Rock Genius - Listen to Banks lyrics

[Click here for Soundtrack to this post] Armed with both a gripping, sultry voice and a production ensemble that changes the music up every verse, Banks has started to turn heads. Even her own brand of dark electro-soul, lights a new road; With her music going from shielded resign-fulness to desperate hope. This range of emotions, combined with both her well-crafted dance tracks and relaxed ballads, make her an artist flexible and accessible enough for your ear drums. Unfamiliar with the term "electro-soul"? It's an umbrella term for electronic music influenced by R&B, funk, and hip-hop. It created a scene in Britain that's becoming a worldwide sensation. Banks is proof. Although from the US, she's carving her own niche. Banks' emergence in America signifies electro-soul's diversity. She lays between the upbeat R&B EDM (Disclosure) and subdued soundscapes (SBTRKT, Sampha, James Blake) and mashes them together. One one end, she croons on the down-low in "Warm Water" and "Bedroom Walls", both comforting tracks best tasted in a relaxing atmosphere. On another end, "Fall Over" is flooded with audio corkscrews and she whams the listener with a fortissimo on "Brain": Cause everything's a game! Always trying to calculate! Trying to look smart but not too smart To threaten everything they say! The largest distinction between Banks and most of electro-soul is that she's pop. She's alternative, but she's still pop and she never sacrifices sk** for accessibility. She benefits from producers like Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Lil Silva, who are solo artists of their own merit. A highlight comes from the Banks/Lil Silva collab "Work". Although a bit repetitive, the more electro sound is her signature for features on other artists' singles. Maybe she'll sing with The Weeknd, who she opened for? Arguably, her most intelligent song is "Change". While she already discusses conflict in love, "Change" depicts an abusive relationship. After listening to her boyfriend's offenses, she gives a voice to his defense: Baby don't go I didn't know I'll change I swear, I'll change I swear Baby don't go I'll make you wait I promise I'll be better All of these things they will change Does her character stay with the man she hates because he twists his words so compellingly, or does she break free? She flashes her versatility on the chorus of "This Is What It Feels Like". Her vocals synthesize with the production into a song that's dark but body-swaying: Bring it down, bring it on Bring it now, bring it on This is what it feels like now It's getting old It's a roller coaster over a pulsing beat that switches every time the chorus returns. Spliced, pitched-up vocals on one part, and a chill wub on another. Even with the simplest of words, it's clear that she won't settle for being another generic pop act. Her entire London EP preludes a full-length debut. In her Stereogum interview, she said that her album is "pretty close" to finished. Her full LP might arrive by the end of the year, barring any label-related issues. With this groundbreaking sound emanating from the US, we hope that she's right! To listen to Banks's full discography, visit her various channels on the web.