Jacob Banks

Jacob Banks is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Birmingham and the owner of the independent music label ‘Nobody Records.’ Banks combines and blurs the lines of traditional genres creating urban sounds that seamlessly integrate elements to curate a smooth blend of hip-hop, R&B, soul, and reggae. Banks’ hit track “Unknown (To You)” has been streamed over 45 million times on Spotify alone. Having headlined sold-out shows on multiple continents he kindly joins us in the chaos of moving to his new home,  a farm where he’d just been feeding his cows before joining us.



How was it writing the new album, and how has this album shaped you musically compared to the work you’ve done before?



“I think this one is simpler. I made it with less noise. Mentally there was less noise in my head and around me. I was in a grateful space. It was nice to settle into a space where I’m allowed to speak from a place I wasn’t always sure I could speak from. I was always afraid of being overly soulful or overly old school because I didn’t feel like I lived long enough to talk about certain things. But now I feel I can speak about them.”



There’s far more focus and freedom to spread your wings in doing what is authentic to yourself.



“Definitely, but the thing was that it assumed that I was always the authentic version of the person presented at work.  It didn’t make sense for me then to make deep songs, black self-blues. I felt I wasn’t going through anything like where I wasn’t navigating those emotions. So it would have been disingenuous of me to have done that earlier. But now I feel like everything that’s happened in my life allows me to settle into my deep south vocals. There’s more behind the guitar, more behind the piano, and more in the music. More stories. It’s been fun to use my brain that way. And you know, I still have to put my little spin on it, telling my stories in new ways. So yeah, it’s been a lot of fun.”



Does having your label give you a lot more creative rein?



“Well, my last record label allowed me to have creative rein, but I had to fight for it. I always had to make a good argument that had to make sense. I think that’s probably why when I wanted to start my label. It always felt like my label allowed me to hire who I wanted. Before, I always had to validate my reasons. I don’t make anybody else validate what they bring to the table. It never maked sense to me why I had to explain my job.”



Was there a change in the process for you?



“There was a slight change. I’m unsure if I can attribute that to a major label or a pandemic because it kind of all happened at the same time. So I don’t know what’s responsible for the change”



You’ve done some unique collaborations on the album. How was it sharing that experience with other people that you’ve respected and looked up to and enjoyed their music?



“It was all natural. I had always wanted to do them. I think I rarely make sense for other people, and I can’t just be injected into any project and have it make sense on so many levels. Working with Sam and working with Adekunle Gold, Tobe Nwigwe, and Anna Leone, who, as my best friend, opened for me on tour six years ago, was magical  and we’ve been best friends since then. So getting to immortalise many things was important to me in the collaboration itself. Whatever happens, we have proof that we were here.