has built over the last 25 years.
If you haven’t grabbed your Knotfest tickets yet, don’t stress—there’s still time! Snag some last-minute tickets HERE and witness Enter Shikari live in all their glory.
