Jacob Banks - Village (2018)

Birmingham, England-born R&B artist Jacob Banks was regularly encouraged by a close friend to pursue a career in music, following the many local gigs that the pair attended. When his friend passed away in 2011, Banks sang at his funeral and subsequently focused his attention on ensuring that a wide audience heard his smooth and calm baritone voice. In 2012, a regional category at the MOBO UnSung awards was only one of a handful of competitions that he was successful in that year. By the time 2013 came around, he had already recorded his debut EP and supported East London hip-hop artist Plan B. Following the release of the EP The Monologue, in January he began to receive regular airplay on mainstream U.K. radio and was also asked to support Emeli Sandé on her spring 2013 tour. By the summer his soulful vocals appeared on Wretch 32's minor U.K. hit "Doing OK," and the pair planned to work on further material. Two years later, he delivered the EP The Paradox, which included the single "Monster," featuring Avelino. Also around this time, Banks guested on several tracks, appearing on Sigma's "Redemption" and SeeB's "What Do You Love?" In 2016, he released the single "Monster 2.0," featuring Boogie. The following year, he returned with the Boy Who Cried Freedom EP, featuring the singles "Unholy Water" and "Chainsmoking." ~ James Wilkinson