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 skill 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.

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

Los Angeles-based singer, Banks sports a unique style that lies somewhere between electro-soul and alternative pop. Her EP, London, boasted thoughtful production and flexible vocals. Now is your chance to get to know her before her full-length debut drops later this year.

This article is a part of the “Listen To” series, which is focused on highlighting one noteworthy artist and why you should check them out.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Credits
Featuring
Tags
Comments