Jacob Banks is larger than life. I thought perhaps it was the audiences’ view from just below the HERE stage which granted the artist such heights, but upon sitting down with the singer-songwriter, it’s clear he most certainly sees things from a different perspective.
Jacob Banks video ~ Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2017
A whispered breeze ruffles the artist’s gray t-shirt as smoke swirls from stage right; the wind is the only relief from the Florida sun and its content victims. However, everyone was soothed by the powerful husk of the Birmingham born singer. Not one complaint. Just small sways and loud hands.
Jacob Banks~~Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2017
The media tent is a slight relief from the temperatures outside. Banks is seated close enough on the couch for the perspiration on my palms to pick up. The leviathan of R&B, who swooned an entire field of people only an hour ago, is within reach and now it’s time to find out just where these soul-driven songs come from.
“I donât know how Iâm here. I never had a choice. I graduated from Uni(versity) to be a civil engineer and I use to do open mics for fun and my friends wanted to go. And then people would be like, âoh, where can we hear that song?!’ And Iâd go to my friend’s house and record it just so people could listen to it and theyâre like ‘okay do another one, now do an EP.’ Iâm just here because people keep booking me for shit.“
Hard to believe the 24-year-old could be so casual about a talent which ignited attention in 2013 with the debut EP Monologue. His approach to the writing process is equally laid back.
“Typically, I donât write unless I have something to say. Iâm not someone who just sits in the studio; seems like a waste of time. I could be doing many, many other things. If I donât have something to say, I just donât say anything. If I do, then it will come out. I like to work towards a project. All these stories I have are so important to me, so I don’t just want to sit in the studio trying to write.â
The artist is intimidatingly direct. I made a point during his set to jot down a lyric from the crushing ballad, “Unknown.” “It’s your time to talk and I’m listening.” It was simple honesty but there was a stark recognition of self in those words when they met the sticky air that afternoon. For Banks, its clear the music is less about personality and more about being personal.
I saw a quote the other day that says, âWhatever happens in your life is your story. If you wanted it to look differently, you shouldâve acted better.”
“Itâs my job to tell my story. If youâre a prick, I just tell what happens. I could be a lot worse,” Banks says without a trace of ego. Music can often be filled with passive aggressive messages but what Banks offers is a raw portrayal of what he sees, even if he’s the one to blame.
“Sometimes, most times, itâs my fault. I always acknowledge my role. I was never forced to be with anyone, so anyone I chose to be with I make a part of my story. I try to be as fair as I can.”
Bite without bitterness is a rarity. It’s also an important art form on today’s rocky political ground, especially for an artist who is trying to focus on staying stateside these days. When pressed about where he sees his role with music during these divisive times, again, the artist spoke with a calming confidence.
I think itâs important. I released a song a couple weeks ago called âUnholy Warâ and it talks about that and itâs about cheering on the oppressed and asking them to keep the faith alive. I think itâs necessary. People need to be reminded that theyâre the shit and itâs your job as an artist to keep the people going and good people fighting the good fight; keep people marching forward.â
With an EP coming out this April, The Boy Who Cried Freedom, Banks has stayed busy writing, recording, and scheming all the while away from his home in London.
Jacob Banks~~Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2017
“The friends I have, and family members, we have an understanding. Itâs not always easy. Itâs tough but we just have an understanding. My friends and family know you come to me when you need something done, like you come to Jacob when you need something fixed.“
Being quick on your feet and level headed is important on tour. It’s funny though, I suppose I thought of Banks as the fire starter, given his afternoon set. Gray clouds are broken by his six foot something frame as festival goers created chaos at his feet. The atmosphere was buzzing. Festivals can be a mixed bag of dedicated fans and distractedness. How does an artist make the most of such a setting?
âItâs weird because you never know what youâre going to get. Sound is bleeding in and people always have to make a choice of who to see and, especially my set is a lot more intimate, and I prefer smaller rooms, like 200 cap rooms. Festivals are important because people who would typically never come to a sole gig walking passed can stop by and listen but it can be daunting because you never know what youâre going to get. So far, so good.”
Banks during his 3pm set on Friday of Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2017
I glance just above the artists own gaze and remember I had made a mental note to ask him about the US Soccer Federation hat he was sporting, (although, I quickly wished I had not.)
“I support the US Men’s National Team because they did incredibly well in the last World Cup. Iâm a fan of passion and I remember watching the World Cup and thinking the US team had so much passion.â
“Who’s your English Premier League team?” I prod innocently.
“I don’t really have one–“
“I’m an Arsenal fan.“ Wrong thing to say.
“That’s weird. I support every team apart from Arsenal.”
Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.
“Are you not an Arsene Wenger fan?” (The team’s longtime notoriously shaded manager.) I don’t know how to let things go.
“I just think theyâre shit. They think they’re great and they’re really not. Its the same thing every year… they play really well up until about December. I think for me itâs the lack of honesty the Arsenal fans have. ‘Arsenal are better than Jesus.‘ Accept who you are. This whole thing like, âweâre the best team in the world’, like mate, youâre really not– by a long stretch. Until they come to their senses, I will always be anti-Arsenal.“
My face became as pink as my dress.
His delivery is straight stone but his smile is warm. A perfect combination of gracious, yet brutal.
Banks does more than just boo the Gooners. He also watches The Office. He loves The Office.
“I canât believe I’d never seen it. I was so bored in LA in November and I saw The Office and heard everyone talk shit about it but I just never got around to watching it. In the UK, you can only get the UK version and in the US you only get the US version, so I started watching it and I fell in love. I think itâs hilarious. The UK one is painful but itâs more like you feel sorry and you don’t know whether to laugh or not. I love Dwight. He’s genius.”
And when he’s not watching pranks between Jim and Dwight, he is on the hunt for new music, always.
I’m more of a musician than I am an artist and I’m always saying to people, if I could choose between making music or listening to music, I would choose listening to music because Iâm more of a fan of music itself and this is something that people just keep asking me to do. But I love music more than anything else in the world. I really like Daniel Ceasar. He’s from Toronto. Rex Orange County. Lots of Afrobeats from the UK, Wiz Kid, itâs very eclectic.”
Music begins very organically for the artist and is bred only out of necessity.
âWriting for me is more like trying to remember a song. I feel like songs already exists and artists are just the people who go to pluck them from a tree. Theyâre already there. Thatâs why songs sound so familiar and you’re like, how has no one ever put this out before? Writing for me is just about staying open and allowing myself to be a vessel. And it just comes from me, but I donât really think Iâm responsible for it because itâs like, I’m a prick, there’s no way. I donât deserve to write songs.”
I attempt to assuage Banks with praise, but it’s not sympathy he seeks.
“I love expressing myself. Like for me, if I wanted to put the pen down and do a cooking show then I would do that. Everyone needs that as human beings, in whatever capacity. Even fucking psychopaths need an audience. Everythingâs a show. Everyone needs a way to be seen and as long as I have a way to spill it all out, then I’m going to use it.”
Maybe the UK crooner will have his own show on the Cooking Channel in 2018. Maybe he’ll put music aside for a while, focus on a different craft. Selfishly, though, I cannot be alone. I hope that’s not true. It would be with a wry smile and knowing nod that I would have to secede any argument against this kind of career move for Banks, though, because to spend more than five minutes with the musician is to know true gut instinct. A recognition some people never come across in their entire lifetime.
[EXCLUSIVE] INTERVIEW: Jacob Banks | Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2017
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