Bloc Party have confirmed that they're auditioning new singers just a week after Kele Okereke joked that he hoped he wasn't fired from the band. 

Speaking exclusively to the NME, Russell Lissack explained that Okereke's solo project is taking up so much time that it makes more sense to replace him than to wait it out:

"It's not really a secret because Kele's been pretty busy doing solo stuff and it looks like he's going to be doing that a bit longer. The other three of us wanted to meet up and make music. We were talking about just doing an instrumental thing, but now we might get a singer as well, to properly put some music out and play some shows."

He also added that he's been out of touch with Okereke for "a couple of months" although there are no "bad vibes" between them:

"I haven't spoken to Kele for a couple of months, I guess since the festivals when I was doing stuff with Ash. But there's no bad vibes."

The full interview will be available to read in the new issue of NME, which goes on sale tomorrow (September 28), and you can watch Okereke's video for 'New Rules' below: