Since exploding onto the scene in 2019, Ms Banks has built a strong reputation in UK rap. Here, Music Week meets the South Londoner to discuss the journey to her debut album, South LDN Lover Girl (out March 13), the industry and nights out with Megan Thee Stallion…
INTERVIEW: Colleen Harris
PHOTO: Bartek Szmigulski
You started releasing music more than 10 years ago – why is now the right time for a debut album?
“I’ve always wanted to release an album. I could have probably released one ages ago. I started having a breakthrough moment in 2019 and I was quite eager to [put an album out], but I always had a lot of people in my ear making me feel like I wasn’t ready. I decided I was just gonna put out an album because I’m so tired of this narrative of, ‘You’re never going to be ready.’ But in all honesty, I don’t really regret my timing, because I feel like I’m in a place where I can be my most authentic self. I’m quite vulnerable on the album, and I feel like it’s taken years of growth – like I’ve finally just circled back to who I truly am at my core.”
Why did you choose to partner with Believe for the record?
“I really liked my A&R there [Bridie Asare, A&R manager]. I feel like she understood what I was trying to deliver. I liked her energy a lot, and I also felt like they had other artists prior to me that fit in my world, and they’ve had success with them. So I thought it would be a good match. I feel like they do believe in my vision.”
What would success with this album look like for you?
“Number one is cultural impact. Something that is timeless, that other young Black female rappers can look at in 10 years and be like, ‘Listen to Ms Banks’ South LDN Lover Girl if you want to know what a good or great album should sound like.’ Also, hopefully, some chart success. It would be nice to have a debut moment on the Official Charts – I would love that. But hey, I’ll definitely take the cultural impact first.”
As a previous winner of the New Artist Award at the Music Week Women In Music Awards – amongst other accolades – how do you reflect on how the industry builds up new artists?
“I think it does a good job. When you’re passionate and have a bit of momentum behind you, people do want to get behind you – to champion you and help you get to a certain position. I felt a lot of love coming into the industry as a new artist, so I feel like they do support artists on the rise.”
Finally, you’ve played shows with Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B and more. You must have some memorable stories from the road?
“There’s so many! I really connected with Megan Thee Stallion. That was my first arena tour as a special guest, and it was amazing. We have a really good friendship outside of music, so we got to party together a lot after the shows and had a really good time in Amsterdam one night. She reminds me of myself, but from the US. She always says, ‘Banks, if I lived in the UK, you would be my best friend.’ I’m like, ‘You’re actually so cute, because I feel like we are similar in a sense, both tall, both Black,’ and I feel like she gets it as well. I’ve seen her go through a lot with the media and, as a Black woman, having her emotions or stories discounted and people not believing her for whatever reason. We had a good time just chopping it up. She’s also into fitness and she got me in that bag as well, which is cute, because when it came time to support on tour, I was arena-ready!”
