Those of you who keep up with the BBC’s annual “Sound of…” list will no doubt recognise the stage name of miss Jillian Banks. Or at least you should know it, as she came third in the most recent poll…
After debuting in early 2013, and releasing a small string of buzz singles and an amazing EP, entitled ‘LONDON’, the LA native has garnered an immense fanbase alongside an impressive back catalogue of collaborators including Jamie Woon, S O H N, Lil Silva and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Not too shabby for someone so new to the industry.
The enigmatic chanteuse starts off her year by teaming up with yet-another well-known artist; this time being the noted Hip Hop beatsmith Shlohmo and together, they have created ‘Brain’; an epic helping of gloomy Soul-tronica that progressively rises in size and intensity (Not entirely unlike her S O H N collaboration ‘Waiting Game’). The track’s menacing and rippling aura dances beautifully around BANKS’ sultry, siren-like vocals as she purrs (and then roars) concise lyrics that speak of conformity. It’s signature BANKS; The fire in her vocals and the frost in her music fuse together to make a harmonious slice of sonic heaven.
Whether this is the start of an EP project or an album campaign, I don’t know, but either way this is a project worth sinking your teeth into and getting excited about.
True to it’s title, ‘Brain’ will certainly swim around in ours for a long time. If you enjoyed listening, why not give her a ring/text and tell her so; “If you ever want to talk call me – (323) 362-2658 – BANKS”
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131827025″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”false” /]
Download ‘Brain’ here.