"It's A Manifesto On Who We Are": Bangkitan Discuss Their Latest Single 'Trip Around The Sun'

'TRIP AROUND THE SUN' is out now [photo: Bangkitan]

They're loud, they're lively, and they're here for a good time. They are of course Bangkitan, a 5 piece Cambridge band who burst onto the scene with last year's 'Jane Doe', an almost 4 and a half minute slice of excellent, groove-filled rock with a side of tasty riffage. Now, just over a year later, they're back with new track 'TRIP AROUND THE SUN'. And it hits just as hard as you'd expect.

Despite only being three singles into their career, Bangkitan are already one of those bands you're rooting for to get bigger. It's the sort of music where you're tapping your foot or nodding your head without even realising. It's the sort of music that perfectly complements that hot and sweaty feeling of a grassroots gig.

I spoke to the band about their new track, wanting to know the story behind it, the production process, and what we can expect from self-professed "Cambridge's best boy band" in 2025.

R: You're at your local pub trying to convince a total stranger they should come to a gig. What three words would you use to describe a Bankgitan show?

B: Sincere, rowdy, and kinetic. However, for your consideration: LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE?

Who are your influences or inspirations?

We draw from a pretty broad pool of inspiration - each of us brings a unique musical perspective and background. I think our common influences are bands like Linkin Park and Turnstile, but there's a bit of everything from metallic hardcore to 80's pop. [Our bassist] Fridge, our resident American, very much digs midwest emo. [Our drummer] Robbie is a massive pop-punk advocate. We try to bring everything to the table and see what works.

High energy? Check. Lively music? Check. [photo: Bangkitan]

"I don't think we've ever played a show without playing 'TRIP...'; it's really a manifesto on who we are."

You've recently released your latest track, "Trip Around The Sun". Can you tell me a bit about the track and the story behind it?

When we first got together, we had a few songs written and ready that didn't require much fine-tuning to become Bangkitan tracks. 'TRIP AROUND THE SUN' was the first song that we intentionally developed for Bangkitan, so it's quite sentimental. [Guitarist] Ryan brought in the riff and we absolutely ran with it.

I don't think we've ever played a show without playing 'TRIP...'; it's really a manifesto on who we are. We reached out to producer Tom Joy to bring this to life, and he smashed it. We recorded pretty much all of the guitars on a guitar he'd pulled from a skip outside a music shop in Norwich and he made it sound huge.

What was the recording process like?

We recorded 'TRIP...' across a few weekends in a couple of studios with Tom along with three other tracks. We were a lot more critical with our performances this time around [compared to] when we recorded our previous two singles ['Jane Doe' (2023) and 'This Misery Is Gourmet' (2024)].

We were eager to retain a DIY flavour to our takes, which I think was probably right for those tracks. That being said, we were keen to push ourselves to perform beyond our best on these new songs and I think it shows in the end product. Circling around to our influences, the new tracks are as varied as what we listen to as individuals. Don't expect them all to sound like 'TRIP...'!

"We recorded pretty much all of the guitars on a guitar he'd pulled from a skip ... he made it sound huge."

"The new tracks are varied ... don't expect them all to sound like 'TRIP...'!"

And lastly, what's in the calendar for 2025? What can we expect from Bangkitan in the new year?

Well, those new tracks have got to come out at some point... [and] Bangkitan is always on the look-out for shows. Where else wants a bit of Cambridge's Best Boy Band?

It's a party, and you're invited. [Photo: Bangkitan]

TRIP AROUND THE SUN is out now on all streaming platforms.