I have been raving about this singer for months now and earlier this week Jacob Banks released his EP and it just happens to be great!
Emerging artist Jacob Banks kicked off New Year
with the release of his hotly anticipated debut EP The Monologue. The 21 year old singer/songwriter from
Birmingham spent a lot of last year gigging around the country. After winning
the MOBO Unsung title for his
region, he went on to perform at many of London’s popular showcases and has also
opened for Daley and Plan B. With steadily increasing
support from music fans and fellow artists alike, it is fair to say that Jacob
Banks is the man of the new music moment.
The Monologue is a
soulfully introverted exploration of Banks’ life experiences. He gives
coming-of-age perspectives on personal aspirations and relationships as well as
social issues. This delightfully mellow
collection of songs powerfully exhibit Banks’ commanding vintage soul vocals charged
with modern British experience and edge.
The Monologue explores notions of personal evolution, coming of
age and growth. The poignant guitar led ballad, “Homecoming” offers a vivid
perspective of the emotions associated with an individual’s desire to break
away and pursue a life away from the security of a family setting. The opening
track, “Worthy” is a superbly layered song, full of interesting musical
changes. The addition of Banks’
haunting, throaty vocal gives the tune an engaging, brooding intensity. The
song centres on the idea of the pursuit of redemption and the growing fear that
past mistakes could jeopardise future aspirations. The catchy hook echoes
through the song: ‘I feel worthy somehow, please, I don’t want to go down... The
new world is calling me now, please don’t let me go down’.
The EP incorporates elements of the Pop-Soul sound from the
1950’s and 60’s. The tracks “Hostage” and “Something Beautiful” are great
examples of the Motown Sound’s influence on his music. Both these songs have
the flavour of Smokey Robinson’s
hit, “Who’s Loving You”. Music production
aside, the style and tone of Banks’ voice, alone has the power to transport you
to the 1950’s Soul- Gospel era. On the track “Dear Simone” you’d be forgiven
for thinking you were listening to a previously unreleased recording from an
artist like Sam Cooke. The smooth
rasp of Banks’ voice as he sings the opening phrase is reminiscent of Cooke’s
emotively sombre intro on “A Change Is Gonna Come”. And Banks has the balance
just right- he manages to emulate this style without being overly derivative.
Banks contrasts this retro edge with current, socially conscious
lyrics about life and youth culture from his perspective. “Kids on the Corner” is
a cautionary tale about how easy it is for disaffected youths to get lost in
the negative trappings of an inner city life. The song “YOLO”, he subverts the
meaning of the infamous abbreviation popularised by Drake in 2011. For Banks,
YOLO (You Only Live Once) is not a lame justification for reckless behaviour. Instead,
this percussion-heavy track encourages caution because ‘There’s only one life
to live, don’t take it for granted’.
Banks is an intriguing contradiction: he’s a young, new
artist using classic soul styles to create something brand new and socially relevant.
His music is so engaging that when you listen, it feels like you’re being taken
back and forward at the same time. The Monologue is an impressive
collection of stylish, mature, relatable songs. The EP is tonic for the heart,
mind and soul. Banks is part of a
current wave of new, brilliantly talented artists that are emerging on the UK
scene, right now. It’s easy to imagine
him achieving the kind of success that great Soul artists like Seal and Terrence Trent D’arby have enjoyed because he really is that good.
