Yesterday afternoon, Banks posted a photo on Instagram of a weird looking wooden box, telling her fans to go to Rough Trade to have a look. Flabbergasted, I rushed to Brick Lane to see what all the fuss was about and here it is…
What looks like a tribal tambourine is in fact the first release of Banks’ latest track ‘Goddess’ produced by best bud Lil Silva. For those who follow my blog, you’ll know that when she played this song at Koko last month, I became in awe of her even more than before. Weirdly enough, I seem to be the only person in London excited by this phenomenon. Having rushed to Rough Trade after work, expecting a queue that wrapped around the Truman Brewery (and again), I was shocked to hear that the guy who showed me where it was, admitted that he hadn’t listened to it himself. Yes, I think it’s fair to say, I have become some what, a groupie.
I plugged my headphones in, and listened to the track once but was a little disappointed to discover that it was only the one song – I thought she may have given hardcore fans such as myself the privilege of hearing a little more of her upcoming album that will be released in September (click the link to pre-order).
Either way, it was an experience, and a nice one at that. Here’s Goddess that was first aired on BBC 1Xtra last night, enjoy.
The first time I came across Rosie Lowe was through the Lil Silva track, No doubt. Not taking much notice of the singer herself, I continued to trail off with Lil Silva, discovering tracks such as Mask and then of course, discovering Banks. It was about three months later that Rosie Lowe popped up on my Soundcloud feed and I was completely blown away by her. So, when I heard that she was playing at the overly trendy venue that is Clapton’s new bar, Oslo, obviously I had to get a ticket.
She appeared on stage modestly confident, joking with us saying that the lights made it look as if we were all leaving after her first song, Right Thing, making her even more endearing.
She followed that with the incredible 10K Balloons, here’s a very poor quality video:
During a bit of a break, we were given one of the sweetest anecdotes I’ve heard in a long time. She told us that she loves looking after kids and does so whenever she gets the chance to. One child once asked her whether people rush love, she was completely thrown by the question and found herself unable to give this kid an answer, but as a result she wrote Games. This precise and delicate track gives a wonderful sense of how much Rosie Lowe gives, I for one just want more! She’s just released a video too!
To finish the set off, she played Me and Your Ghost. For me, this song encapsulates Lowe’s authentically soulful style, marvellously! Throughout the set, she kept indicating how proud she is of her band, whether it was an agreeable bop of the head, showing that she liked her bass player’s groove or a wide smile at her synth player, I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, female soul singers are rising and there’s no doubt that Rosie Lowe will be one of those who will be leading these headstrong women.
Now, I don’t want to steel Lowe’s thunder but I did have to give a brief update on what I’ve been listening to recently because THERE’S SO MUCH!
Chronologically, I’ll start with Four Tet and Terror Danjah’s new track – Killer (Text028 A). I much prefer this to the Nasty track. With its jungle routes and the way the track just turns to something that could have been mixed by bloody David Guetta (sound’s like a recipe for disaster) but this is one bangin’ track.
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Adult Jazz – Springful – Giles Peterson spoke a couple of weeks ago about a track having an incredible intro, well I think this beats it. This song has so many textures and without sounding like a complete knob, it really is a work of art. With the traditional indie rock thread throughout, Adult Jazz are somehow able to add layers of eclectic and experimental electronic beats on top, creating something that could easily be horrific and instead a song that is defiantly reckless.
Jungle – Busy Earnin’ – Just released a few days ago, this track has begun to grow on me but I still stand by my initial reaction that perhaps Jungle are too busy earnin’. Just hasn’t done it for me as much as their previous tracks.
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Swayney McPorridge – Scribbins – So, James Blake had his last BBC Radio 1 residency show this week (sad times) and started with this track that I knew I’d heard recently, but under the name Swayney McPorridge. I definitely hadn’t come across the name Swayney McPorridge and Google hadn’t either, AT ALL. I thought to myself, WTF? Is this some unreleased track or something? But if so, why have I heard it before? I rattled my brain all day and had no luck. It was only on my way home from work when I was listening to Soundcloud, that I realised who the fuck Swayney McPorridge was… James Blake 10 – The rest of us 0. Very funny.
On Thursday 7th of November, I went to see the Goddess that is BANKS at Shoreditch Town Hall and what an incredible intimate venue to see her before she absolutely takes over progressive R&B. Currently on tour, supporting The Weeknd, you already know this girl has got something special about her. The tiny mermaid like creature appears on stage (fashionably an hour late) with apprehension. She seems timid and nervous about the next 60 minutes that lie ahead but what she seems respectfully oblivious to, is the fact that everyone in this beautiful Victorian hall are all die hard Banks fans. Yes we are all a bunch of trendy shitsters from Shoreditch and yes, I saw enough Hershal bags and Air Max’s to last a life time but at the end of the day, we’re all here ‘to appreciate the music maan.’
She started with her biggest hit, ‘This Is What It Feels Like’ from her London EP, which everyone went absolutely mental for (apart from the bitch standing next to me who asked me to stop bumping into her). The EP features the likes of Lil Silva, TEED and Jamie Woon and although they were unable to grace us with their company, Banks’ stage presence is that of an accomplished performer – she owns the space and with such a unique movement style that is totally liquid and yet incredibly seductive, I’d jump into bed with her and let her tell me ‘what it feels like’ any day. She goes through the set beautifully, every song is so heartfelt, you cant help but wonder what kind of life this woman has had especially when she brings out ‘Bedroom Wall‘. To finish it all off after the encore, she does a breathtaking acoustic version of This Is What It Feels Like, what more could we all want.
After the show I managed to get her to sign my (oh so grubby) glasses case. I was itching to ask her if and how she was related to the Banks remix of The Keeper on Bonobo’sBlack Sands album, apparently she’s not. Clearly I was quite drunk by this point as I apparently offered to show her a good time in Shoreditch, little did I know that her record label, Good Years was holding an after party just round the corner. Clearly I’m not very cool but that’s ok because Banks loves me.
What looks like a tribal tambourine is in fact the first release of Banks’ latest track ‘Goddess’ produced by best bud Lil Silva. For those who follow my blog, you’ll know that when she played this song at Koko last month, I became in awe of her even more than before. Weirdly enough, I seem to be the only person in London excited by this phenomenon. Having rushed to Rough Trade after work, expecting a queue that wrapped around the Truman Brewery (and again), I was shocked to hear that the guy who showed me where it was, admitted that he hadn’t listened to it himself. Yes, I think it’s fair to say, I have become some what, a groupie.
Life Round Her 
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