When his friend sadly passed away in 2011, Banks sang at his funeral and subsequently focused his attention on ensuring that a wide audience heard his smooth and calm baritone voice. In 2012, a regional category at the Mobo UnSung awards was only one of a handful of competitions that he was successful in that year. By the time 2013 came around, he had already recorded his debut EP and had supported east London hip-hop artist, Plan B. Following the release of that EP, The Monologue, in January he began to receive regular airplay on mainstream U.K. radio and was also asked to support Emeli Sandé on her spring 2013 tour. By the summer his soulful vocals appeared on Wretch 32's minor U.K. hit "Doing OK," and the pair planned to work on further material. ~ James Wilkinson