Los Angeles R&B singer, Banks, will be opening for The Weeknd this fall and should prove a good foil to Abel Tesfaye’s irreperably damaged masculinity and insatiable sex drive. But the two work within a similar production aesthetic, so Banks’ sultry and warm vocals offer a welcome contrast within these blown-out, bleak and beautiful mood pieces. “This Is What It Feels Like” is the second single from her upcoming London EP (out September 10 via Harvest/Good Years), which honors its title by outsourcing its production duties to Londoners Lil Silva and Jamie Woon. The duo surround Banks’ vocals with groaning bass and pillow-soft synths, making sure the listener realizes “what it feels like” is more important than knowing what “it” actually is.
