Jacob Banks

Jacob Banks (born 24 July 1991) is a Nigerian-born English singer and songwriter from Birmingham. Banks won the 2012 MOBO UnSung regional competition in Birmingham and the Adidas "Are You In" music competition. His music is influenced by a range of genres including soul, R&B and hip hop. Banks is currently signed with American label Interscope Records.

Music career

2012–present: Breakthrough In October 2012 he recorded his debut EP titled The Monologue which was released in January 2013. The second release from The Monologue, titled "Worthy", was played by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe as his "Next Hype" record on his Radio 1 show and received additional plays on 1Xtra, XFM, 6Music and Annie Nightingale. In April 2013, Banks played his first headline show at the London St Pancras Old Church. He supported Emeli Sande on her April 2013 UK tour. Banks features on Wretch 32's song "Doing OK", the second single from Wretch's forthcoming third studio album. Banks features on Chase and Status' "Alive" from their album, Brand New Machine. He also supported them, on their Brand New Machine 2013 UK tour. Banks announced he was to release a joint EP featuring himself, Wretch 32 and George the Poet titled Gambling Man in 2013. However, this did not occur. On 1 May 2014, his collaboration with All About She, "I Can't Wait", was released for free download as part of their debut extended play Go Slow. Banks has also worked with other artists such as Bondax, Jake Gosling, Knox Brown, Plan B and Wretch 32.

On 9 March 2017, Banks premiered his two-part narrative video, written and co-directed by himself, for his single, "Unholy War". The single is off his EP, 'The Boy Who Cried Freedom'. "Found " was featured in the final season of Lucifer, and "Something Beautiful" was featured in the feature film Tom & Jerry.

In 2019, "Unknown (To You)" was used in the TV series The Resident in season 2, episode 20.

In 2023 "Monster" was used in the final installment of the Equalizer franchise, The Equalizer 3.

In May 2024, “Slow Up” was featured at the end of episode 6, season 2, of The Responder, which aired on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and on Britbox in July 2024.

Discography Albums Title Details Village Released: 2 November 2018 Label: Interscope Format: Digital download, CD Lies About the War Released: 26 August 2022 Label: Nobody Records Format: Digital download, CD, LP Our Time Together (Live) Released: 11 July 2024 Label: Nobody Records Format: Digital download, CD Sound Engineer : Thierry Galeuchet

Extended plays Title Details The Monologue Released: 26 April 2013 Label: Full + Bless, Renowned Format: Digital download The Paradox Released: 21 July 2015 Label: Full + Bless, Renowned Format: Digital download The Boy Who Cried Freedom Released: 20 April 2017 Label: Interscope Format: Digital download For My Friends Released : 12 March 2021 Label : Darkroom/Interscope Records Format : Digital download Yonder: Book I Released : 21 November 2024 Label : Nobody Records Format : Digital download Yonder: Book II Released : 29 January 2025 Label : Nobody Records Format : Digital download Yonder: Book III Released : 5 March 2025 Label : Nobody Records Format : Digital download

Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "Kids on the Corner" 2013 The Monologue "Worthy" "Move with You" 2014 FIFA 15 (soundtrack) "Monster"(featuring Avelino) 2015 The Paradox "Grace" "Unholy War" 2017 The Boy Who Cried Freedom "Chainsmoking" "Unknown (To You)" Village "Be Good to Me"(featuring Seinabo Sey) 2018 "Love Ain't Enough"(with Ghetts) 2019 "Every Age" "Like You'll Never See Me Again" 2020 "Blame"(with Grace Carter) "Stranger" "Devil That I Know"

As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK UK Dance UK Indie UK R&B SCO NOR SWE "Doing OK"(Wretch 32 featuring Jacob Banks) 2014 60 — 8 12 — — — "Alive"(Chase & Status featuring Jacob Banks) 21 4 — — 26 — — BPI: Gold Brand New Machine "Redemption"(Sigma and Diztortion featuring Jacob Banks) 2015 138 — — — — — — Life "Love Me"(WiDE AWAKE featuring Jacob Banks) 2016 — — — — — — — "What Do You Love"(Seeb featuring Jacob Banks) — — — — — 2 20 IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum Intro to Seeb "Remember"(Seinabo Sey featuring Jacob Banks) 2018 — — — — — — — I'm a Dream "Only Way Is Up"(Gaël Faye featuring Jacob Banks) 2020 — — — — — — —Lundi Méchant "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other appearances Title Year Album "Jail"(Nick Brewer featuring Jacob Banks) 2013 Flat 10 EP "I Can't Wait"(All About She featuring Jacob Banks) 2014 Go Slow EP "Blame it On Love"(Uppermost featuring Jacob Banks) 2015 New Moon EP