Jacob Banks is an English singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the mid 2010s with his soulful voice and poignant songwriting. His musical style blends contemporary R&B, soul, gospel, and hip hop elements. Banks first gained recognition with his independent EPs The Monologue and The Paradox. He then signed to Interscope Records in 2016. Since then, he has released several singles and one studio album, while touring extensively.
The Early Years
Jacob Banks was born in Nigeria in 1991. His family relocated to Birmingham, England when he was young. Banks became interested in music at a young age, citing influences like Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Ray Charles, and Lauryn Hill. As a teenager, he began writing his own songs and performing at local venues in Birmingham. Initially, Banks was focused on a potential career as a professional soccer player. But after suffering an injury, he decided to pursue his passion for music full-time.
In 2012, Banks independently released his first EP called The Monologue. This project featured five tracks including an early version of his popular song “Worthy.” The EP showcased Banks’ soulful vocal delivery and intimate songwriting style. Though still relatively unknown, The Monologue generated some buzz online and helped Banks start to build an audience.
His follow-up EP The Paradox arrived in 2013. This release yielded the tracks “Mercy” and “Unknown,” which highlighted Banks’ talent for combining contemporary R&B and electronic production with nostalgic soul influences. Around this time, the budding artist began performing more shows and making connections within the music industry.
Signing to Interscope Records
Banks’ big break came in early 2016 when he signed a record deal with Interscope Records and Universal Music. A few months prior, his song “Worthy” had gone viral after being featured on a popular YouTube channel. The track’s success, along with Banks’ growing reputation as an exciting new voice in R&B, caught the attention of major labels.
Interscope Records has been home to major artists across different genres like Eminem, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and U2. For an emerging talent like Banks, signing with a prominent label like Interscope offered invaluable resources in terms of distribution, marketing, industry connections, and access to acclaimed producers and collaborators.
In a statement on the signing, an Interscope representative praised Banks as “a next-generation artist with incredible individuality, talent, presence, and soul.” They noted his unique blend of classic and contemporary sounds, confident that he would appeal to music fans across different demographics.
For his part, Banks expressed excitement about the opportunity to work with Interscope, hoping to share his music with more and more listeners. While grateful for the deal, he also emphasized the importance of maintaining his artistic integrity under a major label.
Key Details of the Record Deal
Though the specific terms were not disclosed publicly, typical record deals for new artists involve the following components:
- An advance payment from the label to fund recording costs, recoupable from future royalties
- The artist retaining ownership of master recordings, with licensing rights granted to the label
- The label owning rights to distribute and market new releases
- A multi-album agreement, with renewal options if sales meet certain thresholds
- The label taking a percentage of revenue from music sales, streaming, licensing, etc.
- The label paying for costs related to recording, videos, promotion, and touring
Based on these common elements, Banks likely received an advance in the low to mid six figures. Interscope would own the rights to distribute his music and recoup their upfront investment from resulting revenue. Banks probably signed a deal for 1-2 albums initially, with options for more. The contract terms would be renegotiated based on his commercial performance.
Major Label Debut: The Paradox
In July 2016, Banks released his first single on Interscope Records – “Unknown.” This track maintained the artist’s introspective songwriting and laidback delivery, underlined by piano and strings. It built anticipation for Banks’ major label debut album.
The Paradox arrived in August 2016 as Banks’ first full-length project with Interscope. He described the title as a reference to the duality of his nature. As he put it: “My music has layers of light and dark.” The 12-track album solidified Banks’ soulful alternative R&B sound, yielding songs like “Unholy War,” “Homecoming,” and “Worthy.”
The Paradox Tracklist
Here is the full tracklist for The Paradox album:
Title | Length |
---|---|
Monster | 3:34 |
Unknown | 3:13 |
Homecoming | 4:01 |
Unholy War | 3:37 |
Worthy | 3:28 |
Mercy | 3:31 |
Slow Dance | 3:47 |
Be Good To Me | 3:55 |
The Fall | 4:13 |
Love Ain’t Enough | 3:22 |
All I Need | 4:05 |
Let You Down | 4:27 |
Released to positive reviews, The Paradox reached #5 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart and #25 on the R&B Albums chart. Its lead single “Unknown” cracked the top 40 of the US R&B Songs chart.
Later Releases with Interscope
Following his debut, Banks remained with Interscope to release more singles, EPs, and eventually his second full-length studio album in 2018.
Key Releases:
- Chain On the Bike mixtape (2017)
- “Unknown (To You)” single (2017)
- “Love Ain’t Enough” single (2018)
- Village EP (2018)
- Ship to Wreck (2018)
- Contained (2018)
- Nostalgia (2019)
The EP Village included the popular tracks “Love Ain’t Enough” and “Unknown (To You),” which racked up millions of Spotify streams. Banks’ soulful pop anthems resonated with audiences and helped build anticipation for another full album of material.
His sophomore release arrived in the form of Village in September 2018. Expanding on his sensual R&B style, the record yielded the singles “Slow Down” and “Sugar.” Village peaked at #62 on the Billboard 200 chart, proving Banks’ commercial appeal.
The Most Recent Releases
In late 2019, Banks surprise-released an EP titled Nostalgia. The 6-track project was led by “What If Love Is the Answer” and landed at #12 on the US Heatseekers chart. He described the EP as reimagining past styles through a modern lens.
Banks’ most recent single is called “Silver Lining,” out in late 2020. As the title suggests, the uplifting track centers on finding positivity even in dark times. His vocal agility is on full display over a backdrop of piano, strings, and atmospheric textures.
“Silver Lining” is expected to be included on Banks’ upcoming third studio album. Though details and an exact release date have yet to be announced, he has suggested the project will arrive sometime in 2021 or 2022.
Based on his ongoing activity and label status, Banks seems poised to remain signed with Interscope Records for the foreseeable future. Their partnership has already yielded an impressive catalog, steady chart placements, million of streams, and multiple tours.
At just 30 years old, Jacob Banks still has a promising career ahead as he continues nurturing his soulful, contemporary R&B sound. With Interscope’s support, Banks has the platform to keep building his audience and standing out from the crowd.
Conclusion
In summary, British R&B/soul singer-songwriter Jacob Banks is currently signed to Interscope Records. He first inked a deal with the prominent label in 2016 after gaining some indie success and buzz around his EP The Paradox. Interscope went on to release Banks’ full-length debut album The Paradox later that same year, followed by 2018’s Village. He remains on the Interscope roster, having recently dropped the single “Silver Lining” in 2020 and supposedly working on a third studio album targeted for 2021/2022.
Throughout his partnership with Interscope, Banks has maintained his trademark soulful, contemporary sound while expanding his reach and honing his songcraft. Though exact sales and contract details remain private, the relationship seems mutually beneficial thus far. With a major label machine behind him, Jacob Banks has steadily increased his profile and output over the past five years. He appears poised to continue his ascent with more touring and releases on Interscope in the years ahead.