At a time when conversations about the future of humanity seem increasingly unavoidable, singer-songwriter Stephen Wicks is turning those concerns into music with his latest release, The Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds To Midnight).
Rather than offering an escape from the uncertainty of the modern world, Wicks confronts it head-on. The new rock track draws inspiration from the famous Doomsday Clock maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, using its symbolic countdown as a starting point for a wider reflection on the dangers facing society.
The clock’s 2026 setting of 85 seconds to midnight represents its closest position to midnight to date, with concerns including climate change, nuclear proliferation, artificial intelligence and geopolitical instability contributing to the increasingly urgent symbolism. Wicks transforms that sense of urgency into a piece of music designed to make listeners stop and think.
From the Corporate World to the Recording Studio
Stephen Wicks’ journey into music is perhaps as intriguing as the subject matter of his latest single.
A former property entrepreneur and corporate executive, Wicks has spent decades working in the business world before turning his attention fully towards songwriting and recording. Now 74, he is demonstrating that creativity does not have an expiration date.
The Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds To Midnight) marks his fifth single, continuing a remarkable second chapter in his career. His experience of observing the world through decades of professional and personal change gives the song an unusual perspective, particularly as it considers what kind of future today’s generations may leave behind.
The result is a release that sits somewhere between a rock song and a warning signal.
An Urgent Rock Sound
Musically, Doomsday Clock embraces driving instrumentation, urgent lyrics and a cinematic sense of intensity. The production is handled by acclaimed British producer George Shilling, whose previous work includes collaborations with artists such as Blur, Primal Scream and Steve Winwood.
Wicks’ approach to assembling the team behind the recording was influenced by a philosophy he developed during his corporate career: surrounding himself with the best people possible.
Lead guitar comes from Australian guitarist Stefan Hauk, adding another dimension to the track’s powerful rock sound.
The collaboration helps turn the song’s heavy subject matter into something immediate and accessible. Rather than simply describing the fears surrounding the modern world, Wicks uses the energy of rock music to communicate the feeling of living through them.
More Than a Passion Project
One of the most interesting elements of Stephen Wicks’ story is the motivation behind the music.
This is not simply an established business figure experimenting with a new creative hobby. His songwriting has become a way of communicating ideas that he believes deserve attention.
Producer George Shilling describes the project as a “wake-up call set to music”, reflecting the ambition behind Doomsday Clock. The track asks listeners to consider the significance of the issues dominating conversations about humanity’s future, while leaving room for the music itself to deliver the emotional impact.
That combination of personal reinvention and global subject matter gives the single a distinctive identity.
A Visual Countdown
The release will also be accompanied by an official music video, bringing the central imagery of the Doomsday Clock into a visual setting.
The video is intended to capture the relentless ticking of the clock and the fragility of the world it represents, extending the song’s message beyond the audio itself.
With its combination of rock intensity, cinematic production and an unusually topical concept, Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds To Midnight) introduces Stephen Wicks as an artist with something considerably bigger on his mind than simply releasing another single.
At 74, Wicks is proving that a new creative chapter can begin at any age — and that music can still be used to ask difficult questions about where society is heading.
For an artist who has moved from corporate boardrooms to recording studios, Doomsday Clock represents a striking transformation. More importantly, it is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful songs are the ones that force us to look directly at the world around us.
Follow Stephen Wicks:
Instagram: @stephenwicks
Spotify: Stephen Wicks
YouTube: Stephen Wicks Music
Website: stephenwicks.co.uk
At a time when conversations about the future of humanity seem increasingly unavoidable, singer-songwriter Stephen Wicks is turning those concerns into music with his latest release, Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds To Midnight).
Rather than offering an escape from the uncertainty of the modern world, Wicks confronts it head-on. The new rock track draws inspiration from the famous Doomsday Clock maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, using its symbolic countdown as a starting point for a wider reflection on the dangers facing society.
The clock’s 2026 setting of 85 seconds to midnight represents its closest position to midnight to date, with concerns including climate change, nuclear proliferation, artificial intelligence and geopolitical instability contributing to the increasingly urgent symbolism. Wicks transforms that sense of urgency into a piece of music designed to make listeners stop and think.
From the Corporate World to the Recording Studio
Stephen Wicks’ journey into music is perhaps as intriguing as the subject matter of his latest single.
A former property entrepreneur and corporate executive, Wicks has spent decades working in the business world before turning his attention fully towards songwriting and recording. Now 74, he is demonstrating that creativity does not have an expiration date.
Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds To Midnight) marks his fifth single, continuing a remarkable second chapter in his career. His experience of observing the world through decades of professional and personal change gives the song an unusual perspective, particularly as it considers what kind of future today’s generations may leave behind.
The result is a release that sits somewhere between a rock song and a warning signal.
An Urgent Rock Sound
Musically, Doomsday Clock embraces driving instrumentation, urgent lyrics and a cinematic sense of intensity. The production is handled by acclaimed British producer George Shilling, whose previous work includes collaborations with artists such as Blur, Primal Scream and Steve Winwood.
Wicks’ approach to assembling the team behind the recording was influenced by a philosophy he developed during his corporate career: surrounding himself with the best people possible.
Lead guitar comes from Australian guitarist Stefan Hauk, adding another dimension to the track’s powerful rock sound.
The collaboration helps turn the song’s heavy subject matter into something immediate and accessible. Rather than simply describing the fears surrounding the modern world, Wicks uses the energy of rock music to communicate the feeling of living through them.
More Than a Passion Project
One of the most interesting elements of Stephen Wicks’ story is the motivation behind the music.
This is not simply an established business figure experimenting with a new creative hobby. His songwriting has become a way of communicating ideas that he believes deserve attention.
Producer George Shilling describes the project as a “wake-up call set to music”, reflecting the ambition behind Doomsday Clock. The track asks listeners to consider the significance of the issues dominating conversations about humanity’s future, while leaving room for the music itself to deliver the emotional impact.
That combination of personal reinvention and global subject matter gives the single a distinctive identity.
A Visual Countdown
The release will also be accompanied by an official music video, bringing the central imagery of the Doomsday Clock into a visual setting.
The video is intended to capture the relentless ticking of the clock and the fragility of the world it represents, extending the song’s message beyond the audio itself.
With its combination of rock intensity, cinematic production and an unusually topical concept, Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds To Midnight) introduces Stephen Wicks as an artist with something considerably bigger on his mind than simply releasing another single.
At 74, Wicks is proving that a new creative chapter can begin at any age — and that music can still be used to ask difficult questions about where society is heading.
For an artist who has moved from corporate boardrooms to recording studios, Doomsday Clock represents a striking transformation. More importantly, it is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful songs are the ones that force us to look directly at the world around us.
