5 Minutes with The Sherlocks: The Sheffield quartet embracing rock and roll chaos for their live shows

Sheffield indie/alt-rock quartet The Sherlocks have built up a reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting and relatable bands on the rise. Comprised of members Kiaran Crook on vocals, drummer Brandon Crook, bass player Trent Jackson and guitarist Alex Proctor, The Sherlocks have released three acclaimed albums – including their debut Live For The Moment and last year’s World I Understand, which both hit the Top 10. The band’s anthemic and captivating brand of stadium-ready rock has seen The Sherlocks pick up an incredibly loyal and passionate fanbase, not only confined to the UK but throughout Europe and the US too – which is only set to grow further thanks to their biggest UK headline tour to date taking place later this year.

Recently, The Sherlocks ramped up for their fourth studio album, People Like Me & You (releasing August 11th), by revealing the project’s first single ‘Sirens.’ The abrasive, hard-hitting cut sees the band step into post-punk aesthetics with industrial-like production and a show-stealing chorus that’ll ring in your ears long after the track is over. ‘Sirens’ is yet another shining example that The Sherlocks aren’t afraid to switch things up and get experimental, and clearly, that versatility is paying off. Their upcoming project is expected to be the band’s most expansive record to date, and if ‘Sirens’ is anything to go by, we can’t wait to see what else the boys have up their sleeves. Here, HUNGER sits down with The Sherlocks’ Kiaran to discuss their latest single and what we can expect from People Like Me & You.

Can you talk to us a bit about your new single, ‘Sirens?’ What was the creative process like for that track?

Yeah, I suppose the idea came from the pre-chorus line ‘’you’re not ready for this’’ and built from there. I loved the idea of breaking down from that lyric and exploding into a huge chorus, so that’s what we aimed for. 

The track seems a bit grimier and grittier than what we’ve seen from you before; what made you want to go in that direction?

Why not! I think we were ready to explore that route a little bit just to see where it took us, and we landed here. It’s not super heavy; it’s just a little bit darker and moodier, and then the chorus takes it somewhere else.

Do you ever feel any pressure before releasing a new single into the world?

No, not pressure, just pure excitement to finally get it out into the world and see what people think. We’re proud of everything we put out!

Can we expect to see you experiment further on your upcoming album, People Like Me & You?

Yeah, definitely! Like all our albums, you can’t pinpoint us to one style because every song is different. We enjoy writing different kinds of songs. I think it’s our best record yet, and there’ll be something for everyone on there.

Are there any sounds/genres you’d like to particularly explore in the future?

Maybe like some psychedelic kind of stuff in the future, possibly. We’ll see… We’re not going to force anything. If it happens, it happens.

How did the process behind your upcoming album differ from your previous efforts?

I basically didn’t write as much. I gathered a load of ideas for different songs and forced myself to finish writing them in the studio. It was a bit nuts, to be honest!

What song are you playing to get a party started?

‘Insomnia’ – Faithless. Tune.

You’ve got your biggest UK headline tour coming up later this year; what can fans expect from a Sherlocks show?

They can expect an absolute rock and roll show! This new album is gonna lend itself to being played live anyway; I can just tell with the songs. They’re probably more sing-along than our past albums, to be honest, with a nice raw edge to them. Proper happy with how the record has turned out, so the fans should get excited to hear these new songs!

What has been your favourite performance from the past year?

For me, that last Manchester gig was one to remember for sure. It was at The Ritz, and it went off! Gotta be that for me, it was a special night!

If you could share the stage with any other artist or band, who would it be?

Jamie T currently. I love what he’s doing at the minute.

What advice would you give an up-and-coming band trying to make it in the industry today?

Enjoy it (obviously), and don’t take it too seriously. And don’t think getting a huge record label is the be-all and end-all because times have changed. You can do it all yourself if you write good songs and you connect with your fans. The fans are everything; the rest follows.

What’s the goal for The Sherlocks?

To become the biggest band in the world. We want to be massive; we think we’re writing the best songs, and we’re getting the fanbase. So short term, just keep getting bigger and keep writing good songs.