British rock group Enter Shikari shot to the top of the UK rock charts in January with their no.1 album A Flashflood of Colour. As the latest red-hot act to join the line-up for Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, Jessica Abrahams gets to know drummer Rob Rolfe…
What does your music sound like?
We’re not afraid of breaking down genres so we’re constantly trying to take inspiration from anywhere. Our music has a rock and electronic influence, but also more soundscape-y bands like Sigur Ros, and there’s a big dance influence from bands like Chase & Status. This latest album – A Flashflood of Colour – is basically the culmination of anything we’ve ever been inspired by.
Is the new album more of the same?
With the first albums we were finding our feet but now we’ve really found our own sound and it’s unique, I think. The album has some of the most explosive music we’ve ever written on it but there are also some really melodic songs. It’s different but we’re still very much Enter Shikari.
Forget Abbey Road, you prefer more unusual recording places…
We started working on the album in November or December 2010 and by January we were in a studio in Thailand recording it. We were offered the opportunity to record there, and how could we turn it down – Thailand is a paradise. We were there for just under a month and it was an unbelievable experience. It’s an amazing place to record in the middle of nowhere with no distractions.
Then the mixing process began in Canada. The album came together very quickly but our creativity never really stops. It’s been coming together for a long time. All those little ideas and riffs have been building up.
You’re Kerrang! and NME award favourites. What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
Awards come and go but the best thing for us is the live performances. The highlight of my career has probably been playing the main stage at the Reading Festival, with such a big crowd. There’s no better feeling and that was probably our proudest moment. We were all grinning from ear to ear when we came off the stage.
Enter Shikari will be playing at BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend at the Hackney Marshes in June.
