Victoria, BC rock outfit The Bankes Brothers turn burnout, uncertainty and creative ambition into an exuberant rock anthem about betting on yourself.
The Bankes Brothers are throwing caution aside on “Risk It All,” a punchy new single that transforms the frustrations of pursuing a life in music into something joyous, restless and cathartic.
Fronted by brothers Nelson and Morgan Bankes, the Victoria, BC group have built their sound around soaring melodies, indie-rock energy and a warmth rooted in classic songwriting. “Risk It All” pushes those ingredients into particularly lively territory, pairing driving guitars and an old-school rock-and-roll streak with the feeling of reaching a breaking point and deciding to charge forward anyway.
The song grew from a melody Nelson first found himself humming in the shower, eventually developing into a full-band rocker. Its defining guitar part arrived just as spontaneously, with guitarist Carson contributing a fiery lead while battling the flu during the recording session. The finishing touch comes near the end, when Nelson abandons restraint altogether and sends the title into a full-throated scream.
Beneath that exuberance is a familiar tension for working musicians. The song reflects the collision between pursuing a creative career and maintaining the ordinary jobs and responsibilities required to sustain it, particularly the exhaustion created by an industry where periods of frantic activity can abruptly give way to waiting.
Rather than surrendering to that frustration, “Risk It All” turns it into fuel. Its vintage rock attitude gives the track a loose, celebratory quality while the band's modern indie sensibility keeps it moving with urgency.
The release arrives amid growing momentum for The Bankes Brothers, who have appeared internationally at Isle of Wight Festival and Reeperbahn Festival and toured alongside artists including Great Gable and The K’s. Back home, they’ve shared stages with Cold War Kids, Band of Skulls, Current Swell and Jesse Roper.
“Risk It All” ultimately lands as both a release valve and a declaration: sometimes uncertainty is less frightening when you decide to run directly into it.
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