The Bankes Brothers Break Through Emotional Walls with New Single “Get To Know”

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Victoria, BC’s rising rock outfit The Bankes Brothers are back with “Get To Know,” a powerful new single that captures the emotional chaos of trying to connect with someone who refuses to open up. At once raw, rhythmic, and electrifying, it’s a tightly-wound exploration of vulnerability wrapped in the band’s signature blend of indie-rock grit and timeless rock ‘n’ roll spirit.

“This song came from that feeling when you're really trying to break through to someone who’s not letting you in,” shares frontman Nelson Bankes. “It’s about the tension between wanting to hold on and knowing you might have to let go. We tried to keep it raw and honest.”

That honesty pulses through every bar of “Get To Know.” Driven by sharp guitar riffs, pounding percussion, and emotionally direct vocals, the song builds tension in all the right places. It never explodes — instead, it simmers, capturing the ache of emotional limbo. It’s a song that feels as though it was meant to be played loud, live, and in the middle of a crowd.

The Bankes Brothers have quickly become known for exactly that: high-energy live shows that leave no room for apathy. The band — fronted by brothers Nelson and Morgan Bankes on vocals and guitar, with Carson Cleaver on lead guitar, Gray Oxley on bass, and Sascha Enns on drums — formed with the kind of natural chemistry only childhood friends and siblings can summon. There’s a kinetic charge to the way they play together, a tension and release that’s hard to fake and easy to feel.

Since the release of their debut EP In Waves, produced by Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, The Zolas), the band has carved out a strong presence across Canada. They’ve shared stages with Jesse Roper, lit up festival crowds at Edmonton Folk Fest, Laketown Shakedown, and Phillips Backyard Weekender, and brought their live-wire energy to every corner of the country. That foundation on the road has helped shape a band that knows how to translate emotional weight into something powerful, dynamic, and wholly their own.

“Get To Know” marks the latest release from the band’s upcoming EP, produced by Gus van Go — the acclaimed producer known for his work with Arkells and Sam Roberts Band. That collaboration has already sparked a string of standout tracks including “Bedroom Wall” and “Waited All Night,” each offering a different lens into The Bankes Brothers’ evolving sound. Where “Bedroom Wall” leaned into moody reflection and “Waited All Night” brought a late-night urgency, “Get To Know” strikes a perfect balance between emotional rawness and punchy clarity.

What’s most striking about the new single is its unfiltered tone. There’s no glossing over the pain or ambiguity in the lyrics, and the band doesn’t try to resolve the tension — instead, they let it ride, trusting the listener to sit in the uncertainty with them. It’s a mark of a band that’s growing more confident in their voice and more willing to take creative risks.

At their core, The Bankes Brothers are a band built for the stage, but with songs like “Get To Know,” they’re also showing how well they can translate that intensity into recorded form. Every note feels lived in, every lyric earned. It’s the kind of song that plays like a conversation — not just between people, but between instincts: the need to hold on and the strength it takes to let go.

With more music on the horizon and momentum building with each release, The Bankes Brothers are stepping fully into their next chapter — louder, sharper, and more honest than ever. And if “Get To Know” is any indication, they’ve only just scratched the surface.