__

BR: You just released Bottled Up, your third EP, and you’re in the middle of your something in between tour. Congrats on everything.

Asha Banks: Thank you so much.

How does this all feel?

Banks: Yeah. So good. It’s been so much fun being able to, like, play new music as it’s coming out. I’ve never done that before, and it’s been really cool. It feels, it’s really nice to feel kind of literally the transferral of the music from, like, myself and my ears to the people in the audience. It’s, yeah, it’s very literal, which I’m enjoying.

You’ve said that this is your favorite music that you’ve ever made. Do you feel like anything changed with your songwriting or even within yourself between this and your previous work?

Banks: I don’t know, to be honest. I think it’s, like, I think it’s a natural kind of, like, just evolution as me as an artist and a songwriter. I mean, granted, I think that every song, luckily, every, like, new project that I put out, I love a little bit more than the last one. So hopefully that continues. Like, I hope that as I go forward, I just love all my new music even a bit more than the last. But no, I think it’s a kind of natural, like, yeah, progression of my artistry. And also, like, with the context and knowledge of playing live and, like, you know, I’m getting a bit more used to it, which is fun.

Was there any song on Bottled Up that felt particularly difficult to either write or put out, maybe because it felt too honest?

Banks: Yeah, for sure. I mean, “Don’t Take It Out On Me” is my most, like, the song that I’ve been the most kind of scared of releasing. I think probably, like, out of any of the music that I’ve written before. I think that there’s just something about it that’s like- all my music is really honest, but for some reason, this song feels, like, particularly honest and about, like, myself and, like, my tendencies, rather than- I think, a lot of other music that I write is about, like, somebody else and kind of their actions and how that makes me feel. Whereas this is a bit more, like, my actions and how that makes somebody else feel. So it’s kind of, yeah, it’s a bit more introspective and probably vulnerable, but I love it a lot and have done since I wrote it. I knew that it was one of those songs that probably people were going to really, like, relate to. And yeah, it’s as comforting for me, like, somebody else relating to that song as it is, hopefully, me writing it for somebody else. You know.

You’ve had a big year. You’re touring right now. You’ve been releasing music. You’ve been doing a whole lot. How do you protect the quieter, more personal side of yourself when there’s so much going on around you?

Banks: I just sleep. I love sleeping. Like, when I don’t have anything to do, I will. I still live at home, which is really lovely. And to be honest, that’s probably one of the things that helps me, like, protect that part of my life, is, like, I go home. I have a huge cuddle with my family and, like, I have a little Jack Russell Chihuahua and she, like, jumps into my bed. We watch, like, something shit on the telly, and then I sleep for as long as possible.

You engage with your fans in a very unique way, which I love. You even invited them to design clothes for you to wear on tour, which is so fantastic.

Banks: I’m wearing one. This is my little bottled up top. … It’s so good. And then it’s got my initials on here. It’s got a B on the neckline. … They’re so talented. It’s crazy. Sorry. Carry on.

What has the way that you interact with your fans taught you about them?

Banks: Oh, my God, they’re just amazing. Like, truly, I feel so, so lucky to have such an amazing fan base. Like, and especially in how they, one, interact with me and the kind of, like, just joy that they bring me and, and care and creativity and talent and all the, all of the above. But also how they kind of interact with each other and my, like, it’s so true that my favorite thing is, like, seeing the, the kind of concepts that there’s these people that have met through me and who have, who have found kind of friendships for life and found connections with people, that they wouldn’t have found if they didn’t kind of have my music as a common denominator. Yeah, it’s very surreal, but it’s, like, just beautiful. It’s amazing to watch. Like, friendship is so important. And you know, most of my audience is primarily kind of young women, and female friendships is so important in life. So to be any, to play any part in facilitating that is a dream.

Is there anything you feel like you’re still figuring out as an artist?

Banks: Oh yeah, big time. I feel like I, I mean, I’ve been doing this for, I’ve been releasing for, like, however long it is now, like, not very long, like, under two years, I think. So I still feel like I’m learning absolutely everything. There’s so much that I go off that’s just kind of gut instincts and completely feeling led. But in terms of, like, technical things, I don’t know anything. And every time I release something, I learn something new. And I think that that’s probably going to be the way it is forever. I don’t know that anybody knows exactly what they’re doing with it.

What’s your favorite part about touring?

Banks: Just being with everybody, like, both being with my. I’m such a people person, and I have such incredible FOMO that, like, I love just being with my band and my team and, like, they’re just the best people in the world and spending so much time with them, I love. And then also being able to meet loads of the fans and, like, share these experiences. It’s just very, like, it’s a very, like, full of love period of time when you’re on tour, I think. Yeah. And that’s courtesy of the people around me.

What are you most looking forward to as the year wraps up?

Banks: Oh, I mean, I’m excited to just finish this tour and then, you know, take a second to sort of reflect. I feel like this has been such a, like you said, it’s been such a kind of crazy year, that, yeah, it will be nice kind of to, like, slow down for a second and catch my breath and be able to really, like, feel grateful for, for everything that’s happened. But then I suppose I’ll get right back to it and see what’s next.

You wrote your first song when you were just six years old. That’s incredible. Do you remember it?

Banks: Oh my God, it was. I wrote a song is such a strong word because it was literally, like, terrible poems that I sang, basically, like, about my mum, or, like, there was one called Mummy Is My Darling. And then there was one called the Claire and Andy Campbell song, which is basically two of my parents’ friends that I decided to write a song about. Like, there was a song about my Dalmatian that I grew up with. Like, who the hell knows?

Did you record it on anything?

Banks: I was like seven. I was, like, sat there being like, ‘Mommy, can I sing you something?’

Did they like it?

Banks: They loved it. I mean, they must have seen enough promise that my mum was like, maybe you should get guitar lessons. So I’m grateful.

Head to AdmitONE to see artists like Asha Banks LIVE!