The Best of 2017: Enter Shikari

[vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-1 vc_col-lg-10 vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-10″][vc_column_text]

With ‘The Spark’ marking their third top 5 album, 2017 has been pretty great for Rou Reynolds.

Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-2 vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8″][vc_column_text]

Hey Rou, how would you rate 2017 out of ten?
I would give it a moderately decent 7.6 I reckon.

Congrats on ‘The Spark’ doing so well, did you expect it to go Top 5?
I don’t know what I expected to be honest. I seem to generally fluctuate between a general lack of confidence and then overwhelming ambition and high expectations, there’s a lot of intense emotions in those head spaces, so often I just try to live in the present and not expect or hope for anything.

Album release aside, what have been your highlights of 2017?
My first harvest of homegrown food from my wee garden. I say harvest, it was only some garlic, onions and spinach, but still, I was pretty happy with that.

What news stories have affected you this year?
Christ, the whole news cycle has been unrelenting and grim. The sexual harassment stories, the terrorism, the natural disasters and the barrage of all things Trump; he’s obviously the big red boil on the arse of 2017. The Grenfell Tower disaster affected me quite a lot. The chap I produced The Spark with David Kosten has his studio a few minutes from the tower itself. I think it highlighted how much is wrong with the news cycle itself too. The fact that a story like that can after a few days basically be forgotten about is enraging. The people were left to struggle, and the mainstream media moves on to the next story. Governments must know that if they can ride out the initial storm of bad press, they’ll survive as they’ll then be off the hook as the news cycle moves on.

What do you think has been the biggest music-related news story of 2017?
I don’t know… or really care, I mean, it was probably something to do with Taylor Swift, wasn’t it? Here’s the biggest music-related news story of 2017 for you: Music, against all the odds, in a historical period of real human division, intense individualism, capitalistic narcissism and self-centredness, is still managing to bring people together, from all backgrounds, indiscriminately, all around the world; to sing together, to feel connected to one another, to feel empathy, to feel community. That’s the biggest music-related news story of 2017.

Did you achieve everything you wanted to this year?
I don’t look at things on a year on year basis really. Life is just one long road where you learn as you go. I achieve or progress in some areas and fall back or stall in others, all depending on what’s thrown at me.

What’s in your diary for 2018 so far?
Visiting a few wineries, brushing up on my foxtrot and samba steps, learning Chinese, making more use of my national trust membership… I, of course, am chatting absolute shite, 2018 is just one long, in fact seemingly interminable, tour.

What are you up to for Christmas? Have you started your shopping yet?
I’m quite conservative and consistent when it comes to Christmas. It’ll be back to the parent’s house as always; friends and family, trying to cook, drinking too much Baileys, all that business. Have I started shopping yet? No, I’m a normal person. 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_js]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[/vc_raw_js][/vc_column][/vc_row]