Bristol’s own Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine return on March 14th with ‘Skyrats’, the second single from their upcoming EP Rear Meat hailed for release April 4th.
Propelled by Smudger ‘Smudge’ Lewis’s dark, driving guitar work, ‘Skyrats’ marks the band’s evolution into more intense post-punk territory while retaining their eccentric B-52s and Talking Heads influences. The track builds from raw, gritty rhythms through vocalist/synthesist Harrison ‘Harri’ Elliott’s compelling monologue before culminating in an explosive finale that blends the intensity of Deftones with the experimental artistry of Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ era.
“Since Smudge was 12, he’s given the Herring Gull its alter ego name ‘Skyrat,’” the band explains. “This song is about how their numbers have multiplied and how they will take over the world if we don’t act now.” This powerful warning about avian domination has become such a live favourite that the band now intends to close every set with its thunderous conclusion. What’s perhaps most remarkable is that the entire composition—including Harri’s pivotal monologue that drives the song toward its climax—came together in just five minutes, capturing the raw creative energy that defines the band’s sound.
This release offers the second glimpse of their upcoming EP Rear Meat, building off of their February release ‘There’s Less Trouble When You Stay at Home.’ Across all four songs, the band throws themselves into a darker space, a catharsis that blends anxiety with themes of mistrust while not taking themselves too seriously. Recorded primarily by bassist Duncan and guitarist Cameron in the basement of Bristol’s iconic venue, The Louisiana, the EP works against sonic norms and honors the post-punk and new wave titans that came before. At the same time, the record ushers in a new mix of math rock, indie new wave and gritty punk that captures the raw musicality of the band. “One of the main creative processes to this EP is that we recorded the drums without a click/metronome. Nowadays that is not standard practice, but I really wanted to capture a flowing energy because when you play to a click sometimes that flow gets lost,” explains drummer Seamus
Formed in Bristol in 2020 through a series of serendipitous encounters – at college, Green Man festival, Gumtree adverts, and local gigs – Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine have crafted a unique sound that fuses frilly psychedelic melodies with fuzzed-up post-punk energy. Drawing inspiration from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Snapped Ankles alongside their new wave influences, the band embraces a playfully subversive approach to their art. As Seamus notes, “Fun and mischievous ways of expressing yourself within art is probably an artist’s greatest weapon.”
‘Skyrats’ will be available on all major platforms from March 14th, with the ‘Rear Meat’ EP hailed for release April 4th
Thoughts Words Action 