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It has been six years since GRAZIA spoke with American singer-songwriter, Jillian Banks (aka BANKS) prior to release of her vampy cult sophomore album, The Altar. She was thrust to stardom in the contemporary genre and rode the fame wave of her critically-reviewed music for four years. The now 33-year-old appeared on magazine covers, sat front row for the likes of Chanel and Dior before embarking on a tour for her third album III, in 2019.
Then, on the cusp of the pandemic in 2020, she hit rock bottom. In a new conversation BANKS has described pushing herself “way too hard” to the point of burn out. She was forced to confront her demons and in the solitude of quarantine discovered her fourth studio album, Serpentina. Here at the highly-anticipated release, she discusses the influence of religion, recovering from burn out and meeting Katy Perry.
GRAZIA: The last you spoke with GRAZIA, you were on the cusp of releasing “The Altar”. How do you think your music has evolved since then?
Jillian Banks: “I’ve evolved a lot since then, so my music has evolved. As a person I have a lot more love for myself now because I started trusting myself more to take more control. I’ve always been in control of my music, I’ve always written it myself but with this album I’ve just fully taken the reigns in every way, shape and form. I co-produced the whole thing and I just did everything myself and I set up a studio in my house because it was mostly written during quarantine. I feel like I reconnected to why I first started making music in the first place. I was so far away from the business side of this business. I wasn’t touring, I wasn’t doing photoshoots, performing. I wasn’t doing anything other than being home and I reconnected with myself. I’m just in a really good place and I’m excited for people to hear this album.”
What is the significance behind the album title for you?
JB: “A snake represents rebirth and shedding one’s skin. When you shed your skin, you leave your old self in the past and keep moving forward. Being present and accepting where you are was a big part of my healing. Letting go of the past. I’ve carried so much shame for certain things and letting go of that helped me heal. And ‘Serpetina’ feels like a regal queen, an animalistic, fiery sorceress which is what I am and what I am when I make music.”
From the serpent, the devil and the alter, you seem to intertwine these biblical references. Is this intentional? What is your relationship to religion?
JB: “I am not religious at all but I have always felt that music is my religion. When I’m making music I feel so connected to myself. Like I’m floating above myself. It’s deeper than the plane we live on. That’s why I’m naturally drawn to words like that because it feels deeper than of this tangible earth. It’s crazy to have a passion, something that gives you a purpose. It feels bigger than the chair I’m sitting on. It’s like love.”
Can you pinpoint the moments that inspired the tracks on this album?
JB: “It’s everything. I don’t think it was one thing in particular. My music always just documents where I’m at in my life and how I’m growing. Every song has a different sentiment and has a different purpose and something in me that I needed to express.”
The album is teeming with powerful feminist anthems such “F**k Love” and “The Devil”. What do you want women listening to take to this album?
JB: “I want women to hear this album and feel so strong and feel so independent. The song “F**k Love”; you have to love yourself, so f**k love if you don’t feel like it is working out with other people. F**k it. Love yourself. I want women to hear this album and feel like they don’t need anybody. If they want somebody, cool, but they don’t need anybody.”
In past interviews it was revealed that you came off the back of your tour completely burnt out, just as the pandemic hit. What did it take for you to return to music rejuvenated?
JB: “I never really lost my love for music but health wise I was completely drained. I didn’t feel well and when you don’t feel well physically, you don’t feel well emotionally. On top of that, the pandemic was just another world of anxiety. You don’t get [burned out] unless you have a few unhealthy mindsets. For me I was pushing myself way too hard…it made me hit rock bottom and confront a bunch of demons. Not having a studio, I started working on my piano again and I never had got into fully producing myself… and not seeing anybody was really good for me. I reconnected with my own intuition and that’s what this music is. For me music is always the purist thing in my life and more so than ever I feel like I can look in the mirror more clear than I ever have before. That came out in my music and it just feels more developed than it has before.”
There is an amazing photo on your Instagram with Katy Perry. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt from women in the industry like Katy?
JB: “That you’re allowed to do it all. You can be a businesswoman and a mother and a painter and if you want to study to be psychologist at the same time, you can. Or you can choose to be just one of those things. Or none! For me seeing other women, other artist’s just being who they are and making decisions that they want to do despite what anybody else thinks is really inspiring.”
In recent years you’ve served as a muse to fashion houses such as Dior and Chanel. The costuming in your videos is also spectacular, partnering with Bulgari for “The Devil” video. What is it that you love about fashion?
JB: “I love that it can make you feel how you want to feel. You could be having a hard day and if you put on a certain dress you have a little bit more power behind you. It’s just another form of expression really, and the two, fashion and music, just go really well together. As an artist you like to pour out how you feel and those colours, textures and sounds just go together.”
What can we expect from this next era of BANKS?
JB: “I’ll found at the same time you guys do. I’m just having so much fun creating and taking more control.”
BANKS’ new album “Serpentina” is available to stream now. For more, visit here.
