Banana Freeman

A decade before this portrait, when I still had long hair and was frequenting Bangkok’s indie scene, it was hard not to notice Banana on stage. His bell-bottom pants and energetic stage presence stood out. You could find him behind the bass when he was part of the band Jarintanagai, which split in 2014.

A few years later, he entered the monkhood and discovered a deep passion for meditation. He remained a monk for three years before his love of music got hold of him again. After the rainy season, he moved back into society. It wasn’t easy to reconnect, as many of his friends had moved on. Despite that, he continued Freeman, the modern psychedelic solo project he had started before the monkhood.

He also began DJing under the name Banana Freeman, spinning hip-hop, psychedelic rock, Afrobeat, funk, house and world music.

For our photo shoot, Banana wanted a backdrop that contrasted with his look: sporty clothes mixed with Japanese construction pants, pieces he had picked up before becoming a monk. Although he initially suggested Siam Square, a place he loved as a teenager, we settled on Ratchathewi, a spot where I was less likely to be the target of security guards and, to me, a more fitting reflection of his eclectic style.

Ratchathewi packs a very “Bangkokian” blend of low-rises and high-rises, old and new, and factory workers alongside office workers, all within a few blocks. Negotiating the location was a first for me, as I usually insist that the artist suggests the place, but it felt like a natural fit, and he instantly agreed. When I saw him waiting for me in a red outfit beneath the BTS station, I definitely felt that my choice was right: Banana’s vibrant energy belonged in those streets.