There are moments in life when people don’t just change direction — they completely rewrite their story. For former property entrepreneur turned artist Stephen Wicks, that shift has taken him from boardrooms and business deals to recording studios and songwriting sessions, culminating in what may be his most urgent and ambitious release yet.

His upcoming single, The Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds to Midnight), doesn’t shy away from the weight of the world. Instead, it leans directly into it.

A Song Inspired by a World on Edge

The track draws inspiration from the well-known Doomsday Clock, a symbolic indicator maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. In 2026, the clock sits at its closest point to midnight ever recorded — just 85 seconds — reflecting growing global concerns around climate change, nuclear risk, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical instability.

Rather than treating this as background noise, Wicks turns it into the emotional centre of the song.

The result is a rock track that feels tense, cinematic, and uncomfortably relevant — built on driving instrumentation and lyrics that confront uncertainty head-on.

Reinvention at 74: From Business to Music

At 74, Wicks represents something rare in the modern music landscape: an artist stepping into a completely new creative identity later in life.

After decades in the corporate and property sectors, he has shifted his focus fully toward songwriting and recording. What began as a long-standing personal passion has now become a serious artistic pursuit, with The Doomsday Clock marking his fifth single release.

There’s no attempt here to imitate youth or chase trends. Instead, his music reflects lived experience — a perspective shaped by time, decision-making, and observation of a rapidly changing world.

A Collaborative Creative Vision

For this release, Wicks worked closely with acclaimed British producer George Shilling, whose credits include artists such as Blur, Primal Scream, and Steve Winwood.

Shilling’s approach was rooted in clarity and intention — shaping the sound without diluting its message.

Lead guitar on the track is performed by Australian guitarist Stefan Hauk, known for his expressive playing style and rising reputation in the international rock scene. His contribution adds a sharp, emotional edge to the track’s sonic identity.

A Message Wrapped in Sound

Producer George Shilling describes the project as more than just a recording:

“Stephen combines the disciplined storytelling of a career spent navigating high-stakes corporate environments with the raw, unfiltered emotionality of an artist who pulls no punches and understands what is at stake for future generations. This music is not just a passion project — it’s a wake-up call set to music.”

That sentiment sits at the heart of the single. It isn’t built for escapism — it’s built for reflection.

A Visual Countdown

Alongside the release, The Doomsday Clock (85 Seconds to Midnight) will be accompanied by an official music video designed to visually reflect the concept behind the song — the relentless ticking toward midnight and the fragility of the world we live in.

It’s a stark reminder that while the clock may be symbolic, the anxieties it represents are very real.

A Late Creative Chapter with Urgent Impact

What makes Wicks’ journey compelling isn’t just the career change — it’s the timing. In a world increasingly defined by uncertainty, his work arrives as both personal expression and cultural commentary.

At a stage in life when many settle into retrospection, he is instead producing forward-looking work that engages directly with some of the most pressing questions of the present day.

And in doing so, he quietly challenges a simple assumption: that reinvention has an age limit.

For Stephen Wicks, the clock may be ticking — but creativity clearly isn’t.