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Banks – Serpentina

If Banks’ latest album, Serpentina, is not my most played album this year, the Apple Replay gods will need to do some serious recalculating. I have had Banks in heavy rotation since a friend recommended her a little over a year ago, and as far as I am concerned, anything she touches becomes a masterpiece.

There is a liberating feeling you get when listening to Banks. Often times, we hide parts of ourselves from others. Maybe we feel like we aren’t allowed to be a certain way. Maybe we feel like no one will understand. Maybe we feel ashamed or scared. Whatever the case, Banks’ music is a safe space for you to be you. Within her music, you are allowed to be vulnerable, passionate, independent, and raw. You do not have to hide parts of yourself that you fear will be misunderstood. Perhaps that is why the opening track, “Misunderstood,” hits so hard as it beckons the listener with pleading lyrics to, “please let me be misunderstood.”

I like to be in control and I am a bit cynical. These are two things that I have to keep in check constantly. Too much of either, and I will be a lonely gal. Confidence radiates through this album on tracks like “Meteorite,” “F**k Love,” “The Devil,” and “Skinnydipped” in a way that helps those parts of me feel empowered rather than feeling like I need to snuff them out, and creates an environment where I can release emotion in a very cathartic way.

The production throughout this album is stunning. I cannot think of another artist whose production I prefer more than Banks. Distorted hip-hop beats drive most of the tracks and are accompanied by unique soulful melodies that dare you to box this record into one genre. Banks’ vocals float over the more vulnerable tracks like “Birds By the Sea” and “I Still Love You” guided by intricate piano melodies. “Holding Back” is my favorite track. It is one of those songs that gets you excited about music, a song that you lose and find yourself in simultaneously.

This is my number one this year. I do not anticipate anything else to surpass the genius that is this record. Give it a spin and let me know what you think. Click here for upcoming tour dates. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Banks live. Don’t miss out!

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Banks – III

I really love having this space to discuss music, especially when an artist like Banks is suggested to me. I cannot believe I had not heard of this powerhouse artist until a few weeks ago! Her latest album, III, was released back in 2019, and I cannot get enough of it.

Empowered. That is how I feel when I listen to this record. This woman is fed up and ready to rid herself of toxic relationships. The album begins with the stunning opener “Til Now.” There is a beautiful release of emotion within the song as heavy breathing begins to surround each line. You can literally feel her crawling out of a pit of darkness, each exhale representing one more step toward liberation. There is a definite shift in control from the first to second track, “Gimmie,” with an encouraging message for women to stand up for themselves. Confidence bleeds through the song with the lyrics “gimmie what I want, what I deserve,” as she discovers her new found sense of worth.

This confidence carries throughout the rest of the record, exploring desires in a freeing way. The album does a magnificent job of conveying the internal struggle of wanting to be seen as strong and independent, but yearning for genuine love and connection. While the first few tracks take us through a roller coaster of relationships that leaves love feeling a bit jaded, the second half of the album introduces a more hopeful view of love with tracks like “If We Were Made of Water” and “What About Love.”

The production of the record is phenomenal. The shift in the bass line from a harsh distorted sound to an 80’s funk on “Stroke” is one of my favorite things on the album. Unpredictable moments like that in a song are what I crave. My favorite track has been changing daily, and I cannot really pin one down. I find that I am most drawn to “Til Now,” “Gimmie,” “Stroke,” “Swazall,” and “The Fall.”  

I cannot recommend this artist enough! Give her a listen and let me know what you think. For more information on Banks click here.