The Bascinets are a 4-piece indie rock band from Columbus, OH. Their sound can probably best be described as a kind of mellow post-punky jangle guitar pop. The relationship between saccharine melody and angular dissonance is central to their sound. 

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Nick Wellman - guitar, principle songwriter, and vocals
Nick Shew - bass, songwriter
Tristan Huygen - guitar, songwriter
Trevor Joellenbeck - drums

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to The Bascinets? How long has the band been around?

We’ve been around for about 2.5 years now. Tristan and the Nicks went to high school together and did music stuff in various little projects here and there, and Tristan and Trevor had done some music before as well. 

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

I don’t quite recall, but I believe it having to do with something involving a joke wherein we would wear hats, helmets, etc. on stage and a bascinet came up. We like it because most people think that the band name is The Bassinets, and something about the phonetic similarity between a knight helmet and a thing you put babies in is really funny to us in an undefinable, juvenile way. And nope, we’ve always been The Bascinets.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Nick Wellman is the main songwriter, though Tristan and Nick Shew contribute stuff here and there. Lyrical themes are typically along the lines of isolation, petty ambition, cynical critique of things we probably don’t have a full understanding of, and interpersonal relationships. Will they change over time? Hopefully. 

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

The Velvet Underground, early REM, The Fall, The Smiths, etc.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Not really; each of us came into music on our own and then it was mainly our friendship and mutual ability to play music that made us decide to start working together. 

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

No flexing; deadlifting and Burger King usually. A typical pre-show ritual looks like this: chicken fries, union rings, then ten sets of ten pushups each.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Probably getting to play with Thunder Dreamer or Adult Mom.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

The Velvet Underground, mainly to mediate fights between Doug Yule and Lou Reed. Modern bands - prolly Lithics or Ought or Dwight Yoakam, and Girls.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Noper.