Banks

Six months or so ago our attention was grabbed by a dark and brooding breakup track, that oozed emotion and honesty. ‘Before I Ever Met You’ had an immediate and uncanny ability to relate to any listener (un)lucky enough to find themselves in a difficult relationship and the brains behind the track adopted a similar level of alluring mystique.

Los Angeles’ Banks – with her striking good-looks and cooing vocal – offers up a brand of pop that has the ability to excite as well as seduce. From the frenetic, powerful melody that screams through ‘Fall Over’, to the sensual romance of ‘Warm Water’, she appears to have everything in place to float effortlessly into the mainstream where she belongs, alongside a plethora of strong, female vocal-lead peers.

How did you start writing music?

When I was around 14/15 or so. I just was in a really dark place. I felt really lost, I didn’t know how to express myself and I felt so unheard. Somebody gave me a toy keyboard and I just started playing around with it and it made me feel better.

Did you write your first songs on the toy piano?

Yeah. I mean of course I never had any lessons, so it took a long time. It started with three chords in a row with a melody and it made me feel better, and it’s addictive once you find that outlet.

What did you listen to growing-up?

A lot of Tracy Chapman, Lauren Hill; stuff you could feel, stuff with soul.

What influences your songwriting?

It’s not really any other music, it’s more people, relationships, just anything I’m feeling in my own mind. It’s very internal for me, it doesn’t come from anything external.

Have you always wanted to be a musician?

Of course. It’s my life, the air that I breathe, so I’m in heaven. I feel like the luckiest person on the planet.

How does the songwriting process work for you?

Usually it starts me in a weird mood, and I just start going to town on my piano!

How did the label find you?

My manager was in london. My best friend sent him my music and then he came to London – I don’t even know why – and then he just like met up with them (Goodyears) and it became a family unit. I feel like I have such a cool, inspiring team around me; it’s been really special. They just kind of let me do my own thing and they all believe in me – it’s really cool.

Your first appearance was the Lil Silva collaboration, ‘Work’. How did that come about?

Through my label Goodyears. He’s on the same label and they said we should work on this song – he killed it.

And what about the Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs production on ‘Warm Water’?

That one we just met up in the studio and we wrote it together.

It’s a track that sounds a lot different to your previous two. Which direction are you going to take?

A lot of my stuff is very dark. But it’s all me; I can be really dark but I can also be really romantic.

What’s been like hearing your music on the radio?

You know what’s funny? I always miss it. I don’t really listen to the radio, so I always miss it. But today was the first time it happened! We were in a cab and they played it. They talked about me; it was my first time – that was really special.

You’re understandably very popular across the blogs; how do you feel about making a name for yourself online?

I don’t know. I don’t know how to answer that. I’m not really one to be on the internet all the time. It’s the most flattering thing of course, like it’s amazing, it feels amazing when people connect with my stuff. I don’t do social media or anything; I never have, it makes me feel a little overwhelmed and too connected to everyone’s thoughts. I just have to focus on my own thoughts and get those worked out through my music. It seems very crowded. There’s so much noise. Sometimes it’s good to just be at peace in your own head.

You have your phone number on Facebook. Have you had any strange messages?

Oh my God, yeah. It’s been really cool: voicemails, texts. I answer everyone, or I try to. It’s hard sometimes. It’s hard when you’re in London ’cause of the phone thing… nothing strange really.

Emotional ones, but those are the best. I got one that was really beautiful: he said that he was like really, really in a dark place and felt lost and that there was nothing to live for, and then my music made him feel like there was something to live for, and something that made him not feel alone.

He said that realisation made him realise that maybe there will be other realisations like that; it was really sweet.

So you don’t have your own Facebook, away from Banks?

No, no. I don’t do any of that. I mean it’s not like I’m anti-current affairs and anti-progressive things. Who knows, maybe one day the phone will get too overwhelming and I’ll have to learn how to do all that stuff; I don’t even know? I mean it seems pretty simple!

I think a lot of people wish they didn’t have it.

You know it’s actually so funny how many people are like, “You don’t have a Facebook?” And I’m like, “No”. And they’re like, “I’m so jealous!” It’s like just delete your Facebook! But you know what, that’s cool when people love it, it’s just not me. Maybe i’m just a weird little hermit creature!

It’s just been announced that you’re supporting The Weeknd too.

Yeah, they announced it yesterday. I’m so excited. We’re going all over the US, playing in L.A., New York; I’m really excited.

What about your own shows in the UK?

Hopefully soon. There’s nothing really in the pipeline yet.

You’re doing a Black Cab Session tomorrow. What do you know about it?

I’ve seen like a couple of them. Like I saw Lykke Li a while ago. I’m really excited for that. I love getting in the studio, working with producers and getting the sound right, the atmosphere and stuff like that, but there’s nothing really like that gritty vocal and acoustic vibe.

I don’t know what the setup will be. I don’t even know how big the cab is. I have no idea! Like a guitar next to me and then me and a camera I guess? I’m just gonna be singing, but I write all my stuff on piano.

What do you like doing away from music?

Being with people that I love, people that inspire me.

Banks’ new – as yet untitled – EP is out in August.

Photograph by Jasmine Safaeian