Rizzle Kicks back together: Duo talk about return to music

Rizzle Kicks’ first album Stereo Typical reached number 5 in the UK charts, with their second, Roaring 20s, doing even better – reaching number 3.

But the pair stopped making music together in 2016, due to problems including addiction and mental health.

“We started when we were 18, 19, thrown into this crazy world,” Harley says.

“We made an attempt to do another album, which never came out,” Jordan says.

“A tour was booked, which never happened.

“Harley was trying to prevent a panic attack after a show. Lying on the floor doing deep-breathing. I had got to the state of acknowledging my addictive habits.

“It was a pop-rollercoaster we hadn’t intended to be on. I was way too sensitive for that.”

Jordan says the panic attack caused a moment of reflection.

“We stood there and thought, ‘Is it worth it?’ At the expense of Harley’s peace of mind? My piece of mind?

“We needed some time to grow up out of the spotlight.”

He feels it was pressure from their labels and within the music industry which got a bit too much.

“We were put on a hamster wheel. I wish we had the time to appreciate what we’d done and taken the time with no pressure to get back in and write, write, write.

“We literally said: ‘Maybe we should grow up?'”