INTERVIEW: Bananagun Break the Mold with Why Is the Colour of the Sky?
Bananagun are back with their new album, Why Is the Colour of the Sky?, the Melbourne outfit swaps the golden, sunny vibes of their debut for something raw, freaky, and wildly unpredictable. Think loose-limbed jazz jams and trippy beats that hit you like a swirling kaleidoscope. If you thought you had these guys pegged, think again.
“Nothing too conscious,” they say of the sonic shift. “We went for fewer overdubs this time so the live shows could match the album better. There was one track on the first record with this vibe, but we were keen to escape the sunny box people put us in. This feels closer to home.”
That organic, stripped-back energy shines brightest on Free Energy, a track recorded at Button Pusher Studios in a session that was as raw as it gets. “Some of the guys were away, so it was just Jimi on drums and me on bass,” says the band’s frontman. “We kept it simple—just nail the take and overdub the rest. It was rushed, sure, but that urgency gave the song its bite. We were just trying not to lose the magic of a good take.”
For a band whose debut climbed to #2 on the ARIA vinyl charts and became a cult favorite, there was some pressure to deliver. But instead of replicating their success, Bananagun decided to flip the script. “That first album’s poppiness kind of loomed in the background, and it made the writing process feel a bit constricted. That’s why this one took four years,” the frontman admits. “But in the end, it forced us to ask ourselves: what are we doing this for? And we’re better for it.”
If you’ve ever caught Bananagun live, you know their shows are a whole vibe—pure energy bouncing between band and audience. With the new tracks in the mix, expect that connection to feel even tighter. “It’s all about the crowd. If they’re hyped, we’re hyped. It’s this wild feedback loop.”
And then there’s that cheeky album title, Why Is the Colour of the Sky?—part riddle, part mantra for the curious. “I just thought it was a fun question,”. “Looking back, it fits the album perfectly. These songs are about questioning the strange stuff, the things you’re not encouraged to think about. But it’s not cynical—it’s childlike, and I think that’s where the real magic is.”
With Why Is the Colour of the Sky?, Bananagun aren’t just making music—they’re creating a whole new experience. It’s a record that demands you listen with fresh ears, embrace the unknown, and maybe, just maybe, ask yourself a few big questions along the way. So crank it up, and let Bananagun take you somewhere you’ve never been.
BANANAGUN 2025 ALBUM SHOWS
Friday 28 February 2025 - Trocadero Room, Sydney
Friday 21 March 2025 - Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
Tickets on sale here