(March 31, 2017) Some vocalists are renowned for their range and the purity of their tone. Others for the uniqueness of their voice. And still others for their authenticity, their ability to step into a song like they’ve lived it. Jacob Banks, a singer/songwriter from Birmingham, England, checks all of these boxes and then some. Although he’s been releasing music in the UK since 2012, Banks wasn’t on my radar until his recent appearance at the South by Southwest Music Festival, where he captivated the crowd with his sincerity, warmth and depth. His music is a powerful mix of soul, hip hop and R&B with occasional, well-placed rock accents.
We feature here Banks’s advance single, “Unholy War,” off of his upcoming EP The Boy Who Cried Freedom. It’s a potent, piano-driven, and anthemic warning about Banks’s approaching demons. Enjoy.
By Robb Patryk