Why Asha Banks Should Be On Your Radar
Credit : LUC COIFFAIT
Asha Banks, a 20-year-old artist hailing from Hertfordshire, England, embodies a creative spirit that refuses categorization. She seamlessly navigates the worlds of music and acting, demonstrating a clear vision for a multi-faceted career. "I don’t see why they should be mutually exclusive. I love them both so much, so I could never just pick one path," she stated, emphasizing her commitment to both disciplines.
Credit : LUC COIFFAIT
Banks's artistic foundation was built on early family influences. She recalls writing her first songs as a toddler, simple expressions of love for her mother and grandmother. This early focus on personal connection remains a driving force in her songwriting. Growing up surrounded by music from artists like Joni Mitchell and Nora Jones, and with a father who played violin and a mother who was a writer, Banks was immersed in a creative environment. While acknowledging these influences, she feels her passion for performance was something innate.
Her journey began in an unlikely venue: Britain's oldest pub. There, she received informal musical training from the pub's then-bar manager, Martin, who became a mentor. She and a friend were his only "students" at this unconventional "music school." Under Martin's guidance, Banks honed her skills, learning classic songs by artists like Oasis, Johnny Cash, Joan Jett, and Amy Winehouse. These early pub performances provided invaluable experience, fostering a love for live music and audience connection. She fondly remembers these intimate gigs, emphasizing the special place they hold in her artistic development.
While nurturing her musical talents, Banks simultaneously pursued acting, appearing in prominent West End productions from a young age. Roles in Les Misérables, Annie, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory provided a different kind of performance experience. She acknowledges the profound influence of musical theatre, noting how its focus on storytelling and character development has shaped her own songwriting. The stage, she says, became her second home, fueling her passion for performance. She recognizes the impact of being surrounded by creative professionals from a young age, an experience that continues to inspire her.
Before releasing her own music, Banks gained recognition through online covers of songs by artists like Frank Ocean and Daughter. This period allowed her to connect with a wider audience and gain insights into what resonates with listeners. She emphasizes her preference for confessional songwriting, where personal emotions are laid bare, a style she emulates in her own work. She expressed her belief in the power of vulnerability in songwriting, and how it can create a powerful bond with listeners.
Her latest single, ‘Feel The Rush,’ captures the excitement of new love. She revealed that the song was written shortly after filming wrapped on the upcoming British romantic drama "My Fault: London," working alongside writer Olivia Broadfield. The single serves as a preview of her forthcoming EP, ‘Untie My Tongue,’ which follows her debut release ‘So Green.’ The EP's release, along with the premiere of "My Fault: London," marks a significant moment in Banks's career. She is preparing for both releases and expressing her excitement about sharing her music with the world.
These upcoming projects represent the culmination of Banks’s artistic development. By embracing both music and acting, she has crafted a unique creative identity. Her ability to weave narratives through both her music and her acting suggests a promising future, one where her artistic versatility takes center stage. The release of her EP and the film premiere not only represent milestones in her career, but also the realization of her vision to integrate her two passions into a cohesive artistic whole. The question remains how these two art forms will continue to inform and enrich each other as her career progresses.
