On Thursday, May 29th, Los Angeles songstress Banks took the stage at the El Rey Theater. Her sound is intriguing and complex. Electronic beats, powerful vocals and a 90’s R&B vibe all combine to create a mesmerizing listening experience. 

Banks, born as Jillian Banks, was raised in Los Angeles and interestingly enough graduated from USC with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She uses her own personal life experiences to write beautiful songs that have captivated audiences around the word. Banks has been called one of this year’s rising stars, with high expectations for her first album, Goddess, debuting September 9th, 2014.

For years Banks was very popular among the LA music crowd until her 2013 EP, "London," gained her international recognition. She has graced magazine covers, played at festivals, such as this year’s Coachella, and opened for artists like The Weeknd. This spring, she launched her own headlining tour and she is currently playing sold-out shows across the country. 

I arrived at the venue at around 7 PM, 1 hour before the doors opened, 2 hours before house DJ Jerome LOL opened for Banks, and 3 hours before the goddess herself took the stage. A crowd of young adults wearing predominantly black flocked to the venue to catch a glimpse of this rising star. The show opened with Jerome LOL. An LA native, Jerome LOL combines modern deep house dance music with a cybernetic sound. Repetitive, infectious beats played while Jerome sang with altered vocals that created an interesting sound. The crowd was largely unresponsive during his set but he definitely created a tone for a relaxed evening with his captivating vocals and body-moving beats. 

Shortly after Jerome LOL exited the stage, red curtains covered the stage from the audience. People talked about everything, ranging from how excited they were to finally see Banks to Coachella to fashion. The lights shut off, the curtains opened, and the crowd screamed. The stunning Banks gracefully strutted onto the stage, wearing high-wasted black pants and a black crop top combined with a black jacket. Her brown hair pushed to the side revealing her natural beauty.

She opened with "Before I Ever Met You" and the crowd was hooked from the very beginning. Her hauntingly powerful vocals combined with her rhythm made the audience absorb into the show. Banks would sing, then take a few steps back, rolling her body and her wrists as the audience bounced up and down. Her dancing was probably my favorite part of the show, which was graceful and perfect to match her music. 

Banks then played "This Is What it Feels Like." The audience moved in synch with Banks. Banks then spoke, revealing a surprisingly quiet chipmunk-esque voice. She expressed how excited she was to be playing in her hometown. 

Next came one of her most well-known songs, "Brain," which featured Banks bathed in red light as the audience shouted the contagious “ooh oooh yeah” from the song. She talked again saying, “Even with your insecurities, you’re all f*cking perfect.” Banks was a little teary-eyed during this speech and this vulnerability certainly showed through her lyrics. This was an interlude to her song "Goddess," a personal favorite. The irresistible chorus, the minimal but ground-shaking bass, and Banks personal stage presence made this song one of the highlights of the evening. 

After these strong and bold songs, Banks decided to play the piano for a more mellow song, "Fall Over." She then proceeded to cover an Aaliyah song, "Are You That Somebody," which received loud appraisal from the audience. This highlighted Banks’ style being influenced by 90s R&B, with her outfit being something Aaliyah definitely would have worn.

Banks then closed her set with "Waiting Game". She thanked the audience and humbly walked off stage, with a smile on her face. The audience began to shout one more song and not even one minute passed before Banks returned to the stage to play three more songs. "Bedroom Wall" was a memorable song that allowed the audience to start clapping and wave their hands back and forth. 

This show was amazing. The only complaint I would have is that her set was only an hour, but this is understandable considering she only has an EP and singles from her upcoming album. Her style, vocals, rhythm, and pure essence, all confirmed that Banks lives up to, and surpasses, her hype. I cannot wait to see how far her talent and creativity take her.

 

Reach Staff Reporter Ryan Ochoa here.