British-Nigerian singer Jacob Banks is without doubt one of the most promising soul artists of the moment. But you would not be doing justice to the 27-year-old singer if you only placed him in that genre. In fact, Banks draws on a wealth of influences: hip hop, R&B, reggae and even Nigerian roots music add color to his repertoire. Moreover, this singer from Birmingham has a raw baritone that is equal to the best blues singers of his generation - something he proved with his mega hit Chainsmoking. His versatility and distinctive voice are given extra power by the passionate and personal narrative themes of his lyrics. On stage, this results in a performance that is both vulnerable and endearing. Banks is a rising star in the world of music and judging by his impressive debut album Village (2019), we can only expect to hear more beautiful things from him.
