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Paul Banks (American singer)

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This article is about the musician in Interpol. For the musician in Shed Seven, see Paul Banks (English musician).

Paul Banks
Banks performing in 2018
Banks performing in 2018
Background information
Also known as
  • Julian Plenti
  • DJ Fancypants
Born (1978-05-03) 3 May 1978 (age 46)
Clacton-on-Sea, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • DJ
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
  • drums
Years active1997–present
Labels
Member of

Paul Julian Banks (born 3 May 1978) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and DJ. Noted for his baritone singing voice, he is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and studio bassist of the American rock band Interpol. He released a solo album called Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper in 2009 under the name Julian Plenti, though his solo material is now recorded under his real name.

Early life

[edit]

Paul Julian Banks was born in Clacton-on-Sea on 3 May 1978.[1][2] He has an older brother.[3] His father's corporate role for an automobile manufacturer required that the family relocate frequently.[2] When Banks was three years old, the family left England for the U.S, temporarily lived in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan,[1] then moved to Spain when Banks was twelve. In Spain, Banks studied at the American School of Madrid in Pozuelo de Alarcón before the family moved back to the U.S. and lived in New Jersey.[4][5] His father was later transferred to Mexico, where Banks finished high school at the American School Foundation in Mexico City.[6] Banks compared his family's constant relocating to that of a typical military family.[2]

Banks was involved in stage productions during his time at the American School Foundation, playing the lead role in the musical South Pacific.[7] He later attended New York University, where he studied English and comparative literature,[8] and worked at magazines such as Gotham[9] and Interview after graduating.[10] He later took a data entry job at the Scholastic Corporation[11][12] and worked in a café[13] in order to devote more of his time to music.[14]

Career

[edit]
Banks using a black Les Paul Custom guitar in 2015

Interpol

[edit]

In the summer of 1997, Banks reconnected with fellow NYU undergrad Daniel Kessler, whom he had met previously on a study abroad program in Paris.[15] Kessler then asked Banks to join Interpol, a band he had started with bassist Carlos Dengler and drummer Greg Drudy. Banks was initially not inclined to join a band as he had been writing songs as a solo artist, but eventually joined Interpol as a guitarist and vocalist after listening to the type of music they were making.[12][16] Beginning with Interpol's fifth album, El Pintor, Banks has also served as the band's bassist.[17] In the music video for the album's lead single "All the Rage Back Home", he can be seen playing a Fender Precision Bass.

Other projects

[edit]

Banks has solo projects under various monikers. In August 2009, he released the solo album Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper under the name Julian Plenti, followed by the five-song EP Julian Plenti Lives... in June 2012.[18][19] In October 2012, Banks released his second full-length studio album, Banks.[20][21]

In 2013, Banks released the hip hop mixtape Everybody on My Dick Like They Supposed to Be, which included contributions by rappers such as Talib Kweli and El-P.[22][23]

In June 2016, Banks and rapper RZA formed the duo Banks and Steelz and announced their collaborative album Anything But Words,[24] which featured guest appearances by rappers Kool Keith, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Masta Killa, and singer Florence Welch.[24] Two singles, "Love + War" and "Giant", were released.[24]

In March 2020, Banks announced that he had teamed up with Matt Barrick (of The Walkmen and Fleet Foxes) and Josh Kaufman to form a new band called Muzz; he then released their first single, "Bad Feeling".[25]

Musical style

[edit]

Banks was inspired to become a musician by Nirvana,[26] but has said that he does not try to emulate his greatest influences because he thinks he cannot live up to them: "I would never try to sing like Frank Black or Kurt Cobain because you just can't do it."[27] His baritone voice, singing technique, and lyrics are most often compared to that of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.[15][28]

During Interpol's early years, Banks typically played a black Les Paul Custom guitar.[29] He then started using a Fender Jaguar (primarily due to the use of the tremolo in songs such as "Pioneer to the Falls") and a Gibson Flying V (which, for a time, had the word "breasts" spelled out in white tape on it)[30][31] for songs from Our Love to Admire, and used his Les Paul for songs from Antics and Turn on the Bright Lights, although some songs like "Obstacle 1" were played with the Jaguar because of the impracticality of switching. Songs like "Mammoth" were recorded using his Les Paul for this same reason.

Banks used his Jaguar as his primary guitar for the end leg of the Our Love to Admire tour, and was also seen using a Gibson ES-135 for songs such as "Not Even Jail", but since the 2010 tour leg he has not been since using the Jaguar or ES-135 and has only been seen using his traditional black Les Paul in live settings. His Flying V, with the white tape now removed, can be seen in the music video for "Barricade". His ES-135 was his primary guitar during his live performances as alter ego Julian Plenti. In the 2010s, during live performances of his solo work, he began playing a Dave Murray signature Fender Stratocaster with two humbucker pickups and a middle position single coil, possibly to avoid having to change guitars between songs for the diverse sounds on his solo records. In terms of bass guitars, he has been seen using a black Fender Precision Bass with a maple fretboard.

According to one source,[29] Banks has used effects pedals such as the BOSS TU-2, Z.Vex Super Duper 2 in 1, EHX Micro POG, MXR Micro Amp, MXR Bass Octave Deluxe, Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Ibanez TS9DX, BOSS DN-2, and 2 MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay (one set at higher repeats). His pedalboard on the Julian Plenti tour consisted of a BOSS TU-2, Way Huge Aqua-Puss, BOSS DN-2, EHX POG 2, Blackstar HT Dual Tube Distortion, and an MXR Carbon Copy. Since 2004, he has used two Fender Pro Reverb amplifiers.

Personal life

[edit]

Though he was born in England to English parents, Banks speaks with a Midwestern American accent due to growing up primarily in Michigan.[4] As a result of his time in Spain and Mexico, he is fluent in Spanish and speaks the language with a Mexican accent.[32][33] In contrast to Interpol's often melancholic indie rock sound, Banks has been a fan of hip hop since he was a child and has worked as a hip hop DJ under the pseudonym DJ Fancypants.[34]

Banks began a relationship with Danish supermodel Helena Christensen in 2011.[35] They split up in 2015.[36] He later began dating Juliet Seger, with whom he lives in Berlin.[3] He also maintains an apartment in Lower Manhattan.[3] In November 2022, he and Seger were engaged and expecting their first child together.[3]

Discography

[edit]

Solo releases

[edit]

Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[37] 		US
Heat
[38] 		US Indie
[39] 		AUS
Hit.
[40] 		AUT
[41] 		BEL
(FL)
[42] 		BEL
(WA)
[43] 		GER
[44] 		UK
[45] 		UK
Indie
[46]
Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper
(as Julian Plenti)
  • Released: August 4, 2009
  • Label: Matador
 103 1 16 20 — 70 81 81 171 18
Banks
  • Released: October 22, 2012
  • Label: Matador
 175 7 41 15 75 38 75 — 103 17
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

[edit]
Title EP details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[38]
Julian Plenti Lives...
  • Released: June 26, 2012[47]
  • Label: Matador
 25

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
MEX
[48]
"Fun That We Have"[49] 2009 — Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper
"Only If You Run"[50] —
"Games For Days"[51] 14
"The Base"[52] 2012 43 Banks
"Young Again"[53] —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Interpol

[edit]

Banks & Steelz

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Muzz

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Harrington, Richard (5 November 2004). "Interpol, Dressed for Success". The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Paul Banks interview (part 1)". Face Culture (Interview). 19 September 2012 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ a b c d "Getting Serious with Interpol". The New Yorker. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kuipers, Dean (25 September 2003). "Interpol calling". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ FaceCulture (2 November 2012), Paul Banks interview (part 1), archived from the original on 13 December 2021
  6. ^ Magallanes, María José (2009). "A Picture of Success". Focus. American School Foundation. p. 35. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (22 August 2018). "Interpol's Paul Banks on the Music That Made Him". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper - Album review - Time Out Chicago". timeout.com. Time Out. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  9. ^ Writer, Zach Schonfeld Senior (16 August 2018). "How Interpol Made Its Best Album in Years". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  10. ^ Murphy, Tom (27 November 2012). "Paul Banks on the joys of getting "Logic-ed up" in his hotel room instead of liquored up on tour". Westword. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  11. ^ "MTV.com Exclusive: Interpol". mtv.com. MTV. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  12. ^ a b Goodman, Lizzy (1 August 2017). Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001–2011. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571337996.
  13. ^ "FILE UNDER...NEXT BIG THING". Entertainment Weekly. 14 June 2002. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  14. ^ Johnson, Neala (27 February 2008). "Interpol singer Paul Banks talks about fame and music". Herald Sun.
  15. ^ a b "Interpol: Princes of Darkness". Rolling Stone. 14 October 2004.
  16. ^ LLC, SPIN Media (April 2005). SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. p. 67.
  17. ^ Foster, Matthew (15 July 2014). "No Hidden Agenda: The Return Of Interpol". The Quietus.
  18. ^ Alex Knott (20 April 2012). "Interpol's Paul Banks covers Sinatra on new EP". Frost Magazine.
  19. ^ "Julian Plenti Lives... EP". Julian Plenti. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Paul Banks lamenta no haber grabado concierto de Interpol en México".
  21. ^ "Julian Plenti Lives...EP". matadorrecords.com. Matador Records. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  22. ^ "Paul Banks: Everybody on My Dick Like They Supposed to Be Album Review". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Mixtape featuring El-P, High Prizm, Mike G and Talib Kweli". bankspaulbanks.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  24. ^ a b c Lilah, Rose (9 June 2016). "RZA and Paul Banks Team up". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Interpol's Paul Banks Forms New Band Muzz, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Paul Banks (Interpol): "Os Nirvana são a razão que me levou a ser músico"". mtv.com. Blitz. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  27. ^ Umbrella TV (22 July 2005). "Interview with Interpol's Paul Banks". Google Videos.
  28. ^ "Interpol | New Music And Songs". MTV. Archived from the original on 4 January 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  29. ^ a b "Rig tour: Interpol". MusicRadar.
  30. ^ "Stylish and shy, Interpol left a lasting mark". onmilwaukee.com. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  31. ^ "Interpol at the Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, MI, July 27, 2007". post-rockist.com. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  32. ^ "Interpol Eye Up The Indie Crown". ShortList. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  33. ^ "INTERPOL / Paul Banks - Entrevista Rolling Stone". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  34. ^ Pitchfork Media (6 August 2007). "Interpol's Paul Banks Interviews with Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  35. ^ "Helena Christensen, Queen of the Runway". Wall Street Journal. 19 October 2012.
  36. ^ Smyth, David (6 July 2018). "Interpol interview: 'We've never made a record that didn't have some strange things on there'". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  37. ^ "Paul Banks – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  38. ^ a b "Paul Banks – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  39. ^ "Paul Banks – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  40. ^ Peaks on the ARIA Hitseekers chart:
  41. ^ "Paul Banks chart history". AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  42. ^ "Paul Banks albums (Flanders)". Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  43. ^ "Paul Banks albums (Walloon)". Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  44. ^ "germancharts.de - Discographie Paul Banks" (in German). germancharts. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  45. ^ Peak chart positions for albums in the United Kingdom:
  46. ^ Peak chart positions on the UK Independent Albums Chart:
  47. ^ "Julian Plenti Lives... - EP by Paul Banks on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  48. ^ "Paul Banks – Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  49. ^ "Fun That We Have by Julian Plenti on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  50. ^ "Only If You Run by Julian Plenti on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  51. ^ "Games for Days by Julian Plenti on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  52. ^ "The Base - Single by Paul Banks on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  53. ^ "Young Again by Paul Banks on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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