The return of banks: “There’s a power I carry that I haven’t felt before”

Love rivals have inspired almost as many great songs as love interests over the years. Imagine if Dolly Parton had never crossed paths with a certain redhead? Or if Sabrina Carpenter’s former flame hadn’t gotten back at her ex (minus half of her wardrobe)? The world, or at least our Spotify playlists, would look very different.

The latest entry into the genre comes courtesy of Banks, who has created a modern take on the 1998 classic “The Boy is Mine” with his succinctly titled “I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend.” Rapper Doechii, who delivers a verse on the track, is the Monica to Banks’s Brandy, the ’90s are breaking up and landlines have been replaced by Saint Laurent and ciggies, and the lyrics are at least 50 percent more scathing. (Compare “you keep acting like a fool” with “somebody help her basic little face”).

In addition to releasing her first new music in two years, the newly engaged Banks also marks 10 years since the release of her debut album, goddess Before an intimate birthday concert at Koko in London, he spoke to Brits Vogue about his comeback song, in honor of his past and the renaissance of the Gothic.

Banks and Doechii in the video for “I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend.”

Doechii features on your new single; tell me how the collaboration came about?

“I thought it would be cool to do like a new-age Brandy and Monica, ‘The Boy is Mine’ kind of vibe with it. I’m a fan of Doechii, so I reached out and she responded with the note of sweeter voice, saying that he listened to me from the beginning and that goddess it really inspired her. It was great. I feel like the music comes from the same place in both. It felt very natural to me. And when he sent me his verse, I was like, wow!

The theme of the song is a pretty universal experience…

“Yes. When we first wrote it in the studio we were joking, and I told this crazy story about something that happened with an ex-partner’s ex… we were joking, then as a joke I said ( imitate by taking a microphone and singing). ), “I hate your ex-girlfriend.” We were like…that’s actually kind of fire like a hook! It’s not that deep, it’s just fun.”

And a very funny video. I read that you wanted her to have big fashion moments. Could you tell us about some of these?

“I wear a Saint Laurent dress at first, and then an old Gucci dress. I wanted it to look like a movie, really shiny.”

Do you get involved in that side of things? How important is fashion in your creative process?

“In everything I do, I am deeply, intrinsically involved, because I can’t do anything that doesn’t feel like me. My stylist Harper Slate is one of my closest friends, she’s really good and has the best taste, and we had so much fun at the fitting, making mood boards. It was fun creating these characters. The first feels a bit like a mafia woman. So does the blonde, actually!”

You’ve always had a very specific and darkly sexy aesthetic. We’ve been talking a lot about the Gothic Revival lately, are you aware of that?

“I don’t really notice the hypertrends going on, but if that’s true, then…sounds great! That’s my vibe. Romantic, feminine goth, with a little bit of grace.