By: Shayla Lee
Indie-pop songstress BANKS began turning heads in the music world in 2014 with her debut album “Goddess.” The album was a beautiful blend of R&B, electronic, and hip-hop elements which showcased the sound that BANKS is now known for; contemporary dark pop. Two years later BANKS released her second album, “The Altar,” which brought fans deeper into her world through increased production value in both the music videos and the music itself. This year BANKS released her third album, fittingly titled “III,” which was the highest-charting album of her career.
“III” features collaborations with notable producer Hudson Mohawke on the experimental track “Gimme” and “Look What You’re Doing To Me” features Francis and the Lights. BANKS kicked off an extensive North American tour last month in Toronto and I had the chance to catch her performance in Austin at Scoot Inn.
Beginning her set with the opening track from her new album, “Till Now,” BANKS entered the stage alongside two contemporary dancers to a massive applause from the crowd. Fans were immediately brought into the world of BANKS through the brightly hued strobe lighting, the synchronized dancing, and of course her powerful yet ethereal voice that captured the entire venue the second she began singing. For her third song of the night, “Stroke,” BANKS and the two dancers utilized scarves which was a beautiful addition that added even more movement to the song. Other highlights of the night included fans screaming back the lyrics of “Drowning,” her performance of the banger track “Gimme,” and the colorful lights during her last song of the night, “Beggin for Thread.”
BANKS gave an excellent, immersive, and special performance that displayed her sheer talent and artistry. The musician has a few more US dates including ACL festival this weekend and will be bringing her tour to Europe. Tickets and information on her tour can be found here. You can stay up-to-date with the artist on Instagram and Twitter. A photo gallery of the night can be found below.
FEMME RIOT 