Jacob Banks

Jacob Banks (born 24 July 1991; Nigeria) is a Nigerian-born English singer and songwriter based in Birmingham, known for his rich baritone voice and songwriting that draws on gospel, blues, R&B, reggae, and hip hop.

Early Life

Banks was born in Nigeria and moved to Birmingham, England, at the age of thirteen. His early listening spanned church hymns and Disney soundtracks alongside Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, classic soul singer Al Green, and pop group Westlife, giving him a broad musical foundation rooted in both his Nigerian heritage and his adopted home city.

Music was not a family pursuit, and Banks initially studied civil engineering at Coventry University; it was during this time that he bought his first guitar and taught himself to play. His songwriting grew out of an early love of poetry, and he began performing at open mic nights while still telling his parents he was on a work placement. A close friend encouraged him to pursue music seriously after attending local gigs together; when the friend passed away in 2011, Banks sang at his funeral, a moment that sharpened his resolve to bring his songwriting to a wider audience.

Career

Banks's professional career began to take shape in 2012, when he won the MOBO UnSung regional competition in Birmingham and the Adidas "Are You In" music competition, the latter earning him a performance on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge as the first unsigned artist to do so.

He released his debut EP, The Monologue, in January 2013, drawing regular airplay on UK radio, and supported Emeli Sandé on her spring 2013 UK tour after also supporting Plan B. In 2014, he featured on two UK singles chart hits, Wretch 32's "Doing OK" and Chase & Status's "Alive," which reached number 21. His single "Worthy" was also used on the American television series Suits. He followed with The Paradox EP in 2016, featuring "Monster" alongside Avelino, and guested on Sigma's "Redemption" and SeeB's "What Do You Love?"

In September 2016, Banks signed with Interscope Records and released the EP The Boy Who Cried Freedom in 2017, featuring "Unholy War" and "Chainsmoking," both of which went on to feature widely in film, television, and game soundtracks. He released his debut studio album, Village, on Interscope in November 2018, followed by a run of singles between 2019 and 2020 including "Love Ain't Enough" and "Devil That I Know," and a featured appearance on Grace Carter's "Blame."

In 2021, he released the EP For My Friends before leaving Interscope to found his own independent label, Nobody Records, in 2022. His second studio album, Lies About the War, followed in June 2022, shaped by deep listening to gospel and soul artists including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sam Cooke, and Al Green. He has continued to release music independently, including the project Yonder in July 2025 and further singles and EPs into 2026, and has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and North America, including festival appearances at Austin City Limits and Bumbershoot.

Personal Life

Banks has spoken about the dual heritage of his Nigerian upbringing and his life in Birmingham as central to his artistic identity, and has described the loss of a close friend in 2011 as a turning point that pushed him to pursue music in earnest. His transition from a civil engineering education to a full-time recording career has been a recurring thread in his public story, illustrating a commitment to songwriting as a considered, deliberate choice rather than an inevitability. His soul-influenced, gospel-rooted sound has been credited with bringing a distinctive voice to the UK's R&B and soul scene.

Current Activities

Banks continues to release music through his independent label, Nobody Records, with new material issued into 2026, and maintains an active international touring schedule across the UK, Europe, and North America.