Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine return with new single ‘Skyrats’ ahead of upcoming EP

Bristol’s Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine are back with ‘Skyrats’, the second single from their forthcoming EP ‘Rear Meat’, set for release on April 4th. The track marks a new chapter for the band, diving deeper into an intense post-punk sound while keeping the eccentric new wave energy that has become their signature.

Driven by Smudger “Smudge” Lewis’s gritty guitar work, ‘Skyrats’ weaves together raw, brooding rhythms with Harrison “Harri” Elliott’s hypnotic monologue, before launching into a thunderous, chaotic finale. The band pulls from influences ranging from B-52s and Talking Heads to the ethereal experimentation of Radiohead’s OK Computer and the crushing intensity of Deftones.

The song’s unusual inspiration comes from an inside joke turned full-fledged apocalyptic warning. “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.” A fan-favourite in their high-energy live sets, ‘Skyrats’ has already cemented itself as their go-to show closer, thanks to its explosive, unpredictable energy—a track that remarkably came together in just five minutes.