Music / Features
So, what’s it to you?
w/ Nick Van Bakel
Words by James Donovan
Monday 25th October, 2021
Buckle up: you’re about to enter a strange zoo of kaleidoscoping rhythms, hypnotic spells, vibrations, and an age of aquarius blips. In other words, the wild dossier of Bananagun. Accept no substitute.

We had a moment to chat with head banana, Nick Van Bakel, to discuss his journey of music throughout his life.
The record that made you form a band

Probably Piper At The Gates of Dawn, early Stones. But definitely when I heard 'I Can’t Seem To Make You Mine' by The Seeds it really got me good and then there was no doubt about it.


Your springboard to songwriting

Maybe seeing Dig? Definitely lit a fire under my arse. The Beatles at the BBC albums though was my biggest education on writing because there’s so much brill building pop on it and Beatles songs I guess learning all that I got a bit more familiar with song structure. You're just plotting through stuff when you're young tho, can’t be just one.


A song that can quiet a room

Leah Senior shows.


Your introduction to The Beatles

I think a kid at school burnt me 1 the hits CD and we were reading Of Mice and Men so I listened to it heaps then. That guys in the army now haha. Then a bit later I got super obsessed.


The song that reminds you of your youth

'No Fun' by The Stooges, The Pixies.


The song that reminds you there is love in all

Well not sure if all agree but for me it’s 'All This Crazy Gift of Time' by Kevin Ayers.


The song you are grateful to have found

Ritual by Nico Gomez and his Latin Percussion Ensemble.
Bananagun's debut album The True Story of Bananagun is out now through Anti Fade Records - head here to purchase the record.

Check out the previous instalment of James’ ‘So, what’s it to you?’ series with Sam Cooper here.
@bananagun_bananagram
Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski