Panic Shack have returned with a typically brilliant new single, 'Gok Wan', after a two-year break
It's the first preview of the quintet's upcoming debut album.
Cardiff's Panic Shack have returned with 'Gok Wan', their first new material in over two years, released via Brace Yourself Records.
The track, which received its first play from Huw Stephens on BBC 6 Music, marks the first preview of the quintet's upcoming debut album. The band - Sarah Harvey (vocals), Meg Fretwell (guitar/backing vocals), Romi Lawrence (guitar/backing vocals), Em Smith (bass) and Nick Doherty-Williams (drums) - have spent recent years touring with Bob Vylan and Soft Play, alongside appearances at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Green Man, End of the Road, and SXSW.
Produced by Ali Chant, known for his work with PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, and Yard Act, 'Gok Wan' addresses the culture of body 'improvement' shows from the noughties. The single arrives alongside a video directed by Ren Faulkner, featuring choreography by Lauren Fretwell.
The band explain: "Growing up in the '00s we were bombarded with constant images of super skinny models and 'IT girls' as well as TV shows all about 'looking good' and 'being thin'. We wanted to write a song that embodied the ludicrous nature of what we were consuming as literal children and how it affected us then and to this day.
"We dug deep into our shared memories of that time, bought some trashy magazines at the corner shop and watched some old shows on YouTube, 'Trinny and Susannah' and 'Ten Years Younger' being a couple… but honestly there are SO MANY to choose from. It was shocking to watch them back. The stark difference to what's acceptable now, discussing women's bodies with such negativity felt satirical, albeit a plus knowing things have come along a fair bit since then. We took headlines from the magazines and worked a few into the lyrics, 'fat or pregnant' being one, yes that's a genuine magazine headline.
"The title 'Gok Wan' comes from the show he presented How To Look Good Naked which in all honestly was one of the better shows, in terms of negativity but still obviously had the main focus on women's bodies. No hate to Gok (Trinny and Susannah didn't have the same ring to it for a title), it was the time we lived in and through but it was still shit, it still shaped our little teenager minds into this grown up hellscape of constantly focusing on how we look rather than what we do.
The track, which received its first play from Huw Stephens on BBC 6 Music, marks the first preview of the quintet's upcoming debut album. The band - Sarah Harvey (vocals), Meg Fretwell (guitar/backing vocals), Romi Lawrence (guitar/backing vocals), Em Smith (bass) and Nick Doherty-Williams (drums) - have spent recent years touring with Bob Vylan and Soft Play, alongside appearances at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Green Man, End of the Road, and SXSW.
Produced by Ali Chant, known for his work with PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, and Yard Act, 'Gok Wan' addresses the culture of body 'improvement' shows from the noughties. The single arrives alongside a video directed by Ren Faulkner, featuring choreography by Lauren Fretwell.
The band explain: "Growing up in the '00s we were bombarded with constant images of super skinny models and 'IT girls' as well as TV shows all about 'looking good' and 'being thin'. We wanted to write a song that embodied the ludicrous nature of what we were consuming as literal children and how it affected us then and to this day.
"We dug deep into our shared memories of that time, bought some trashy magazines at the corner shop and watched some old shows on YouTube, 'Trinny and Susannah' and 'Ten Years Younger' being a couple… but honestly there are SO MANY to choose from. It was shocking to watch them back. The stark difference to what's acceptable now, discussing women's bodies with such negativity felt satirical, albeit a plus knowing things have come along a fair bit since then. We took headlines from the magazines and worked a few into the lyrics, 'fat or pregnant' being one, yes that's a genuine magazine headline.
"The title 'Gok Wan' comes from the show he presented How To Look Good Naked which in all honestly was one of the better shows, in terms of negativity but still obviously had the main focus on women's bodies. No hate to Gok (Trinny and Susannah didn't have the same ring to it for a title), it was the time we lived in and through but it was still shit, it still shaped our little teenager minds into this grown up hellscape of constantly focusing on how we look rather than what we do.
The band's upcoming dates read:
MAY
1 Bodega, Nottingham, UK [sold out]
2 MASH, Cambridge, UK
3 Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich, UK
6 Patterns, Brighton, UK [sold out]
8 The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, UK
9 FOCUS Wales, Wrexham, UK
10 The Wardrobe, Leeds, UK
11 Cluny, Newcastle, UK
13 King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, UK
14 Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield, UK [sold out]
15 Arts Club, Liverpool, UK
16 Band on the Wall, Manchester, UK
18 The Bullingdon, Oxford, UK [sold out]
19 Papillon, Southampton, UK
20 Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, UK
22 Thekla, Bristol, UK [sold out]
23 In It Together Festival, Port Talbot, UK
25 Corn Exchange, Newport, UK
28 The Garage, London, UK
JULY
10 Upcote Farm, Cheltenham, UK
18 Homestead Festival, Portishead, UK
MAY
1 Bodega, Nottingham, UK [sold out]
2 MASH, Cambridge, UK
3 Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich, UK
6 Patterns, Brighton, UK [sold out]
8 The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, UK
9 FOCUS Wales, Wrexham, UK
10 The Wardrobe, Leeds, UK
11 Cluny, Newcastle, UK
13 King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, UK
14 Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield, UK [sold out]
15 Arts Club, Liverpool, UK
16 Band on the Wall, Manchester, UK
18 The Bullingdon, Oxford, UK [sold out]
19 Papillon, Southampton, UK
20 Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, UK
22 Thekla, Bristol, UK [sold out]
23 In It Together Festival, Port Talbot, UK
25 Corn Exchange, Newport, UK
28 The Garage, London, UK
JULY
10 Upcote Farm, Cheltenham, UK
18 Homestead Festival, Portishead, UK
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