Sienna Bentley

BANKS’ music raised me. It has been with me since 2014, the year that her debut album Goddess was released. Ten years on, I was lucky enough to secure a ticket for one of her intimate shows to celebrate the decade anniversary of this record, which quite literally defined my teens.

This is my first time attending a concert solo – so go back in time to 2014 with me for a while.

First off, one thing about me: my sense of direction is terrible. I can – and will – get lost…anywhere. I was fully prepared for this evening to be no different, so I hopped off the bus at Mornington Crescent at 6pm (one hour before doors opened) to give myself ample time to inadvertently yet inevitably wander around in a circle or three. However, to my surprise, even I was incapable of losing my way. There was a queue already snaking around the block – I couldn’t have missed the venue if I’d tried.

For someone who, at times, finds it daunting to do things alone, I was not in the least bit intimidated standing by myself in the long line of BANKS fans. Everyone was chatting excitedly, passing along the queue a wad of signs to wave in the crowd.

Any fatigue I was feeling vanished the instant the lights darkened to a deep violet and BANKS emerged on the stage, face shrouded by a lace headscarf. She absolutely knows how to make an entrance – I learned this from her opening performance of ‘Till Now‘ when I saw her in Birmingham in 2019. This time, she began appropriately with the first song on Goddess, ‘Alibi‘.

What I love about BANKS concerts in particular is that the fans are fans. Everyone knows every word, and they prove it. There is a certain euphoria in being part of a chorus, and with her enchanting lyrics that are relatable on so many levels, it was a thoroughly cathartic experience. I let out a lot of emotion, particularly during her performance of ‘Drowning‘. I didn’t know I was holding that in until it came out.

The way BANKS throws herself around the stage is fluid, perfectly complementing the water imagery and metaphors that are sprinkled throughout her entire discography (eg, ‘Drowning’ and ‘Warm Water‘ from Goddess, ‘If We Were Made of Water‘ from III and ‘Skinnydipped‘ from Serpentina, to name a few). Her movements are dramatic yet full of power – she commands the stage effortlessly and you know that she knows exactly who she is and the energy she wields. She doesn’t just sing, she performs. In my eyes, BANKS is the epitome of feminine empowerment and watching her perform is equally mesmerising and motivating.

Each of her albums hold such distinct energies. I felt really lucky to be able to relive this era and be able to experience it live. She ended the concert with her new song, ‘I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend‘ featuring Doechii, which was only released two days prior to the gig. It is wildly different to the vibes intwined throughout Goddess, but still carries that kind of sultry darkness that characterises her as a musician. It also makes total sense with her artistic trajectory following Serpentina and I am so excited to see what this new chapter brings us next.