If this track is any indication, then Jacob Bank’s debut EP is going to be a work of art.
We first stumbled upon Jacob’s music a few weeks back, almost like hidden treasure. With a vocal quality near that of Otis Redding’s and a melancholy that’ll make you miss Amy Winehouse, Jacob is the serious, soulful, bluesy singer we’re missing. His music stays fresh with the help of Afro-electronic rhythm and production that brings soul music into the 21st century. Even without the fancy production, Jacob Banks is talented. His voice is deep and soothing and most importantly melodic and I’m speaking from firsthand experience.
Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing him perform at the Bowery Ballroom, opening for singer LÉON, whom he’s currently on tour with. Jacob sounded BETTER LIVE! That’s right he’s one of the few artists who sounds the best in their purest form! He’s not flashy and there are no gimmicks when he’s on stage, but his presence is commanding and he wears his heart on his sleeve. Jacob even previewed tracks from his unreleased debut EP, “The Boy Who Cried Freedom,” which will be released through Interscope. All I’m going to say is keep a look out for my new favorite track “Part-Time Lover,” which he poignantly described as a song about loving an alcoholic.
In addition to everything Jacob’s working on, he officially released “Unholy War” earlier this week, which is the epic first single off his forthcoming debut EP. Jacob premiered the song via Interview Magazine, where he also mentioned the song addresses facing self-doubt and pushing yourself forward. “Unholy War” is hypnotizing, especially when Jacob sings “you better run” and the beat drops punctuated with electronic accompaniment. The song begins with a fast tempo, and Jacob’s soulful voice followed by guitar, pianos and tambourine and transitions into a more electronic tones which is a perfect representation of his sound. Check out the track below and stay tuned for his debut EP!!
